Slow-roast beef brisket with potatoes and onions.

Serves 6-8


2-2.5kg piece of boned,rolled beef brisket,tied with string
4-5 cloves of garlic,coarsley chopped
A good handful of thyme sprigs
2-3 tablespoons rapeseed or olive oil
1-1.2kg potatoes,peeled and cut into 3-4cm chunks
500g small onions or shallots,peeled
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.



 Slow-roast Beef Brisket: Brisket’s open-grained texture and depth of flavour make it
perfect for slow-cooking. Don’t let the butcher trim off too much fat – a certain
amount is needed in order to achieve the final, full-bodied result. Preheat the oven
to 200C/gas 6. Put the tied brisket in a large roasting tin and tuck the garlic and
thyme inside and under it. Massage the oil all over the meat, then season well. Roast
for 30 minutes, then reduce the heat to 140C/gas 1, cover the meat with foil and
return it to the oven for 4 hours, basting from time to time. Add the onions and turn
them in the meat juices. Turn the oven up to 160C/gas 3 and cook, uncovered, for a
further hour, until the joint has crisped up. Serve the beef in thick slices, with any
juices spooned over the meat. 
 Remove from the oven and rest in warm place for 30 minutes before
carving.


I pretty much followed this recipe exactly, except for the final hour of cooking I put the beef in a separate dish as there wouldn't have been enough room for the onions and potatoes in the original tray.

The beef was fantastic and crumbled when carved. It literally melted in the mouth and while the potatoes weren't crispy( I don't think they are supposed to be) the were full of flavour from the meat juice, oh and I added some parsnips in there too.
There were 5 clean empty plates by the end of the meal and also enough meat for Rob and the children and their lunch tomorrow.


This is one I will most definately be doing again and the meat cost about £8.50........bargain too!!!!!!!


I know I'm a woman and usually I can multi task, however this time I couldn't and forgot to take pictures of the preparation and the final dish so I will endeavour to do better next time!


Oh and a link to the book used 
http://www.rivercottage.net/shop/product/river-cottage-everyday/