Smoky Barbecued Brisket
To make sure the meat turns out especially tender, be sure to ask your butcher for the packers cut or whole brisket. Trim some of the fat if you like--just make sure to leave enough to keep the brisket moist on the grill!
The brisket can be barbecued ahead and refrigerated overnight. Bring the meat to room temperature before carving and reheating it.
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup Garlicky Barbecue Marinade
- One 10-pound beef brisket with a nice layer of fat
- 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons Seven-Spice Dry Rub
- 4 cups hickory or other hardwood chips, soaked in water for at least 30 minutes
- Cider Mop Spray
- 2 cups Sweet and Sticky Barbecue Sauce mixed with 2 cups water
- Hamburger buns and hot sauce, for serving
Preparation
Rub the Garlicky Barbecue Marinade all over the brisket and refrigerate overnight.
Bring the brisket to room temperature and sprinkle the Seven-Spice Dry Rub all over it.
Light a charcoal fire in a covered grill and set it up for indirect grilling: When the temperature reaches 225°, carefully push the hot coals to one side and place a drip pan filled with 1 cup of water on the opposite side. Alternatively, bring a smoker to 225°. Put the brisket over the drip pan, fat side up, and cover the grill; you’ll need to cook the brisket for a total of about 8 hours, rotating the meat (but not turning it over) every 2 hours. Maintain the temperature at 225° by replenishing the charcoal with a fresh batch of burning coals every hour. Every hour, drain 1/2 cup of the wood chips and scatter them over the hot coals. Add more water to the drip pan when half of it is evaporated.
After the first 6 hours, spray the brisket generously with the Cider Mop Spray. Continue cooking the brisket, spraying it with the Mop Spray every 30 minutes, until an instant-read thermometer registers 190° when inserted in the thickest part of the meat. Transfer the brisket to a carving board and let rest for 30 minutes.
Pour the diluted Sweet and Sticky Barbecue Sauce into a roasting pan and bring to a simmer. Slice the brisket 1/4 inch thick against the grain and transfer to the roasting pan. Simmer the meat over low heat, basting it with the sauce until heated through, about 5 minutes. Serve with the buns and hot sauce.
