Corned beef seems to be more popular in the United States than it is in its native England and Ireland. The meat was originally cured with pellets of salt the size of corn kernels–hence the name “corned beef ” (it’s now cured in brine). Corned beef s usually sold with a ready-made spice packet–or make your own: Add 1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns, 1/2 teaspoon mustard seed, 1/4 teaspoon celery seed, 1 bay leaf, and a pinch of dried crushed red pepper to the cooking liquid.
Yield:
4 to 6 servingsCorned Beef Brisket with Spring Vegetables
Ingredients
1 corned beef brisket (2-1/2-3 pounds) with spice packet*
1 small head cabbage, cut into wedges
1 pound fresh baby carrots
1 package (16 ounces) frozen sweet peas
Horseradish Chive Sauce (see accompanying recipe) or mustard
Instructions
Rinse brisket and place it in a large Dutch oven. Sprinkle meat with spices (see above). Add water to cover. Bring to a boil; then cover, reduce heat, and simmer 2-1/2 hours, or until meat is fork-tender. Transfer brisket to a serving platter and keep warm until ready to serve.
Add cabbage and carrots to cooking liquid; cover and cook 15 minutes, or until vegetables are crisp-tender. Add peas and cook 5 minutes longer.
Slice brisket thinly, diagonally across the grain of the meat. Discard bay leaf and arrange vegetables around brisket. Serve with Horseradish—Chive Sauce or your favorite mustard.
Horseradish-Chive Sauce
Ingredients
8 ounces sour cream
2—3 tablespoons prepared horseradish, drained
2 teaspoons chopped chives
Instructions
Combine sour cream, horseradish, and chives, stirring ingredient mixture well.
Cover and chill.
