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4kg of beef brisket
Most barbecue in Texas revolves around beef, and more
specifically, brisket. When you select your brisket, choose only "packer
trimmed" briskets around the 4kg category. The smaller briskets don't
have enough fat to tenderise them, and the larger ones could have come off
of a tough old bull that no amount of cooking will ever tenderise.
Avoid closely trimmed or "value packed" brisket pieces. The fat
that was cut off to make 'em pretty is the very stuff that would have
made them tender! All briskets have a fat cover on one side. Ignore this!
Squeeze the thick end with both thumbs. When you've found the brisket
with the smallest fat kernel, that's the one for you. Take it home and
build your fire. While your fire is getting going, I build mine out of a mixture
of mesquite and oak, rub your brisket with a dry "rub." [See
Red's Dry Rub recipe] Make sure that the meat is thoroughly coated.
This helps seal the meat, and adds a flavourful crust.
Thoroughly coat all surfaces of the brisket with lemon juice, and rub in well.
Sprinkle dry rub generously all over the brisket, rubbing in well. Make sure
that the brisket is entirely covered.
When the wood has burned down, move the coals to one side of the pit, place
the meat away from the direct heat, fat side up (let gravity and nature do
the basting), and close the pit. Some
people add a pan of water near the coals to provide added
moisture, but I don't. Now, don't touch the meat for 12 hours. Just
drink a few beers, cook a pot of beans, and tend your fire.
You'd like to hold the cooking temperature around 100°C.
in the brisket cooking area. Since "helpers" usually show up at
the first whiff of smoke, you probably ought to put some of your leftover
rub on a couple of racks of pork ribs and toss them on the pit, in the hotter
end, and baste and turn 'em for four and five hours, just to keep the
animals at bay. Meanwhile, see Red's Prize Winning' Pintos recipe
to keep you busy.
Back at the pit, after the twelve hours are completed, generously slather
the brisket with a basting sauce (not a barbecue sauce), wrap it tightly in
aluminium foil, and return to the pit. [See Red's Basting Sauce recipe]
Close off all of the air supplies to the fire, and allow the meat to "set"
in the pit for three or four hours. This really tenderises the meat.
Serve your brisket with beans, coleslaw, onions, pickles, and plenty of bread.
Cold beer or iced tea are the traditional beverages of choice.
You'll find that a 4kg brisket will yield about 8-16 servings, depending
on the individual brisket, and the size of the
appetites of the guests.