Brisket With Horseradish Gremolata Recipe (2024)

By Melissa Clark

Brisket With Horseradish Gremolata Recipe (1)

Total Time
4 hours, plus marinating
Rating
5(1,241)
Notes
Read community notes

This tender, deeply flavored brisket gets its character from two distinct sources. Searing the meat until dark brown gives the sauce a caramelized, intensely brawny taste, while a bracing garnish of fresh horseradish gremolata spiked with parsley and lemon zest adds brightness and a sinus-clearing bite. Make the meat a few days ahead, it only gets better as it rests. But to get the most out of the gremolata, don’t grate the horseradish until an hour or two before serving. If you can’t find fresh horseradish, use 4 cloves minced garlic instead.

Featured in: Gremolata Gives Passover Brisket a Brighter Side

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Ingredients

Yield:8 to 12 servings

  • 1(4- to 5-pound) brisket, preferably second cut
  • 1tablespoon kosher salt
  • teaspoons black pepper
  • 4garlic cloves, chopped
  • 6sprigs fresh thyme
  • 2tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2large onions, thinly sliced
  • 2large carrots, sliced into thin rounds
  • 2large celery stalks, diced
  • cups dry red wine
  • 2whole bay leaves
  • cups parsley, coarsely chopped
  • Grated zest of 1 small lemon
  • 3tablespoons fresh, coarsely grated horseradish
  • Flaky sea salt, for serving

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (10 servings)

649 calories; 48 grams fat; 19 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 21 grams monounsaturated fat; 2 grams polyunsaturated fat; 8 grams carbohydrates; 2 grams dietary fiber; 3 grams sugars; 37 grams protein; 746 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Brisket With Horseradish Gremolata Recipe (2)

Preparation

Make the recipe with us

  1. Step

    1

    Season brisket all over with salt and pepper. Place brisket in a large container and spread garlic and thyme sprigs all over top and bottom of meat. Cover and refrigerate overnight or for at least 4 hours. Let meat stand at room temperature for 30 minutes before cooking. Wipe off the garlic and thyme. Heat oven to 325 degrees.

  2. Heat a very large Dutch oven over high heat. Add oil and let heat. Add brisket and sear, without moving, until golden brown, about 4 to 5 minutes per side. (Cut meat into 2 chunks and sear in batches if it doesn’t fit in the pot in a single layer.) Transfer to a plate.

  3. Step

    3

    Add onions, carrots and celery to pot and reduce heat to medium-high. Cook vegetables, tossing occasionally, until onions are golden brown around the edges and very tender, about 15 minutes. Pour in wine and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Stir in bay leaves and bring liquid to a simmer; let simmer for 5 minutes to reduce slightly.

  4. Step

    4

    Place meat in pot, then cover pot and transfer to oven. Cook, turning every 30 minutes, until meat is completely fork tender, 3 to 4 hours. After 2½ hours, uncover pot so some of the liquid can evaporate and the sauce can thicken. If the brisket starts to get too brown and the sauce too reduced before the meat is tender, cover pot again.

  5. Step

    5

    Spoon fat from the top before serving. (If you have time, let brisket cool completely first, then refrigerate overnight in the pot; this makes it easier to remove the white fat from the top. Reheat the meat, covered, in a 350-degree oven for 30 to 45 minutes.) If sauce seems thin, remove meat from pot and bring liquid to a simmer. Let cook until reduced to taste.

  6. Step

    6

    In a bowl, toss together parsley, lemon zest and horseradish to make gremolata. Slice meat against the grain and serve with the sauce, garnished with horseradish gremolata and sea salt.

Ratings

5

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1,241

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Private Notes

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Cooking Notes

Anita Solow

Excellent brisket. Made it for Passover. However, like all brisket recipes, I cook the brisket until it is cooked but not done (about 2+ hours). Then take it out of the oven. Cool it and slice it. Then put it back into the juices to finish cooking. That way you get incredibly tender brisket and you don't cook it 4 hours! I actually put it in the refrigerator when it was partially cooked, sliced it the next day and then cooked for about an hour. Magnificent!

jil

The gremolata was much improved by mincing the parsely, horseradish and lemon zest together in the food processor with the addition of the juice from one lemon. This improved gremolata really brightened up the flavor of the brisket, whereas just chopping the ingredients and mixing like a salad did not. I look forward to trying some of the other posted suggestions next time I make the dish - and there WILL be a next time!

Regina

Excellent. The only change I made was to add a star anise in with the wine and the bay leaves.

Steven

Just made this for Hanukkah and it was superb!! Absolutely essential to make 1-2 days ahead for best results. Used first cut and it was perfect. Temp was too high, I would recommend 275-300 for 3 hours. One additional key is to let it cool with the braising liquid and it will soak up like a sponge.

Paula Goldman

Loved this recipe! However, I never got to the gremolata, as I forgot to buy the fresh herbs. Even though Melissa Clark stressed the importance of the fat on the meat, I still trimmed it. As a result, the meat fell apart, but melded more with the vegetables and was delicious anyway! The next night we had leftovers on top of baked potatoes. Even better!

ME

Why does the presence of young children preclude the use of red wine in this recipe? The alcohol evaporate so what's the problem.

Terri Thal

I cook the brisket until it is cooked but not done (about 2+ hours). Then take it out of the oven. Cool it and slice it. Then put it back into the juices to finish cooking. That way you get incredibly tender brisket and you don't cook it 4 hours! I actually put it in the refrigerator when it was partially cooked, sliced it the next day and then cooked for about an hour. Magnificent!

rebecca

This was AMAZING. I followed recipe exactly until cooking time. I put it in the oven for 3 hours covered, took out, cooled, and put it in the fridge. 3 days later I sliced it, skimmed the fat and put in a 350 oven for an hour, covered. It was melt in your mouth tender and the rich flavor was so good this has replaced my mom's brisket recipe. I forgot the gremolata but no one even noticed.

Ruth

Melissa Clark has an article and a video on this topic that are very helpful. The second cut is more tender and flavorful (because there is more fat throughout). The first cut will be leaner and hold its shape so that you can slice it, but it will be tougher - not necessarily tough if cooked properly, but tougher. I have cooked both. The 2nd cut always gets the more genuine praise.

lynn

a winner! i added a clove of garlic to veggies and cooked 2 1/2 hrs, chilled overnight, removed fat, sliced meat, put back in juices, and cooked another hour. 30 before done, i added halved small yellow potatoes, checked seasoning, and finished without lid.

Mark

Thanks to previous commenter Regina for suggesting a star anise in the braise: great added depth of flavor. Toss the chopped garlic and some of the thyme from the marinade into the braising liquid, and add beef stock as needed to produce enough liquid. Chill overnight to removed all the fat, then slice and reheat. VERY tender tasty and juicy meat. The gremolata was worthwhile but not life-changing. Maybe a standard horseradish sauce would do as well.

Mark

Forgot to mention: taste the braising liquid after cooking for a while. Adding a bit of sweetener (I used honey) might be needed to really make the sauce perfect.

Sam

The directions for preparing the brisket lead to a delicious result! They are also basic enough that you can add your own creativity to it. I added a can of crushed tomatoes and 1/4 cop pomagranite molasses, and added cilantro to the gremolata. It was delicious. But without any changes or add-ons this is a great recipe!

Robert from Detroit

This recipe is excellent. Must have decent layer of fat on top of brisket. Can't wait to make it this year.

rebecca

The rule I learned from my mom is that brisket requires about one hour per pound of meat. So a 2lb brisket would probably need about 2 hours in the oven.

Josh

I know the gremolata is a source of much discussion here. I enjoy it, family does not. What we all agree on is taking the leftover amount and mixing it with mayo to put on brisket/latke sandwiches the next day!

megoc

This was the toughest piece of meat I have ever served. I followed the recipe and the notes that suggested slicing it and reheating the next day. In all, I cooked it 5-6 hours. I don’t know what went wrong.

Maddy

Incredible... As per other comments, I cooked the day before for 2 1/2 hours, sliced, and finished the next day. Doubled the wine and added some beef broth for gravy. Served with Melissa's creme fraiche horseradish sauce as I could not get the horseradish root in time. Raves all around and surely will make again.

Mixqueen

This was excellent. Made as is for Easter and everyone loved it. It was very rich. The horseradish/parsley was a nice addition but not necessary.

Rahel

So good, worth the effort and will make again. Next time will double the recipe.

AMC

Exceptionally good! Highly recommend putting in the effort to make the gremolata.

Rahel

As others have said, this is delicious! Used many of the suggestions to increase the liquid and I think that helped. After 2.5 hrs of cooking and flipping every 30 minutes, our 5 lb brisket was moist, tender delicious. Will be making this again for sure.

Winifred

First of all, I love NYT Cooking. The recipes are great - but the notes! After years as a subscriber, I am finally remembering to read the notes before I cook, sometimes even before I shop.We made this for Sunday dinner and folks raved. Do cook the beef part way, chill, slice and finish it off. Make the gremolata - it adds a brilliant surprising zing. And I thought I didn't like horseradish.

Kim K

This was a big disappointment. The comments may help to improve but overall it was just a bit bland, which is why the gremolata was such a helpful addition. I probably would not try this again. Dull.

Babette

This brisket cook is easy and delicious - be sure you allow time for the rub marinade first & take off the garlic/thyme to avoid burning in the hot oil. I made it while cleaning out my freezer for a move, so didn't make the gremolata (beef mushroom stew gravy leftovers to use up), but it will definitely be in my Passover menu rotation from now on!

Angela

This launched me to hero status in my husband’s eyes. I couldn’t find horseradish root (went to several stores) so I skipped the gremolata, but it’s hard to imagine anything improving this amazing dish. It’s perfection.

Maria

I love, love this recipe. I've cooked it so many times I have lost count. Sometimes, gremolata is with garlic and sometimes with horseradish, regardless, it is always delicious. I usually serve with polenta.

elizabeth

I made it with a 2 pound brisket because I didn’t need 4-5 pounds! I only used one onion and didn’t do the gremolata but otherwise followed the recipe. Still came out wonderfully with the smaller brisket.

Maria

This recipe is just delicious! I've made it twice. Turning it every 30 minutes is the key to render an all around caramelized well seasoned beef. Guests were surprised but really enjoyed the gremolata over the slices.

Tami

Ran out of time to marinate, but it turned out delicious anyway. Like many said, the gremolata wasn't necessary but it was a great addition. The wine sauce with the veggies at the bottom was amazing and made amazing leftovers for days. We served this for an early Christmas dinner and will make this for another winter occasion in the future.

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Brisket With Horseradish Gremolata Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the 3 2 1 rule for brisket? ›

What's the 3-2-1 method for brisket? While it is true cooking brisket is a time-consuming process, the 3-2-1 rule makes it easier for beginners. First off, you'd smoke or bake the brisket at 225 degrees for 3 hours; then you'd wrap it in foil and keep cooking it for 2 hours.

What is the best cooking method for brisket? ›

Brown brisket in a small amount of oil over medium-high heat. Or sear fat side up in a heated 500 ˚F oven for 20 minutes to develop flavor. Add a small amount of liquid (water, broth, or wine) to a Dutch oven, cover tightly, and simmer gently over low heat or in a 275 ˚F oven for 3 to 4 hours, or until tender.

What is the secret to the perfect smoked brisket? ›

Prepare the smoker for a long cook

Before you start smoking your brisket, you need to make sure that your smoker is set up properly. The temperature of the smoker should be between 225 and 250 degrees Fahrenheit. It is recommended to smoke one pound of brisket for 1 hour and 30 minutes at 225 degrees Fahrenheit.

Should I pull brisket at 190 or 200? ›

Can I pull brisket at 190? The brisket is just about ready at 190. While I suggest you wait until it hits at least 195 before pulling it off the smoker, you can do so a few degrees sooner as well.

At what temp should I wrap my brisket? ›

Most grill masters suggest wrapping your brisket when it reaches 150-170. Wrapping and unwrapping can be done strategically to control the appearance of the bark, preserving crispiness. Once the meat reaches the desired temperature, unwrap it and cook at a lower temperature to re-crisp the bark.

What is the best liquid to keep brisket moist? ›

Keeping a water pan in the smoker is the best way to retain moisture. After the first 2-3 hours start spritzing your brisket with water, apple juice, hot sauce or apple cider vinegar every 30 minutes to an hour. This helps keep it moist and stops it from burning.

Does brisket get more tender the longer you cook it? ›

The temperature of the meat begins to rise again -- which you want because brisket gets more tender the longer you cook it.

How to make the juiciest brisket? ›

Once seared, place brisket in foil pan, fat side up, and smoke, uncovered for 2 hours. Flip brisket and smoke for 1 hour. At this point, the juices inside are under a fair amount of pressure. It is important not to pierce the meat from this point until it is done.

What temp is brisket most tender? ›

195°F to 205°F (90°C to 96°C): This is often considered the sweet spot for the internal temperature of brisket. When the meat reaches this range, it's usually tender, juicy, and bursting with flavor. The collagen has broken down, and the meat is no longer tough.

Do you bake brisket fat up or down? ›

Ask almost any contestant on the competition barbecue circuit, including Traeger's own Chad Ward, whether to cook a brisket fat side up or fat side down, and you will likely get the same unanimous answer: fat side down.

How many hours should brisket cook? ›

Brisket is done when it reaches 203° internally. Smoke a 10 lbs brisket for 6-9 hrs and then rest for at least 1 hour. Smoke a 15 lbs brisket for 10-12 hrs and then rest for at least 1 hour. Smoke a 20 lbs brisket for 12-16 hrs and then rest for at least 1 hour.

How do you make brisket more flavorful? ›

Rubs and Marinades

Common go-to rubs include seasonings like garlic, herbs, and spices. Just be sure to take it easy on the rub so that your brisket doesn't come out too salty. If you plan to mop or baste your brisket while smoking, be sure to coordinate the flavors properly with your rub.

Do you need to flip brisket when smoking? ›

Contrary to some sources, you do not need to flip your brisket at any point during cooking. Flipping can disrupt the smoking process, as you are repeatedly lowering the temperature every time you open the grill, extending your brisket cook time.

How long to smoke a 5 lb brisket at 225? ›

A: You can usually figure about 1.5 hours per pound at 225 degrees for brisket, pork shoulder and other larger pieces of meat. Several things can affect this time such as actual meat thickness, wind, temperature and how often you open the door of the smoker.

What is the magic number for brisket? ›

There is no magic number for when briskets are done. I've had briskets be done anywhere from 200° – 208°. What are you looking for is for it to feel done.

What happens if you wrap brisket too early? ›

Many pitmasters recommend wrapping the brisket once it reaches the desired level of smoke absorption or when it hits the "stall" phase, typically around 160-170°F (71-77°C). Wrapping too early may hinder bark formation while wrapping too late can result in excessive moisture loss.

What is the danger zone for brisket? ›

Danger Zone for Smoking and Grilling Meat

Therefore, you need to find the optimum temperature for meat. As mentioned above, the temperature danger zone is 46°F -140°F (8°C-60°C). Hence, it is better to keep the hot smoking or grill above 158°F (70°C).

How long does it take a brisket to get to 160 at 225? ›

Put brisket on the grill at 225 °F. Smoke for 6 hours until internal temperature is 160 °F.

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