Homemade Irish Corned Beef and Vegetables
6cups water
2cups lager beer
1½cups coarse kosher salt
1cup (packed) golden brown sugar
1½tablespoons Insta Cure no. 1* (optional)
¼cup pickling spices
1 6- to 8-pound flat-cut beef brisket, trimmed, with some fat remaining
12-ounce bottle Guinness stout or other stout or porter
4bay leaves
1tablespoon coriander seeds
2whole allspice
1dried chile de árbol, ** broken in half
Cheesecloth
12baby turnips, trimmed, or 3 medium turnips or rutabagas, peeled, quartered
8unpeeled medium white-skinned or red-skinned potatoes (about 3 pounds)
6medium carrots, peeled
4medium onions, peeled, halved through root ends
2medium parsnips, peeled, cut into 2-inch lengths
1 2-pound head of cabbage, quartered
Horseradish Cream
Guinness Mustard
Pour 6 cups water and beer into large deep roasting pan. Add coarse salt; stir until dissolved. Add sugar; stir until dissolved. If desired, stir in Insta Cure No. 1. Mix in pickling spices. Pierce brisket all over with tip of small sharp knife. Submerge brisket in liquid, then top with heavy platter to weigh down. Cover and refrigerate 4 days.
Remove brisket from brine. Stir liquid to blend. Return brisket to brine; top with heavy platter. Cover; refrigerate 4 days. Remove brisket from brine. Rinse with cold running water. Can be made 2 days ahead. Wrap corned beef in plastic, cover with foil, and refrigerate.
Place corned beef in very large wide pot. Add stout and enough water to cover by 1 inch. Wrap cheesecloth around bay leaves, coriander seeds, allspice, and chile, enclosing completely, and tie with kitchen string to secure. Add spice bag to pot with beef; bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until beef is tender, about 2 1/4 hours. Transfer beef to large baking sheet.
Add turnips and all remaining vegetables to liquid in pot; bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium and boil gently until all vegetables are tender, about 25 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer vegetables to baking sheet with beef. Return beef to pot and rewarm 5 minutes. Discard spice bag.
Cut beef against grain into 1/4-inch thick slices. Arrange beef and vegetables on platter. Serve with Horseradish Cream, click here for recipe and Guinness Mustard click here for recipe.
