Blueberry Balsamic Braised Brisket is a must-try, unique brisket recipe for the holidays! If you've never had blueberries with brisket, you're missing out, and you won't believe how amazing it is! This recipe was featured in the August 2015 issue of Gluten-Free Living Magazine!
There's a reason blueberries are being called "little blue dynamos." Blueberries can enhance much more than a bowl of granola, my friends!
Inspiration
These dynamos have a place at breakfast, lunch, dinner and everything in-between. From grilled cheese sandwiches, to sparkling cocktails and cookies -- these wonderfully sweet berries, chock full of nutrients, are finding their way into all sorts of dishes.
Enter my Blueberry Balsamic Braised Brisket.
And believe it or not, there's no better place for blueberries than melding into the delicious, rich juices of a braising brisket and the tangy, sweetness of balsamic vinegar.
A perfect match!
What's in this recipe?
- blueberries, brisket and balsamic vinegar, of course 😉
- pearl onions
- garlic
- thyme
- beef stock
- red wine
- butter
- brown sugar
Can you just imagine all of those delicious flavors, being slow cooked together in one pot? It's amazing!
A True Comfort Food
This unique brisket recipe is a true comfort food dish! It's absolutely divine for a cool fall or winter evening. And of course it would be the star of a Hanukkah table. And/or Christmas!
You'll savor each and every bite.
Just look at how tender the meat is! And the sauce -- oh my, the sauce!
Enjoy every last bite!
Can you it ahead?
Yes! In fact, this is a recipe that actually gets better and better with time. I usually make it at least one day before I want to serve it.
More brisket recipes you'll love:
Blueberry Balsamic Braised Brisket Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ pound red Pearl onions (click here for How to Easily Peel Pearl Onions)
- 1 approximately (1 ¾-pound) beef brisket
- olive oil for the pan
- 2 teaspoons garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
- 1½ cups beef stock
- 1½ cups frozen blueberries, thawed to room temperature
- ¼ cup dry red wine, such as Cabernet, Merlot, Shiraz
- â…“ cup balsamic vinegar
- 1½ teaspoons unsalted butter
- 1½ teaspoons brown sugar
- salt and freshly ground black pepper
- ½ cup fresh blueberries
- a few sprigs fresh thyme for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325°F.
- To peel the pearl onions, bring a few inches of water to a boil in a medium-sized pot. Fill a medium-sized bowl with ice water and set it aside. Add the onions and turn off the heat. Let them sit for about two minutes, drain them, and then add them to the bowl of ice water. Once they are cool enough to touch, use a paring knife to cut a sliver off where the root is. Then use your hands to gently slide the skin off. Set the peeled onions aside.
- Trim the fat off the brisket and season both sides with salt and pepper. Set aside.
- Coat the bottom of a large, oven proof pot with a fitted lid, with olive oil. (A Dutch oven in perfect.) Place the pot over medium-high heat.
- Once the pot is very hot, add the brisket. You should hear a sizzling sound when it hits the pan -- if you don't, wait until it's hotter. Sear the brisket until it's nicely browned, 1 to 2 minutes per side.
- Remove the brisket from the pot and place it on a large plate. Set aside.
- Turn the heat under the pot to medium and add the peeled onions and garlic. Sauté, stirring periodically, until the onions are beginning to brown, about 5 minutes. Add the thyme and continue to cook for another 30 seconds or so, until it's very aromatic.
- To deglaze, add the stock, frozen (thawed) blueberries and red wine. Use a wooden, flat-edged spatula to scrape off any bits of brisket, onion and garlic that may be stuck to the bottom of the pot.
- Return the brisket to the pot and bring to a boil.
- Cover and place in the preheated 325°F oven to braise for 1-½ hours, gently braising any portion of the brisket that's not submerged in the liquid.
- Remove the pot from the oven, add the balsamic vinegar, and gently mix it in evenly around the brisket.
- Cover the pot again and return it to the oven. Continue to braise until the brisket is very tender, about 1 more hour. (You can test it with a fork to see how easily it comes apart -- you want it to be able to pull apart, but still be firm enough to slice.)
- Remove the brisket and place it on a large plate to cool.
- Place the pot over low heat and simmer until it's reduced by at least half, and has thickened into a rich sauce, about 30 minutes. As it's simmering, you can use a large soup spoon to remove any grease that rises to the top.
- Add the butter and brown sugar and season to taste with salt and pepper.
- While the sauce is simmering, slice the brisket against the grain, into thin slices, about ¼to ½-inch.
- Just before you're ready to serve, fold the fresh blueberries into the sauce.
- To serve, either add the brisket slices to the sauce, or arrange the slices on serving platter and drizzle the sauce over them.
- Garnish with fresh thyme sprigs.
NOTES
NUTRITION
Natalie
This sounds so delicious and super flavorful. I bet my family would love this. I must save it and prepare it. It's perfect for weekends dinner.
valentina
You are welcome! And thank YOU! 😀
Emily Krill
It has never occurred to me to pair brisket with blueberries but it sounds just wonderful> Can't wait to try this recipe!
valentina
It's really an interesting and delicious blend of flavors. Thanks for visiting and hope you try it. 🙂
Beth Neels
Wow! I would have never thought about blueberries with brisket! What a great idea! The sweetness of the blueberries and the kick of the balsamic must be a wonderful combination!
valentina
Thanks so much, Beth. Yes it is. 🙂