Short on brisket and can’t find the best brisket substitutes for it? Don’t let this ruin your weekend barbecue plans because I’ve got just the thing for you. In this article, I’ll tell you all about the juicy brisket and its substitutes. Some of the best brisket substitutes are chuck roast, short ribs, lamb roast, roast pork, and beef clods.
Brisket is nothing less than a delicious, meaty delight. It has various variations, and there are several different cooking methods. At times, brisket can be too much to work with or time-consuming. Thus, you can’t help but start looking for its substitutes.
This article will give you a deeper insight into brisket and its various substitutes. I know it sounds complicated. That is why I’m going to break it down for you in this article. I’ll get you familiarized with brisket in a way that you’d want to cook it every day! So, let’s go and smoke things up!
Quick Peek: Brisket
The following scribbles tell you what brisket is, its flavor, texture, culinary uses, and health benefits.
What Is A Brisket?
A brisket is a certain cut around the breast of a cow. It is mostly boneless and is one of the primal beef cuts. This type of cut of meat is often tough and needs to be cooked slowly.
Describing Brisket: Flavor and Texture
Brisket is best cooked in an oven or on a grill. When you cook it on low heat for a longer period, it fetches you the most delicious flavors. The perfect brisket is juicy and tender.
You should be careful while cooking it as overcooking it will make it dry. It can also be smoked and then thinly sliced for serving. It is mostly served with barbecue sauce with coleslaw, onions, etc., on the side.
Variations of Brisket
Brisket has a lot of variations to it. The most popular among these variations is the Texas beef brisket. It is so popular that it is even considered the “National dish of Texas.” Other variations include pot roast, curries, etc.
Uses of Brisket
Brisket is famous for its use in making corned beef and pastrami. Corned beef is basically brisket that is cured in brine and with other spices. Brisket is usually included in noodle soups and stews. A barbecue burger with brisket as a filling in it is just *chef’s kiss*.
It can be paired up with flavors of parsley, oranges (yes, you heard that right), etc. Get a glass of red wine and some brisket, and oh my, my, you’ll have yourself the most delicious of dinners.
Brisket can be used in a number of delicious recipes. Some of the recipes which make use of brisket are mustard-coated brisket, barbecued brisket, Texas smoked brisket, arepas, spicy beef quesadillas, and smoked brisket tacos.
Brisket On The Health Radar | Looking Through The Wellness Telescope
Some researchers did ponder over the health benefits of brisket and found that brisket can actually be good for us. A single serving of brisket can offer you 51% of the recommended daily protein intake.
Conjugated linoleic acid, one of the fatty acids present in brisket, can reduce the risk of diabetes, high cholesterol, and the growth of cancer cells. Brisket is a good source of B vitamins as well as minerals such as zinc, iron, phosphorus, and selenium.
Why Should We Substitute Brisket?
Brisket is one of the best cuts of meat you’ll ever have. It is extremely delicious, and its mention just makes your mouth water. Besides being a tasty treat, it also holds historical importance in Jewish culture.
Brisket is versatile and can be cooked in a variety of ways. It can be baked, boiled, roasted, grilled, etc. You can honestly cook it any way you want, but the only problem is that it can often be difficult to cook the right way.
Due to a brisket being a bit intimidating to cook and also a bit expensive, you can be forced to look for substitutes. That is why I’ve curated some of the best substitutes for a brisket further in this article for you. Keep reading to find out!
Other Food Substitutes You Can Try
- Best Pork Belly Substitutes You Can Try
- Best Pork Shoulder Substitutes You Can Try
- Best Beef Consommé Substitutes You Can Try
- Best Beef Broth Substitutes You Can Try
- Best Masa Harina Substitutes You Can Try
- Best Italian Sausage Substitutes You Can Try
- Best Halibut Substitutes You Can Try
- Best Amaro Nonino Substitutes You Can Try
- Best Prosciutto Substitutes You Can Try
- Best Andouille Sausage Substitutes You Can Try
11 Best Brisket Substitutes
You’d be surprised to know that there are substitutes available for brisket. If you can’t find it in the market or are afraid to cook it but want to have it, these substitutes are just what you need. A complete list of the eleven best substitutes for brisket is given below.
1. Chuck Roast
If I were to crown the king of brisket substitutes, I’d pick chuck roast. Chuck is a versatile and well-marbled cut of beef. It is similar to brisket in both flavor and texture. The only difference is that chuck doesn’t usually come boneless.
With its rich flavor, chuck is a pleasing substitute for a brisket. Like brisket, you’ll get the best results by cooking it slowly, just like a brisket. Tenderize it properly and have yourself a delicious meal!
2. Short Ribs
Short ribs refer to the chuck portion in a beef. With a small portion of rib bones, short ribs comprise the meat of varying thickness. They are juicy and flavorful. Short ribs are similar to brisket in many ways with regard to flavor, texture, and fat content, making them one of the best brisket substitutes.
Again, the key to cooking short ribs is to tenderize the meat while cooking it slowly. They taste the best when marinated properly and cooked in the oven.
3. Lamb Roast
Lamb roast is a different type of meat than brisket. But the flavors are immaculate! It has a richer and sharper flavor than a brisket. Crown roast and rack of lamb are some of the types of lamb roast.
Lamb roast is easy to cook, and the texture is almost similar to brisket, making it a very good substitute for brisket. You can marinade it well to make it taste more like a brisket.
4. Roast Pork
Pork is a pretty good substitute for brisket. There are a lot of cuts of pork available depending upon cooking method, flavor, etc. A few of them are loin roast, shoulder roast, butt roast, and blade loin roast.
With a juicy flavor and tender texture, roast pork, especially pork shoulder, works best as an alternative for brisket. For best results, cook it slowly and for a longer period.
5. Beef Clods
Beef clods are a good replacement for brisket. They have high-fat content and are tough. You’ll get the best results by cooking them slowly, after marinating them with the right amount of spice. Even if you’re braising the beef clods or grilling them, marinating them won’t hurt. It will provide them with a great flavor and texture.
6. Tri-Tip Roast
Tri-tip is one of the best beef meat cuts. This cut is made from the very tip of the sirloin and is triangular in shape (hence the name). Sirloin is one of the primal beef loin cuts.
Tri-tip roast has a beefy flavor with a buttery finish. It has a tender texture when raw and has a firm texture when roasted. Tri-tip roast is a good alternative for brisket due to the less time it takes to cook and flavor, similar to brisket.
7. Beef Shanks
Beef shanks refer to the meat cuts taken from the leg of a cow or bull. These are also called shank cross-cuts. These shanks are quite flavorful and tender. These are widely used in the making of low-fat ground beef. Beef shanks, when cooked at low temperature, become moist, tender, and extremely tasty, making them good substitutes for brisket.
8. Poultry Thighs
Though poultry covers a wide range of birds, let us keep it to chicken, turkey, duck, and goose here. Poultry meat is one of the second most consumed meats in the world. It is also relatively easy to buy at an affordable cost. So, if you want a cheap brisket alternative, your option should definitely be poultry thighs.
Turkey thighs have a unique flavor that can be roasted and seasoned like brisket. Chicken thighs are perfect for slow cooking. Duck thighs have an intense flavor, and the meat is close to red meat. You can choose the poultry of your choice depending on the recipe.
9. Seitan
Hello, animal lovers! If you ever wish to enjoy the flavor of the meat without actually eating it, seitan is your heavenly abode.
Seitan is a plant-based meat alternative. Also known as wheat meat, seitan is made out of wheat gluten. It has a chewy texture and a neutral flavor, which makes it easy to blend with other ingredients and their flavors. Seitan is a good alternative for brisket due to its neutral flavor and chewy texture.
10. Tofu
Tofu is also known as bean curd. It is a derivative of soy made by pressing curdled soy milk into slabs. It has a mildly sweet, nutty flavor and a soft, delicate texture. It absorbs all the flavors when used with other ingredients, making it a wonderful complementary substitute.
Tofu can be the best substitute for brisket if you are a vegan looking forward to relishing briskets. You can also opt to try flavored tofus in place of briskets.
11. Legumes
Legumes comprise a family of healthy foods. Beans, chickpeas, and lentils are the prominently used legumes that are consumed for their immense health benefits. These are all superb sources of protein, making them a good alternative for protein from meat.
Legumes are many in number, and thus it can be said that they have a sweet, earthy, and nutty flavor. Although legumes are nowhere near brisket in terms of texture or content, legumes can be your last resort to replace brisket with appropriate seasonings.
Short Recap
That must have been an exhaustive read on the best brisket substitutes, right? Let me make it easy for you to remember the details with the help of some points.
Beef-based Substitutes: The best brisket substitutes based on beef are chuck roast, short ribs, beef clods, tri-tip roast, and beef shanks.
Other Meat-based Substitutes: Lamb roast, roast pork, and poultry thighs are the best brisket substitutes based on other types of meat.
Vegan Substitutes: Seitan, tofu, and legumes are the best brisket substitutes for vegans.
How To Use Brisket Substitutes In A Recipe
Brisket Substitutes
Ingredients
- Chuck Roast
- Short Ribs
- Lamb Roast
- Roast Pork
- Beef Clods
- Tri-Tip Roast
- Beef Shanks
- Poultry Thighs
- Seitan
- Tofu
- Legumes
Instructions
- Go through the substitutes and see which one seems fit for the recipe.
- Collect your ingredients and use your preferred substitute.
- Use the substitute in the required amount and proceed to make the dish according to the recipe.
Final Musings
While brisket remains unbeatable in texture and flavor, substituting it with the above options is definitely an experience. These substitutes are close to brisket in terms of flavor and texture. These best substitutes for brisket are both delicious and affordable.
So, the next time you’re craving a satisfying plate of brisket and don’t have one, make sure to try these substitutes instead. Make sure to let me know how you liked it in the comments below!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is a brisket substitute for a slow cooker?
Blade roast or boneless chuck roast are good brisket substitutes for slow cookers.
What is a cheap alternative to brisket?
Poultry thighs, that of chicken, thighs and ducks, are cheap alternatives to brisket.
Can you substitute beef brisket for corned beef?
Corned beef can be used to substitute for beef brisket but there would be a change in flavor. Corned beef has a salty flavor due to the fact that it undergoes a curing process in a brine.
What meat is closest to brisket?
Pork brisket is the closest meat to brisket.
Is brisket and corned beef the same?
Brisket and corned beef are both made of beef. In fact, corned beef is made using a brisket. When the brisket is cured using a brine, it becomes corned beef.
