Corned Beef with Red Currant-Mustard Sauce

Let your slow cooker do all the work for this complete meal of beer-braised Corned Beef with fresh cabbage and red potatoes. It's a great dish for your next celebration.

Ingredients

• 1 Corned Beef Brisket Boneless with seasoning packet (2-1/2 to 3 pounds)
• 3 ribs celery, cut into 3-inch pieces
• 2 medium onions, cut into quarters
• 2-1/2 cups water, divided
• 1 bottle (12 ounces) beer
• 1 pound green cabbage, cut into thin wedges
• 1 pound red-skinned potatoes, cut into 2-inch pieces
• 6 to 8 baby carrots, trimmed or 4 medium carrots, cut crosswise into 1-inch pieces
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• Chopped fresh parsley (optional)

• 1 jar (12 ounces) red currant jelly
• 3 tablespoons country Dijon-style mustard

Instructions

1. Place celery and onions in 4-1/2- to 5-1/2-quart slow cooker; top with corned beef brisket. Sprinkle contents of seasoning packet over brisket. Add 2 cups water and beer. Cover and cook on HIGH 6 to 7 hours or on LOW 9 to 10 hours or until brisket is fork-tender. (No stirring is necessary during cooking.)

   Cook's Tip: To cook on range-top, place corned beef in stockpot; sprinkle with contents of seasoning packet. Add celery, onions, 2 cups water and beer. Bring just to a simmer; do not boil. Cover tightly; simmer 2-1/2 to 3 hours or until brisket is fork-tender. Prepare vegetables and sauce as directed.

   
   

   If seasoning packet is not included with Corned Beef Brisket, substitute 1-1/2 teaspoons pickling spice, if desired.
   

2. Meanwhile, place cabbage, potatoes and carrots in 2-1/2 quart microwave-safe dish; add remaining 1/2 cup water.  Cover; microwave on HIGH 15 to 18 minutes or until vegetables are tender, stirring or rearranging once.  Drain; remove and discard cores from cabbage wedges. Add butter; season with salt and pepper, as desired. Toss to coat; keep warm.

   Cook's Tip: To prevent cabbage wedges from falling apart during cooking, leave core intact while cutting wedges. Remove and discard core before serving.

3. Prepare Red Currant-Mustard Sauce. Place jelly in medium microwave-safe bowl. Cover; microwave on HIGH 1-1/2 to 2 minutes or until melted, stirring once. Whisk in mustard. Cover; microwave on HIGH 30 seconds. Stir; keep warm.

   Cook's Tip: You may substitute red raspberry jelly for red currant jelly.

4. Remove brisket and carve diagonally across the grain into thin slices. Serve with vegetables and sauce. Garnish with parsley, if desired.

Alternate Cooking Method:

1. This recipe can be made in a 6-quart electric pressure cooker. Place Corned Beef Brisket, celery, onions and 1/2 cup beer in pressure cooker. Close and lock pressure cooker lid. Use meat or high-pressure setting on pressure cooker; program 70 minutes on pressure cooker timer. Use quick-release feature to release pressure; carefully remove lid. Continue as directed in step 2. (This recipe variation was tested in an electric pressure cooker at high altitude. Cooking at an altitude of less than 3000 feet may require slightly less cooking time. Refer to the manufacturer’s instructions.)

• Test Kitchen Tips Avoid lifting the lid of your cooking vessel, which releases valuable heat and moisture and can significantly increase the cooking time.