Corned beef braised in Guinness

This variation on a recipe that the Editor’s friend Robyn Whyte gave her is not, strictly speaking, a traditional dish but it does use traditional British ingredients and methods. This is an irresistible preparation and really helps supermarket grade corned beef.

• 1 brisket of corned beef (about 3 lb)
• 1 bottle (12 or 14 ½ oz) Guinness (for this recipe I like the old fashioned bottled stout, not the pub draft version)
• 2 Tablespoons malt vinegar
• ½ cup dark brown sugar
• 2 Tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 heaping Tablespoon dried thyme
• Whole black peppercorns
• 6-8 cloves
• 2-3 bay leaves
• 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire
• 1 ½ cups sliced onions
• 2 cups baby carrots or 1½ cups sliced carrots
• 2 cups chopped celery
• 3-4 cups beef stock
• Hot sauce to taste

Preheat the oven to 250˚

1. Whisk together the Guinness, vinegar, sugar, tomato paste, thyme and Worcestershire
2. Put the pepper, cloves and bay in a roasting pan (alternatively, tie them in cheesecloth first) that fits the beef snugly; scatter the vegetables evenly around the pot.
3. Rinse the beef and set it on the vegetables, pour over the Guinness mixture and stock, and bring the liquid  to a boil on the stove.
4. Reduce the heat, skim off any scum, then cover and bake for 2-3 hours or until fork tender: Once the beef admits a butcher’s fork without resistance, but before it falls apart, remove it from the pot.
5. Strain the broth to serve in a pitcher with the beef, separate the cloves, bay and peppercorns from the vegetables and serve them with the beef.
6. Slice the beef diagonally across the grain: Some people like it thick and some like it thin. Serve with boiled potatoes, traditional mashed potatoes or mustard smashed potatoes.

Note : Mustard, mustard pickle or chow chow, Branston pickle, more malt vinegar and brown sauce are good condiments.