If you enjoy a rich, flavorful brisket at your Hanukkah celebration, one of these sort-of-traditional-but-not-really marinades will give that familiar main course a little extra flavor, a little zing and a bit of extra holiday magic.
When it comes time to celebrate Hanukkah, you’ve got some frying to do. Still, don’t forget about brisket. Briskets are everything you need in a holiday meal. They’re big so you can feed a lot of people. They’re delicious so you can make those people happy, and briskets are easy to make, so you can be happy. However, don’t settle for an average brisket. The following 10 marinade ideas are taken from traditional Jewish flavors, but given a creative kick to give your holiday main course something special.
Each of these marinades is easy to make. Just mix the ingredients. Then refrigerate the meat covered in the marinade and let it soak for up to 24 hours before either braising the meat in a fresh batch of the marinade or removing it, patting it dry and grilling or baking it.
Traditionally-flavored brisket marinade
Mix 1 cup olive oil with the juice of 1 lemon and its zest. Then add 2 tablespoons kosher salt, 2 sprigs rosemary, roughly chopped, 2 tablespoons fresh thyme chopped and 4 bay leaves.
Red wine and nutmeg marinade
Mix 2 cups red wine with 1 tablespoon nutmeg, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 2 tablespoons kosher salt and 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper.
Asian black pepper steak marinade
Mix 1 cup low-sodium soy sauce and 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar with 3 tablespoons coarsely ground black pepper, 1 green pepper diced, 1 stalk celery diced and 1/2 tablespoon sugar.
Sweet heat marinade
Mix 1 cup low-sodium soy sauce with 1/4 cup ginger ale and 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar. Mix in 1/2 cup brown sugar and 1 tablespoon red pepper flakes.
Middle Eastern curry marinade
Mix 1 cup beef broth with 3 tablespoons Moroccan (or Indian if you can’t find Moroccan) curry powder, 4 cloves minced garlic, 1 tablespoon minced ginger and 1 green chili (like a Serrano or a jalapeño).
Earthy-meets-savory marinade
Mix 1 cup low-sodium soy sauce with 3 tablespoons each dried sage, dried thyme, dried oregano and fresh rosemary. Add 2 cloves of minced garlic and 1 tablespoon black pepper.
Mexico-meets-the-Holy-Land marinade
Mix 1 cup beef broth with 2 tablespoons kosher salt, 2 tablespoons chipotle, 2 tablespoons Mexican oregano, 2 tablespoons cumin and the zest and juice of 2 limes.
Root beer and beer marinade
Mix 1 can root beer with 1 can dark beer, 4 tablespoons brown sugar and the juice and zest of 1 lemon. Mix in 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger.
Fiery marinade
Mix 1 cup low-sodium soy sauce with 2 tablespoons Sriracha sauce, 1 tablespoon honey, 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar, 1 tablespoon salt, 2 tablespoons white pepper, 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper, 1 tablespoon red pepper flakes and 6 cloves garlic.
Lemon ginger marinade
Mix 1 cup beef broth, 1/4 cup lemonade, the juice and zest of 4 lemons, 2 tablespoons freshly grated ginger, 1 teaspoon lavender buds, 2 tablespoons salt and 1 clove minced garlic.
More takes on Hanukkah brisket
How to make a juicy brisket for Hanukkah dinner
Classic Hanukkah: Beef brisket
A hip and modern Hanukkah menu
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