Cooking Corn Beef And Cabbage In The Oven
St. Patrick's Day is just around the corner, and what better way to celebrate this Irish holiday than with a delicious corned beef and cabbage dinner? While traditionally this dish is made on the stovetop, cooking it in the oven is a simple and flavorful alternative that allows you to enjoy the holiday without having to tend to a pot on the stove all day. In this article, we'll walk you through the process of cooking corned beef and cabbage in the oven, step-by-step.
Ingredients:
Before we begin, let's take a look at what you'll need to make this delicious meal:
- 1 (4-5 pound) corned beef brisket
- 1 head of cabbage, cut into wedges
- 1 pound of carrots, peeled and cut into chunks
- 1 onion, cut into chunks
- 4 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon of whole peppercorns
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tablespoon of brown sugar
- Water
Instructions:
Now that we have our ingredients, let's get started on making this delicious meal:
- Preheat your oven to 325°F (165°C).
- Remove the corned beef brisket from its packaging and rinse it under cold water to remove any excess salt. Pat the beef dry with paper towels.
- Place the beef in a large roasting pan, fat side up.
- Scatter the onion, garlic, peppercorns, bay leaves, and brown sugar around the beef.
- Add enough water to the pan to come up to about a quarter of the way up the beef.
- Cover the pan with foil and place it in the oven for 2 hours.
- After 2 hours, remove the pan from the oven and add the carrots and cabbage wedges to the pan, placing them around the beef.
- Add more water, if needed, so that the liquid comes up to about halfway up the beef.
- Cover the pan with foil and return it to the oven for another 1 1/2 to 2 hours, or until the beef is tender and easily falls apart with a fork.
- Remove the pan from the oven and let the beef rest for about 10 minutes before slicing it against the grain.
- Serve the beef with the cabbage and carrots, along with some of the cooking liquid as a sauce.
Tips and Tricks:
Here are some tips and tricks to help you make the perfect corned beef and cabbage in the oven:
- If you like, you can also add potatoes to the pan in the last hour of cooking.
- Cut the cabbage into wedges that are roughly the same size as the carrots, so that they cook at the same rate.
- For added flavor, you can replace some of the water with beer or broth.
- Be sure to slice the beef against the grain, which will ensure that it is tender and not tough.
Conclusion:
Corned beef and cabbage is a classic St. Patrick's Day dish, and cooking it in the oven is a simple and delicious way to enjoy it. By following these steps and tips, you'll have a flavorful meal that your family and friends will love. So go ahead and give it a try this holiday season!
