Moms Tzimmes Tsimis Recipes

BEEF BRISKET

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• On a cutting board, mash the garlic and 1/2 teaspoon of the salt together with the flat-side of a knife into a paste. Add the rosemary and continue to mash until incorporated. Put the garlic-rosemary paste in a small bowl and add 2 tablespoons of olive oil; stir to combine.
• Season both sides of the brisket with a fair amount of kosher salt and ground black pepper. Place a large roasting pan or Dutch oven over medium-high flame and coat with the remaining olive oil. Put the brisket in the roasting pan and sear to form a nice brown crust on both sides. Lay the vegetables all around the brisket and pour the rosemary paste over the whole thing. Add the wine and tomatoes; toss in the parsley and bay leaves. Cover the pan tightly with aluminum foil and transfer to the oven. Bake for about 3 to 4 hours, basting every 30 minutes with the pan juices, until the beef is fork tender.
• Remove the brisket to a cutting board and let it rest for 15 minutes. Scoop the vegetables out of the roasting pan and onto a platter, cover to keep warm. Pour out some of the excess fat, and put the roasting pan with the pan juices on the stove over medium-high heat. Boil and stir for 5 minutes until the sauce is reduced by 1/2. (If you want a thicker sauce, mix 1 tablespoon of flour with 2 tablespoons of wine or water and blend into the gravy).
• Slice the brisket across the grain (the muscle lines) at a slight diagonal. Serve with potato pancakes.
• Using a box grater or food processor, coarsely grate the potatoes and onions. Put the grated potatoes and onions together in cheesecloth or a tea towel and twist it to squeeze out the excess liquid. Put the dry potatoes and onions in a bowl and season with salt and pepper. Fold in the egg whites and chives to bind the mixture together.
• Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium heat and coat with 1/4-inch of oil. For each pancake, take about 2 tablespoons of the potato mixture and drop into the hot oil; gently flatten with a spatula so they fry up thin and crispy. Fry for 3 to 4 minutes on each side, until golden. Remove to paper towels to drain; season with salt while the potato pancakes are still hot. Continue frying, adding more oil as needed, until all of the mixture is used up. Serve immediately with apple sauce, if desired.

MOM'S TZIMMES

Steps:

• In a large pot, place the sweet potatoes and cover with water. Boil until just about tender. This should take about 15-20 minutes. Place carrots in a sauce pan, cover with water and bring to a boil. Check after 15 minutes to see if they are tender, if not, cook for another 5 minutes.
• In a large saucepan mix margarine, brown sugar, honey, cinnamon, nutmeg and orange juice. Set aside.
• Drain potatoes and carrots and add to the large saucepan with the butter and seasonings. Add add the prunes. Reduce heat and simmer until sauce thickens about 15-30 minutes. This can be served immediately.

GRANDMA ETHEL'S BRISKET WITH TZIMMES

Steps:

• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F.
• Pat brisket dry and rub all over with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Heat oil in a 17- by 11-inch heavy roasting pan (3 inches deep) over moderately high heat, straddled across 2 burners, until hot but not smoking, then brown brisket, starting with fat side down, on both sides, about 5 minutes per side. Remove from heat, then add stock and vinegar to pan. Cover pan tightly with heavy-duty foil and braise brisket in oven 2 hours. Add carrots and potatoes to pan and braise, covered, 1 hour. Add prunes and braise, covered, until meat is fork-tender, about 30 minutes more. Cool meat, uncovered, to room temperature, about 1 hour, then chill, covered, at least 12 hours.
• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F.
• Transfer brisket to a cutting board and slice across the grain about 1/4 inch thick. Discard as much fat as possible from surface of vegetables and sauce, then return sliced meat to pan and reheat, covered with foil, until heated through, about 40 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining 3/4 teaspoon salt and remaining 1/2 teaspoon pepper, then arrange meat with tzimmes and sauce on a large platter.

CARROT TZIMMES

Steps:

• Heat oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Add carrots, raisins, orange juice, honey, brown sugar, salt, and pepper; bring it to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer until carrots are tender, about 25 minutes. Uncover, raise heat to high, and cook until sauce has thickened, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle parsley on top before serving.

TZIMMES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a greased 13x9-in. baking dish, combine sweet potatoes, carrots and plums. Combine orange juice, water, honey, brown sugar and cinnamon; pour over vegetables. , Cover and bake for 1 hour. Uncover; dot with butter. Bake until vegetables are tender and sauce is thickened, 45-60 minutes, carefully stirring every 15 minutes.