Hickory-Smoked Brisket With Southwestern Barbecue Sauce

Ingredients

Hickory-smoked brisket

• 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper, freshly ground
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 beef brisket (3- to 4-pound)
• 4 cups beer
• 2 cups water
• 4 cups hickory chips, soaked

Southwestern barbecue sauce and assembly

• 1 large onion, thinly sliced, top to bottom
• 3 garlic cloves, crushed
• 2 jalapenos, seeded and diced
• 2 poblano chiles, seeded and diced (pasilla fine too)
• 1/2 cup strong black coffee
• 12 ounces beer, preferably ale
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 3 cups ketchup
• 1/4 cup maple syrup, preferably Grade B
• 1/4 cup molasses
• 1 tablespoon cumin
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon new mexico chile powder
• 1/3 cup red wine vinegar

Directions

1. 1

   Hickory-smoked brisket:.

2. 2

   In a small bowl, combine the salt, pepper, onion powder, cumin and garlic powder. Rub the mix into the brisket and let sit at room temperature, 45 minutes to 1 hour.

3. 3

   Meanwhile, prepare your smoker or grill to cook over low, indirect heat for several hours. Set up a drip pan underneath where the brisket will smoke, and fill with the beer and water. Shortly before cooking, adjust the heat as needed to maintain a temperature around 250 degrees, and add hickory chips to start smoking.

4. 4

   Place the brisket (fat side up) in the prepared smoker and cook for 2 1/2 hours. Adjust the heat as needed (add several coals to either side of the grill as needed if using a kettle grill) to maintain the ambient temperature (around 250 degrees); replenish the chips as needed to keep smoking. Baste the brisket every 30 minutes or so to keep it moist.

5. 5

   After 2 1/2 hours, wrap the brisket (fat side up) tightly in foil and continue to cook over indirect low heat until the meat is fork-tender, 3 to 4 additional hours (time may vary depending on the heat of the smoker and size and thickness of the brisket).

6. 6

   Remove the brisket from heat and, still wrapped in foil, cover it with a layer of newspaper and kitchen towels to keep warm. Set aside, covered, for at least 1 hour before serving. While the brisket is resting, make the sauce.

7. 7

   Southwestern barbecue sauce and assembly:.

8. 8

   In a heavy-bottom 4-quart pot, combine the onion, garlic, jalapeños and chiles with the coffee and beer. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat and simmer until the onion is translucent, about 10 minutes.

9. 9

   Stir in the tomato paste, ketchup, maple syrup, molasses, cumin, salt, chile powder and red wine vinegar and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and blend the sauce using an immersion blender or in stages in a stand blender, until fairly smooth. Set aside.

10. 10

    Remove the brisket from the foil and slice across the grain into thin strips, reserving any pooled juices and leftover bits. Stir these drippings into the barbecue sauce. Serve the brisket warm with the barbecue sauce on the side.