Make sure you save yourself some of the caramelised pieces from the outside - they’re the best bits. Then maybe add a spoonful of sweet chilli jam on the side for an extra kick. This is one of those meals I like to cook on a cooler summer evening served with a crunchy salad and some french bread, or during the winter with a bowl of steaming hot boiled rice. It’s super easy to prepare. First season and seal the brisket in a pan, then mix together the glaze/rub and spread half of it on the beef. Fry up red onions with garlic and spices, then add in tinned tomatoes, beef stock, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce and HP sauce for a spicy, tangy sauce. Add the brisket into the pan with the sauce and cook in the oven until tender, before brushing on the rest of the marinade and letting it finish off without the lid for beautiful caramelised exterior!
If you manage to save leftovers of this pulled brisket, warm up the beef and sauce and serve it on crusty rolls for lunch the next day. You’ll be the envy of your colleagues.
This gorgeous brisket certainly isn’t a quick dish - in fact it’s in the oven for 3 and a half hours. Cheaper cuts like brisket lend themselves really well to this kind of slow cooking -resulting in lovely tender meat and amazing sauces from the meat juices mixing with any ingredients you might add. I love the tomatoey, slightly smoky and spicy flavour of this sauce, but it’d work wonderfully with other flavours like red wine & mushrooms or even some spicy Thai sauce with coconut milk (a bit like my Massaman curry).
This would also work great in the slow cooker or crockpot. I bet coming home to the smells of this filling your home would be amazing. It will still need a quick blast in the oven (see step 7) to get the caramelised layer though. There’s more info on cooking in the slow cooker in the recipe notes below.
The Caramelized Pulled Beef Brisket in a Rich Spicy Sauce Recipe:
This recipe was first published in October 2014. Updated in June 2018 with new photos and cook’s tips. Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links – which means if you buy the product I get a small commission (at no extra cost to you). If you do buy, then thank you! That’s what helps us to keep Kitchen Sanctuary running. The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors. For more information please see our Terms & Conditions.