Crock Pot Corned Beef Recipe
Ingredients:
Corned Beef Seasonings:
- 1 tablespoon mustard seeds (yellow or a combination of yellow and brown)
- 1 tablespoon black peppercorns
- 1 teaspoon coriander seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon allspice berries
- 1/2 teaspoon cardamom seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon celery seeds
- 4 whole cloves
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 2 bay leaves
For the Corned Beef:
- 3-5 pound corned beef brisket
- 1 medium yellow onion, sliced
- 6-8 small yellow potatoes (about 1 pound)
- 4 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, chopped
- 2 cups beef broth (or use a dark beer, like Guinness, stout, or porter)
- Water to cover
- 1/2 head cabbage, cut into 4 wedges (optional)
For the Gravy (optional):
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons flour
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
Make the Corned Beef Seasonings:
- Heat a small pan to medium heat. Add mustard seeds, black peppercorns, coriander seeds, allspice berries, cardamom seeds, celery seeds, and whole cloves. Lightly toast them for 1 minute, shaking/stirring to let the spices bloom.
- Transfer to a food processor or spice grinder along with red pepper flakes, ground ginger, and bay leaves. Process to a coarse blend, or to your preferred consistency.
Make the Corned Beef:
- Trim the fat from the corned beef and rinse it thoroughly.
- Place the onion, potatoes, carrots, and garlic into the bottom of the slow cooker. Set the corned beef brisket on top.
- Add your seasoning blend, using both the accompanying spice packet and the homemade corned beef spice blend. Use half of the blend for a milder spice flavor.
- Pour in the beef broth (or dark beer), then add enough water to just cover the brisket, leaving a bit of space on top for the spice blend to stick.
- Turn on the slow cooker and cook for 5-6 hours on HIGH or 8-10 hours on LOW. Cooking times will vary depending on the size of the corned beef brisket.
- Add the cabbage (if using) during the last hour for crisp cabbage or during the last 2 hours for tender cabbage.
- When the brisket is very tender, remove it and set it on a tray along with the potatoes and carrots. Slice the corned beef against the grain.
For the Gravy:
- Strain out about a cup of the cooking liquid and discard the rest.
- Melt the butter in a pan, then add the flour. Stir constantly over medium heat until the roux darkens a bit, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in the reserved liquid until it thickens to your preferred consistency. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Drizzle the gravy over the corned beef, cabbage, potatoes, and carrots before serving.
Enjoy your delicious Crock Pot Corned Beef