10/15/13

Brisket Tacos with Mango Barbecue Relish


People often ask where I get ideas to make all of the recipes I post on ABK?  Besides my enormously huge and creative mind (eheheh) some of my ideas come from:
1. My cookbook collection (over 300 at last count)
2. I'm a cooking magazine addict. Have I ever told you how difficult it is for me to part with magazines??  When we moved down the street last winter, so did stacks of magazines. I did manage to toss boxes of Bon Appetite and Gourmet mags that were from the 80's and 90's into the recycle bin. Ridiculous, I know.  If they ever make a show called "Hoarders, Magazine Addition" I'll be on the pilot.
3. If you've read ABK for any length of time, you know my new favorite place to find recipes is  on Pinterest. Love the visuals. Love the convenience of literally hundreds of thousands of recipes available with a simple right click. Last week, I pinned a recipe on my board  "Cooking, Next on my List". There were so many re-pins the next day,  I decided to test out this recipe ASAP.
We loved it. The caption another Pinner left under the photo read "Now THIS is Texas!!" Crockpot tacos.  I'm not sure about the Texas part (if y'all are Texans, you'll have to try this out and let me know what you think).  
This recipe has a sweet twist. You'll have to give up a can (or two) of Dr. Pepper for the sauce. You know it's going to be good if the recipe calls for meat swimming in DP.  And the Mango Relish? Stash the leftovers for topping your eggs in the morning. Yummy.


Leftover meat? See recipe idea in "Tips" below.


Brisket Tacos with Mango Barbecue Relish
adapted from Confessions of a Foodie Bride
print recipe

Brisket
3-4 lb brisket, shoulder or cross rib roast
Salt
Ground black pepper
1 tablespoon chili powder
2 cloves garlic, minced
16 oz  Dr. Pepper, not diet (I'm sure Coke or Pepsi will work as well)

Mango Barbecue Relish
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped (about 3/4 – 1 cup)
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 cup ketchup or bbq sauce
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon Spicy Brown mustard
Salt
Pepper
1/4 cup mango chutney
Quesadillas
8 flour or corn tortillas
olive oil or cooking spray, to brush tortillas
chopped red pepper and onions (sautéed or fresh), sliced avocado, fresh mango, lime for garnish

Note- Don't let the length of this recipe scare you off. It's basically 3 simple steps:
cook meat in slowcooker, make a (less than 5 minute) relish/bbq sauce and assemble the tacos or quesadillas. 

Meat:
Rub the meat with salt, pepper, chili powder, and garlic.
Place brisket in slow cooker and pour the Dr. Pepper around the sides and a little over the top, taking care to not wash away all of the spice.
Cook on low for 8 hours, or in the oven covered tightly at 250 for 6-8  hours.
Remove meat from the crockpot. Slice or pull apart meat. Drain off some of the juice. Keep meat warm until ready to assemble.
Mango bbq Relish: 
While meat is cooking, heat olive oil in a 2-qt sauce pan. Saute onions for 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant.
Stir in the remaining ingredients and simmer for 5 minutes.
Transfer to a blender or food processor and run until smooth, or use a immersion blender and blend in pan. Set aside until ready to assemble tacos. 
Assemble:
Heat a griddle or large pan over medium-high. Cook the tortillas just until warmed. Place tortillas on plate.
Top with warm meat and mango relish. Garnish as desired.
Yield: 8-10 servings

Tips:
-Make sure to use regular, not Diet Dr. Pepper.
-This dish may be served as quesadillas or tacos. To make quesadillas, shred Monterey Jack cheese, spread over tortillas, top with meat and a bit of mango relish. Grill, slice and serve.
-I used the leftover meat (about 2 cups) and sautéed an onion and a red pepper as a base for chili. 
Add a can of small red beans and a can of chili beans, a chopped tomato and a bit of water. Simmer and serve.  

6 comments:

  1. I'm sitting here smiling because we must be twins who got separated at birth. Your #1: Ditto, #2: Ditto, #3 Ditto! Yes, I've got over 300 cookbooks and counting. Yes, I hoard cooking magazines. And, finally, don't even get me started on Pinterest recipes! For your fellow amusement, you need to read my "confession" in the post below. Love your site--every time I visit I want to take a bite out of the chocolate frosted brownie! http://www.fransfavs.com/2011/05/best-big-fat-chewy-chocolate-chip-cookie/

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    Replies
    1. Hi Fran,
      Great blog! It is nice to know I am not alone in my obsession with hoarding cooking magazines:) Fun to make this connection with you.
      Happy cooking (and blogging) !
      Si

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  2. You should check out www.thebittenword.com It's two guys that live in Washington DC. They test recipes from cooking magazines and then rate them. Once a year they to a cover to cover challenge and have readers help make every recipe in a magazine. They've been a lot of fun to follow. Love what you do. Your recipes are always yummy and I grew up in Bountiful so I feel a connection. :O)

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    1. I will check out their blog, love the test and report posts! I'm glad you found ABK and love that you grew up here and feel a connection to my little blog. It's always good to go back home :)

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  3. This looks soooooo good! My mother in law is a cookbook hoarder, I've been known to "borrow" from her...what magazine's do you subscribe to? What are your favs? I'm looking for a new subscription that has reliable recipes. I already get Cooking Light. (I'm over at thefoodcharlatan.com, by the way, I can't figure out how to get this to link to me. Come over and say hi sometime :)

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    Replies
    1. Hi Karen,
      My all time favorite magazine is Southern Living. It is the equivalent to "Sunset" magazine in the West. Much better home decor and recipes all around than Sunset. I have been subscribing for nearly 20 years now. I also love Bon Appetite, Food and Wine magazine and Martha Stewart magazine.
      Happy cooking!
      Si

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