The Best Passover Brisket Recipe (for any Jewish Holiday!) (2024)

FAQs

What cut of brisket is best for Passover? ›

If you're braising your brisket, which is what I recommend for Passover, I personally prefer to go the leaner route by using first cut brisket. If you are a fat lover, go for it and use the point cut, but try to make it the day before you want to serve it so you can remove the fat from the surface of the sauce easily.

First off, you'd smoke or bake the brisket at 225 degrees for 3 hours; then you'd wrap it in foil and keep cooking it for 2 hours. Finally, uncovered and cook for 1 more hour before letting it rest for a few minutes prior serving.

It's a tough cut of meat, which is why the best way to cook brisket is a low-and-slow method: Long, slow cooking makes it tender.

In general, plan for 1/2 pound of uncooked brisket per person. Some eaters may eat more and some may eat less. It's never a bad idea to add an extra pound or two, just in case your guests come extra hungry.

The cut of beef was decided to be celebratory and important due to its location. Brisket is found in the cow's front breast, making it kosher for Jews to consume. During the 19th century, many European communities faced many challenges and adversities, thus, leading to immigration.

You can use a dedicated smoker, a charcoal grill with wet wood chips or a gas grill with wet wood chips set for indirect heat. It's important to note that BBQ is the process of low, slow dry heat cooking. Grilling is high heat, fast cooking, it's not BBQ. Cook the brisket for 7 to 10 hours.

While smoking meat, you should pay special attention to the temperature danger zone because there is a higher chance of bacteria growth in the meat. Therefore, you need to find the optimum temperature for meat. As mentioned above, the temperature danger zone is 46°F -140°F (8°C-60°C).

Wrapping the brisket will prevent what's called "the stall" — when evaporation from the surface of the brisket halts the cooking process. It also gives you more control over the final appearance of the bark, and can help lock in moisture that would otherwise be lost as the brisket cooks.

To season your brisket for smoking and for Brisket Burnt Ends, simply rub generously with kosher salt, black pepper, and optional garlic powder. Place the seasoned brisket into the fridge and allow it to dry brine overnight. Now, it's time to cook!

After two or four hours of cooking, you can lightly spray your brisket with water, hot sauce, apple cider vinegar, or apple juice. You can do this every 30 minutes or every hour, based on preference.

Do you cook brisket fat side up or down? ›

To set things straight, we're here to put an end to the confusion, so you can get back to the grill with confidence. For brisket cooked to flavorful perfection, fat-side-down is the way to go. This is the only way to achieve a brisket that is perfectly moist with a perfect bark on both sides.

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Brisket is a popular Ashkenazi Jewish dish of braised beef brisket, served hot and traditionally accompanied by potato or other non-dairy kugel, latkes, and often preceded by matzo ball soup. It is commonly served for Jewish holidays such as Hanukkah, Passover, Rosh Hashanah, and Shabbat.

For the juiciest brisket, try to use one that still has the second cut (also called the point or the deckle) attached. It has more intramuscular fat than the more common, lean first cut, and will remain moister as a result. If using just the first cut, be sure not to trim any fat—it needs the fat for moistness.

Ashkenazi Jews have eaten brisket during Passover and other holidays for a very long time and for pretty sensible reasons. As per Jewish custom, as mentioned before, the hindquarters of the beef are not kosher, meaning that Jews have always had fewer cuts to choose from.

The point has extremely tender meat, to the point it falls apart, and it's also bursting with incredible flavor. The only difference is that the fat content is a lot, which means you'll have less meat to work with.

The second cut is great for those who enjoy a fattier meat, while the first cut will be good for those who want a leaner slice. The fat that separates the two muscles will also baste the first cut and help keep it moister that it might be cooking on its own.

Although the two brisket cuts can often be used interchangeably, the flat cut is most often used in braises that are sliced, like those popular on Jewish holidays and for corned beef. The fattier point cut, meanwhile, is preferred for pulled beef, beef sandwiches and smoked barbecued brisket.