1 fresh beef
brisket, about 4 pounds, well trimmed
Salt and pepper to taste
2 tablespoons dry thyme
1 tablespoon dry rosemary
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 large Vidalia onions (or other sweets),
peeled and sliced, about 4 cups
1 cup dry red wine
3 carrots, thinly sliced, about 1 cup
2 tablespoons chopped garlic
2 cups hot beef stock lightened with 1 cup water added
2 celery stalks tied with 3 bay leaves into a bouquet garni
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Season the beef brisket well with salt and pepper. Crush the thyme and rosemary
together with a mortar and pestle and rub the herb mix into the beef, coating it
evenly. Rub the beef well with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil.
Heat a large sauté pan with 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium high heat for 2
to 3 minutes until the pan is nearly smoking. Add the beef to the hot pan and
sear well on one side until browned before turning the beef over and searing the
other side. When the beef has been well browned on both sides, remove from the
pan and set aside.
Add the onions to the sauté pan and cook them until golden brown. Add the red
wine to the onions and reduce by half.
Pour the onions into a large heavy roasting pan and spread evenly across the
bottom before putting the beef on the bed of onions. Add the carrots, garlic,
hot beef/water and celery bundle to the beef in the roasting pan and place,
uncovered, into the oven. All the combined liquid should rise only 2/3 as high
as the meat is thick. Add additional water to maintain the braising liquid
height.
Cook for 1 hour before turning the beef over. Cook the second side uncovered for
1 hour before covering the pan with a cover or foil and turning the oven down to
325 degrees F. Continue to slowly braise the beef brisket for 1 1/2 to 2
additional hours.
Remove the pan from the oven, discard the celery bouquet and allow the beef to
rest for 20 minutes before slicing and serving with some of the onion jus.
