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Thinly sliced brisket on a black slate with cranberry sauce on top, baked wedge potatoes and 2 little bowls of chimichurri and more cranberry sauce.
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5 from 3 votes

Fresh Cranberry Braised Brisket

It’s sweet and savory, tart, tender, juicy, rich, balanced and full of fresh cranberry Holiday flavor…it’s the very best brisket I’ve ever had!!!
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time3 hours
Total Time3 hours 20 minutes
Course: Dinner, Entree
Cuisine: Californian
Servings: 10
Author: Daniela Gerson

Ingredients

Rub

  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
  • 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 teaspoons dark brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon hot paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon mustard powder

Sauce

  • 1 bag 12oz fresh cranberries
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 2 tablespoons molasses
  • 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon worcestshire sauce
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

Brisket

  • 3 pounds brisket
  • 1 white or yellow onion chopped
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 2 tablespoons canola oil
  • 5 cloves garlic

Instructions

  • For the Rub:Mix salt, pepper, brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, hot paprika, and mustard powder together in a small bowl. Coat brisket liberally with rub and let sit for at least 40 minutes and up to a day, refrigerated.
  • Combine all the sauce ingredients together in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until combined.Set aside.
  • Preheat oven to 325°F. Heat oil in a large Dutch oven over high heat until shimmering. Place brisket in Dutch oven and cook until well browned, 6 to 8 minutes. Flip and brown on second side, about 5 minutes longer. I like to brown the sides of the brisket as well. Every single one! Transfer brisket to a large plate and lower heat to medium.
  • Add onion, garlic, to Dutch oven. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are softened, about 10 minutes. Add cranberry sauce mixture and scrape up browned bits from bottom of pan. Add beef broth. Stir to combine. Bring sauce to a boil. Nestle brisket in sauce, pouring in any accumulated juices from the plate. Cover Dutch oven and transfer to oven. Cook until brisket can be pierced with a fork with little to no resistance, about 3 hours.
  • ransfer brisket to a large container and add sauce. Cover and place in refrigerator overnight and up to three days (see note).
  • To Serve:Preheat oven to 325°F. Spoon off any congealed fat from sauce. Remove brisket from sauce and cut into 1/4-inch slices against the grain. Place slices in a casserole dish and cover with sauce. Cover dish with foil and place in oven until brisket is warmed through, 30 to 45 minutes. Serve immediately.

Notes

  • Crucial to brown the brisket and develop its flavor since it’s going to be covered in the oven and won’t brown later.
  • If you have a roasting pan, now is the time to use it! If you don’t, brown under broiler and soften aromatics in a skillet with some oil.
  • If your pan doesn’t have a lid simply use foil and cover tight.
  • Don’t trim too much fat off the brisket! This lean cut of meat needs some fat on it.
  • Can cook 1-2 days in advance, chill in fridge and reheat before serving.