TEXAS BBQ RECIPES RECIPES

Steps:

• Using a very sharp knife, round off the corners of the brisket. Make sure the brisket has no 90 degree angles. This will help the heat to move aerodynamically across the meat. Trim the fat on the fatty side of the brisket to about 8 mm thick but no less.
• On the meatier side, remove the web-like membrane covering the meat so the coarsely grained meat underneath is visible.
• Remove any hard clumps of fat on either side of the brisket. Note the section shaped like a wedge between the point and flat. Be sure to cut away most of that fat. If you don’t, that fat will never melt (render).
• In a small bowl stir together the pepper and salt. Season the bottom of the brisket first and the fatty side last, making sure you apply the rub evenly on all sides. Refrigerate the brisket until ready to smoke (you can do this up to 12 hours in advance).
• Fill a chimney starter with the required quantity of lit barbecue briquettes and light it. Set up the smoker with the required amount of wood chunks and unlit barbecue briquettes.
• Pour the lit briquettes in the centre of the unlit briquettes. Fill the water pan three-quarters full with water and assemble the smoker. Wait until the temperature of the smoker reaches about 130°C, 20 to 30 minutes. At this point, you will se some light coloured smoke coming out of the vents. Brush the cooking grills clean.
• Place the brisket, fat side up, on the top cooking grill and close the lid. Cook over indirect very low heat, with the lid closed as much as possible.
• Cook 4 to 5 hours. Achieving surface colour indicates a good “bark” has been created and the brisket will no longer absorb much smoke. The temperature in the thickest part of the brisket will be around 65° to 71°C, but colour is the primary indication of a good bark.
• Arrange two sheets of 90 cm long pink butcher’s paper side by side and overlapping. Fill a spray bottle with the vinegar and water and spray the brisket all over. Transfer the brisket, fatty side up, to the centre of the paper. Fold one long side of the paper over the brisket, bring each side in and over, then roll it up until wrapped and sealed (like a burrito).
• Place the wrapped brisket, fat side down, on the top cooking grill over indirect very low heat. Adjust the heat of the smoker as needed to maintain the temperature between 130° and 140°C.
• Cook, with the lid closed, until the meat is so tender that when you press it with your fingers through the paper it feels like a giant marshmallow or sponge. This will probably take 5 to 7 hours more.
• At that point, the internal temperature should be 94° to 96°C in the flat and 98° to 99°C in the point, though tenderness is a more important indicator of doneness. The amount of time depends on the breed of cattle and other characteristics of the meat. A common mistake is taking the brisket off too early.
• Transfer the brisket, still wrapped in the butcher's paper, to a dry, insulated cooler or turned-off oven. Close the cooler or oven and let the meat rest for 2 to 4 hours. Don’t skip this step. It helps loosen the muscles and absorb moisture back into the brisket. The ideal serving temperature of the brisket is 60° to 63°C.
• Unwrap the brisket and set it on a cutting board, being careful to keep the precious meat juices in the butcher's paper. Starting with the flat, cut the brisket across the grain into thin slices.
• The grain runs differently in the point section, so once you get to that portion of the brisket, you’ll need to turn your knife. First, cut the point in half, then slice each portion across the grain. Serve the brisket warm on buns or bread with barbecue sauce, if using.

Steps:

• You’ll need to brine the meat at least 24 hrs before your BBQ. First, spatchcock the chicken. Flip the chicken over so the backbone is facing you. Use a sturdy pair of kitchen or poultry scissors to cut down either side of the backbone, then discard. Turn the chicken over and push down firmly on the breastbone to flatten out the bird. Make a few slashes in each leg joint. (Watch a video showing how to spatchcock a chicken at bbcgoodfood.com/videos/spatchcock.)
• Put each cut of meat in a separate, large sealable bag. Sprinkle 1 tbsp salt into each bag and massage it all over the meat. Squeeze the air from the bags, seal tightly and put in the fridge for 24 hrs.
• Tip the remaining salt, fennel seeds and peppercorns into a mortar. Tear the bay into small pieces and add this too. Crush the ingredients with the pestle until finely ground. Add the cayenne, paprika, garlic salt and sugars, and mix well. Remove the meat from the bags and pat dry with kitchen paper. Cover each cut with the rub, making sure you get into every nook. Return to the fridge for at least 1-2 hrs while you prepare the barbecue, or up to 24 hrs.
• You’ll need to start the barbecue 7-8 hrs before you want to eat. Heat the coals and leave them until ashen. Add your wood chips, if using. When the flames have died down and you’re left with smoky cinders, push the coals and wood chips to one side of the BBQ pit, then replace the grill and add the beef and pork, placing them above the empty side of the pit – this will ensure the meat smokes but doesn’t burn. Pull down the lid and cook the meat for 30-40 mins, turning every now and then, until a dark crust has formed around the meat. Don’t be afraid to take it quite far, the crust should be almost black (but caramelised as opposed to burnt). Heat oven to 140C/120C fan/gas 1.
• Transfer the meat to roasting tins, wrap tightly with foil and cook in the oven for 5-6 hrs until really tender.
• When the meat has 1 - 1 1/ 2 hrs to go, reheat the BBQ and wait for the coals to turn ashen before adding more wood chips. When the flames have died down, push to one side as before. Put the chicken on the BBQ, bone-side down, above the empty side of the pit. Cook for 20-25 mins on each side or until cooked through – check by piercing a leg to see if the juices are clear, or use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature has reached 70C. Wrap tightly in foil and set aside to rest.
• After 5-6 hrs, the beef and pork should be really tender. Remove from the oven and leave to rest for 15 mins. If you’ve made a BBQ sauce (see the Texas BBQ sauce recipe here), brush this over the meat for a glossy finish. Remove any string from the pork and shred the meat. Cut the chicken into portions and serve everything on a big platter with the sliced sweet onions, gherkins and sides.