Shelly's Recipe

BARBECUED TEXAS BEEF BRISKET

Category: Brisket/Cornbeef

For dry rub
1/2 cup paprika
3 tbsp ground black pepper
3 tbsp coarse salt
3 tbsp sugar
2 tbsp chili powder

1 7 1/2- to 8-pound untrimmed whole beef brisket

For mop
12 ounces beer
1/2 cup cider vinegar
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
2 tbsp minced jalapeño chilies

5 lbs (about) natural lump charcoal
4 cups (about) oak or hickory wood smoke chips, soaked in cold water at least 30 minutes

1 cup purchased barbecue sauce
1 tbsp chili powder

Make dry rub: Mix first 5 ingredients in small bowl to blend.

Transfer 1 tablespoon dry rub to another small bowl and reserve for mop. Spread remaining dry rub all over brisket. Cover with plastic; chill overnight.

Make mop: Mix first 6 ingredients plus reserved dry rub in heavy medium saucepan. Stir over low heat 5 minutes. Pour 1/2 cup mop into bowl; cover and chill for use in sauce. Cover and chill remaining mop.

Following manufacturer's instructions and using natural lump charcoal, start fire in smoker. When charcoal is ash gray, drain 1/2 cup wood chips and scatter over charcoal. Bring smoker to 200 degrees to 225 degrees, regulating temperature by opening vents wider to increase temperature and closing slightly to reduce temperature.

Place brisket, fat side up, on rack in smoker. Cover; cook until tender when pierced with fork and meat thermometer inserted into center registers 185 degrees, about 10 hours (turn brisket over for last 30 minutes). Every 1 1/2 to 2 hours, add enough charcoal to maintain single layer and to maintain 200 to 225 degree temperature; add 1/2 cup drained wood chips. Brush brisket with chilled mop in pan each time smoker is opened. Transfer brisket to platter; let stand 15 minutes. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cool 1 hour. Wrap in foil; chill. Before continuing, rewarm brisket, still wrapped, in the oven at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes.)

Combine barbecue sauce and chili powder in heavy small saucepan. Add any accumulated juices from brisket and bring to boil, thinning sauce with some of reserved 1/2 cup mop, if desired. Thinly slice brisket across grain. Serve, passing sauce separately. Serves 12