Homemade Corned Beef with Mustard Sauce
Why choose homemade corned beef?
Corned beef, with its savoury, brined flavour, is a cornerstone of many traditional dishes. Cooking corned beef at home allows you to control the ingredients and the firmness of the meat, ensuring a custom fit to your taste preferences. Our corned beef recipe brings out the best in our quality beef, paired with a tangy mustard sauce that complements the richness of the meat.
Selecting the right ingredients
For the best homemade corned beef, start with high-quality beef brisket or silverside from Grange Meat Co. Known for its excellent marbling, brisket becomes incredibly tender when cooked slowly.
Here’s what you’ll need to make your corned beef shine:
- Beef Brisket: Preferably a 2.5-3kg portion from Grange Meat Co.
- Salt: For brining the meat.
- Sugar and Spices: Including whole peppercorns, cloves, and bay leaves.
- Water: To create the brine.
- Mustard seeds and garlic: For added flavour during the brining process.
- Mustard powder: The core ingredient of the sauce.
- Vinegar and sugar: Essential acid and sweetness for the sauce.
- Sides: Potatoes, salads, and greens make for great meals.
Ingredients:
Corned beef
- 2.5-3kg Beef Brisket (from Grange Meat Co.)
- 1 cup salt (for brining)
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 tbsp mustard seeds
- 4 cloves crushed garlic
- 1 tbsp whole peppercorns
- 6 whole cloves
- 3-4 bay leaves
- enough water to cover the brisket in the pot
Mustard sauce
- 1 tbsp mustard powder
- 1/2 cup cream
- 1 tsp sugar
- 2 tbsp vinegar (preferably white wine vinegar)
Method
- Brining the beef
Combine water, salt, sugar, mustard seeds, crushed garlic, peppercorns, cloves, and bay leaves in a large pot. Bring to a boil, then cool to room temperature. Submerge your beef brisket in the brine, and let it sit in the refrigerator for 5 to 7 days.
- Rinsing the beef
Once brined, rinse the brisket under cold water to remove excess salt.
- Cooking the corned beef
Cooking corned beef is a slow but rewarding process. Here's how to ensure it comes out tender and flavourful.
Place your rinsed brisket in a large pot and cover it with water. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Skim off any foam that forms on the surface.
- Simmering
Add additional spices if desired (such as more garlic or bay leaves) and simmer the beef for about 3 to 4 hours. The key to knowing how long to cook corned beef is to ensure it's tender enough to pull apart easily with a fork.
- Mustard sauce preparation
While your corned beef is simmering, prepare the mustard sauce. Whisk together mustard powder, cream, a touch of sugar, and vinegar in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer, stirring continuously until thickened.
- Serving
Once your corned beef is cooked, slice it against the grain for maximum tenderness. Serve it drizzled with your homemade mustard sauce. Corned beef pairs wonderfully with boiled potatoes, sautéed cabbage, or a fresh green salad for a balanced meal.
Recipe for corned beef in the slow cooker
For those who prefer a set-it-and-forget-it approach, cooking corned beef in a slow cooker is an excellent alternative. Simply place the rinsed, brined brisket into the slow cooker, cover with water, and set on low for 8 to 10 hours. The slow cooking process makes the beef incredibly tender and flavourful.
Tips for making the perfect corned beef
When simmering, keep an eye on the brisket to ensure it stays submerged and cooks evenly. Whether on the stove or in the slow cooker, low and slow is the way to go to achieve the perfect texture.
Cooking homemade corned beef may seem like a task, but with high-quality beef from Grange Meat Co. and a little patience, you can create a dish that's both comforting and celebratory. This corned beef recipe not only teaches you how to cook corned beef but also how to enhance it with a simple yet delicious mustard sauce. Enjoy the process and your meal!
