Its that time of years again, time for me to absolutely ruin a good piece of corned beef. Doesn't matter what I try, it comes out tough and dry.
Does anyone here have a fool proof recipe or technique? My family would appreciate it
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I have the best corned beef recipe that I got over 45 years ago from an old friend. Some friends in January would be asking me if I was going to make my traditional St. Paddy's day meal. it's that good. So here you go. This won't be dry, because you boil it along with other things to give it great flavor!
1 or 2 straight cut corned beefs (if you are going to do this work, get two for leftovers for sandwiches, corned beef hash, or just the same meal again!).
Rinse, and put in a large pot and cover it with water.
Add a hand full of flat leaf parsley stems and all,
3 stalks of celery with the tops
6 - 8 garlic cloves crushed
1 lemon sliced
6 medium onions sliced
2 large peeled carrots
2 bay leaves
7 whole black peppercorns
*Also add the spices and herbs that come with the roast beef
Simmer about 40 minutes a pound which can take 3 1/2 - 4 hours. If it''s not feeling tender after 2 1/2 to 3 hours, add 2 T of vinegar.
When it's starting to feel tender and you have an hour left to go, add whole peeled carrots (these will be for serving. the earlier ones added were for flavor; but I eat those as well),
Also add whole scrubbed, red potatoes at the same time.
Twenty minutes before the hours i up, add a head of cabbage that you've cut in four or more wedges depending on how many servings you want.
When done all slice one of the corned beefs or both if you're serving a crowd, it all on a very big platter along with the potatoes and carrots. Have a large pitcher with melted butter ready for everyone to pour over everything!
Serve with the traditional Irish soda bread and butter for spreading. I always serve it with N.Y. Jewish rye. I think the flavor goes better with the corned beef.
Serve with Irish Beer, or wine or cider or whatever you like. I'm not a beer drinker but my friends and late husband were, so I opted for water or wine and they had beer. I always made Irish coffee for dessert and my family tradition was to listen to the 3 Tenors singing Irish songs in the background during dinner and watching "The Quiet Man" video with John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara, after dinner.
If you make this you will never again complain about dry corned beef. This is an amazing recipe! Thank you my friend Noella, who gave this to me and is now teaching people how to cook in heaven.