New England Boiled Dinner

Ingredients:

• 3 1/2 pounds corned beef brisket or plain beef brisket
• 15 peppercorns
• 8 whole cloves
• 1 bay leaf
• Salt, if using plain brisket
• 2 medium sized turnips, peeled and quartered
• 4 red new potatoes, peeled and quartered
• 3 large carrots, cut into thirds and the thickest pieces quartered lengthwise
• 1 small head cabbage, cut into fourths

Instructions:

1. Put corned beef in a pot, cover with water, add seasonings, simmer: Put the brisket in a 5 or 6 quart Dutch oven and cover with an inch of water.
2. If you are using corned beef brisket and it does not come already packed in seasoning, add peppercorns, cloves, and a bay leaf to the pot.
3. If using plain brisket, add a teaspoon of salt for every quart of water.
4. Bring to a simmer and then cover, lower the heat until it is barely simmering. Keep at a low simmer for four hours or until the meat is tender (a fork goes through easily).
5. Remove meat, add vegetables, simmer: Remove the meat and set aside, keeping the meat warm. Add the vegetables to the pot. Check the broth for taste. If it is too salty, add a little more water to taste.
6. Raise the temperature and bring the soup to a high simmer. Cook at a high simmer until done, about 15-30 minutes longer, depending on the size of the cut of your vegetables.
7. Slice meat across the grain: Slice the meat in thin slices across the grain. You may find it easier to slice if you first cut the roast in half along the same direction as the grain of the meat. Then slice smaller lengths across the grain.
8. Serve in bowls, a few pieces of meat in each, add some of the vegetables and some broth. Serve with horseradish or mustard or both.

Read More