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1 tbsp. vegetable oil
The day before serving, heat the oil in a Dutch oven or other large, heavy pot over medium-high heat. Add the meat (fat side down first), and brown it well on all sides, about 5 minutes per side. Transfer the meat to a plate.
Add the onions to the pot and cook, stirring often, until they are soft and brown, about 8 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute more. Then stir in 3 cups water and the wine, juice, onion soup mix, 1 tsp. of the salt, and 1/4 tsp. of the pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, return the meat to the pot, cover, and simmer until a fork can pierce the meat but it is not quite done, 1-3/4 to 2-1/4 hours, depending on the thickness of the meat.
Remove the pot from the heat and allow it to cool somewhat. Then remove the meat and slice off all visible fat. Transfer the meat, with the gravy, to a large bowl or container and refrigerate it, covered, overnight.
The next day, preheat the oven to 350°F.
Remove the bowl from the refrigerator and skim off the congealed fat. Remove the meat and cut it into 1/4" to 3/8" thick slices. Set it aside.
Transfer the gravy to a Dutch oven or other large, heavy, ovenproof pot and bring it to a boil. Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the honey, brown sugar, lemon juice, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, 1 tsp. of the salt, or more to taste, and remaining 1/4 tsp. pepper.
Return the sliced meat to the pot. Add the prunes and raisins. Arrange the sweet potatoes and carrots on top. Baste the meat and vegetables with the sauce, and bring back to a boil.
Transfer the pot to the oven and bake, covered, for 30 minutes, basting every 15 minutes.
Sprinkle the potatoes and carrots lightly with paprika, and continue baking, uncovered this time, basting every 15 minutes, until the carrots and potatoes are very tender, about 30 minutes. If you like (and if your oven has a broiling mode), turn the oven setting to broil, place the pot on the lowest rack, and broil the potatoes and carrots briefly until crisp. Serve hot.
Poster's Notes:
It's never the same way twice, of course. Her latest twist is briefly broiling the sweet potatoes and carrots to crisp them up. Sometimes she adds pineapple chunks, sometimes parsnips. But always she's real heavy on the prunes, not only because she loves them but because she claims she can still hear Aunt Estelle complaining that Mama Hinda never added enough of them.
Apricots or any other dried fruit can be substituted if you feel no similar compunction to make things up to Aunt Estelle.
Posted by Judy Bart Kancigor
Nutritional Info Per Serving: N/A
4 to 5 lb. first-cut beef brisket
2 large onions, sliced
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1/2 cup sweet red wine or water
1 cup pineapple or orange juice
1 package dehydrated onion soup mix
2 to 3 tsp. kosher (coarse) salt, or to taste
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup plus 2 tbsp. (packed) light brown sugar
1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
1-1/2 tsp. grated fresh ginger
1-1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
Ground nutmeg to taste
3 cups (1-1/2 lb.) pitted prunes, dried apricots, or a combination
1/2 cup raisins
3 lb. sweet potatoes, cut into 1-1/2" chunks
1-1/2 lb. carrots, cut into 1/2" thick slices
Paprika, for sprinkling
The Yiddish word tzimmes means "a big fuss," so little wonder this dish took that name. Tzimmes is my mother's favorite childhood dish, and every time she makes it, she makes more of a tsimmes out of it.