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What Are the Best Ideas for Brisket Side Dishes?

Lori Kilchermann
Lori Kilchermann

Some of the best brisket side dishes are prepared in the same pan as the brisket entree, such as when making boiled or roasted brisket. These dishes offer flavor as well as nutrition and can complement the brisket and the method used for preparing the meat. Starchy side dishes can take advantage of the gravy that is often made from the drippings of roasted brisket. Other brisket side dishes are based on barbecued brisket and traditional favorites and flavors of certain locals and nationalities. Vegetables, rice and fruits are commonly featured along with brisket, and the dishes include both hot and cold recipe options.

Brisket is served in many configurations, however, three of the most common types are roasted, boiled and barbecued. The type of side dish that goes the best with each type of brisket can depend on the manner in which the beef is prepared. Traditional dishes, such as corned beef and cabbage, feature brisket and cabbage boiled together. Some recipes include potatoes being prepared in the same pan as the meat and cabbage. This allows the potatoes to absorb some of the flavor of the meat. Carrots are also cooked in the same pot in some brisket recipes.

Julienned Granny Smith apples can be used in a slaw that makes a good side dish for brisket.
Julienned Granny Smith apples can be used in a slaw that makes a good side dish for brisket.

Roasted brisket is often made by having the potatoes, onions and carrots being cooked in the same pan along with the beef. This mix of vegetables can also include parsnips, zucchini and rutabagas. Brisket side dishes can include a wide assortment of various vegetables.

Rice, mushrooms and steamed greens are also commonly prepared side dishes when paired with roasted brisket. Some recipes call for the roast brisket drippings to be made into a gravy. It is then served over the rice. Other recipes call for the mushrooms to be mixed into the rice and served together.

A side dish of cabbage salad pairs nicely with brisket.
A side dish of cabbage salad pairs nicely with brisket.

Barbecued brisket is often paired with summertime dishes, such as potato and macaroni salads, baked beans and coleslaw. When serving barbecued brisket, the brisket side dishes may be served either warm or cold, depending on personal taste and preference.

Some side dishes add the sweetness of fruit to counter the barbecue sauce and bring out the flavor of the beef. Apple slaw is a type of coleslaw made with tart, Granny Smith apples that are prepared julienne style and used in place of cabbage. This is an optional side dish that pairs well with most types of brisket.

Discussion Comments

mobilian33

Is doesn't take a degree to grill a brisket, just a good plan and a little experience. Stack your charcoal and let it burn down until it forms ashes, and use wood chips to smoke the brisket. You want your constant temperature to be at 225 degrees fahrenheit. The temperature may vary a little during the cooking process, but you want to come as close as possible to this temperature at all times.

Remember to open the grill vents to increase temperatures when you think the grill is cooling off too much, and close the vents to lower the temperatures. If you follow these steps, you can be almost assured of having a very good brisket.

Drentel
Seldom do you see brisket on the menu at a cookout or barbecue, depending on where you are from and the local terminology. Anyway, most cooks operating the grill find the brisket to be too much of an undertaking. This is partly why I like to grill this piece of meat. I like the challenge, and even more importantly, I like the way the brisket turns out when cooked properly.

One thing that makes the brisket intimidating for some backyard cookers is the size of the average brisket. A fifteen to twenty pound chunk of meat on a grill takes some care and time to be sure that you get it cooked without ruining the exposed portions of the meat.

For this reason, unless I have a lot of time, I go with a trimmed piece of brisket weighing in the neighborhood of five pounds. I don't have any particular sides that I like to stick to every time because I believe that when the meat is prepared as it should be then it will compliment any side item and the side item will compliment the meat.

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    • Julienned Granny Smith apples can be used in a slaw that makes a good side dish for brisket.
      By: xiangdong Li
      Julienned Granny Smith apples can be used in a slaw that makes a good side dish for brisket.
    • A side dish of cabbage salad pairs nicely with brisket.
      By: Anticiclo
      A side dish of cabbage salad pairs nicely with brisket.
    • Rutabagas are often served as a side dish with roasted brisket.
      By: snyfer
      Rutabagas are often served as a side dish with roasted brisket.
    • Potatoes that are cooked with brisket absorb some of the meat's flavor.
      By: James Martin
      Potatoes that are cooked with brisket absorb some of the meat's flavor.