Braised Brisket With Mushroom Onion Gravy

Total Time: 4 hrs 30 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 4 hrs

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 1 ounce dried porcini mushrooms
• 4 cups water
• 4 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 large onions, thinly sliced
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• 2 cups dry red
• 3 lbs beef brisket, trimmed
• salt and pepper, to taste
• 2 garlic cloves, smashed
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 2 bay leaves

Recipe

• 1 place the mushrooms in a small bowl. bring 1 cup of the water to a boil. pour over the mushrooms. let stand for 30 minutes to soften.
• 2 remove the mushrooms from the soaking liquid, squeezing as much liquid as possible back into the bowl. coarsely chop the mushrooms.
• 3 strain the soaking liquid through a coffee filter or 2 layers of cheesecloth. set aside.
• 4 preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
• 5 heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a heavy large dutch oven over medium heat. add the onions and saute for about 10 minutes, until translucent.
• 6 reduce heat to low. cook for about 15 minutes, until the onions begin to brown, stirring from time to time.
• 7 add the vinegar and cook, stirring, for about 10 minutes, until the onions turn a deep golden brown.
• 8 add the and bring to a boil, scraping up any browned bits in the pot. transfer the mixture to a bowl.
• 9 heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil in the same dutch oven over high heat. season the brisket with salt and pepper. brown well on all sides. transfer the meat to a platter.
• 10 add the mushroom-soaking liquid to the dutch oven and bring to a boil, scraping up any browned bits.
• 11 return the brisket to the pot, along with the onion- mixture, the remaining 3 cups water, the mushrooms, garlic, thyme and bay leaves. bring to a boil.
• 12 tightly cover the pan. place in the oven and cook for about 3 hours, until the brisket is very tender.
• 13 transfer the meat to a platter and tent with foil.
• 14 remove the bay leaves from the cooking liquid. working in batches, puree the cooking liquid in a processor until smooth. transfer to a large saucepan. adjust seasoning and rewarm, if necessary.
• 15 cut the brisket across the grain into thin slices. arrange on a platter. spoon the sauce over the meat.