Brisket is a boneless beef cut explicitly taken from the lower chest of a cow. You will find that the use of brisket is not limited to one cuisine but instead used all over the world.
The most popular way to prepare brisket is to slowly cook it to allow the beef to tenderize, but it can also be grilled, roasted or boiled. Really, the longer the brisket is allowed to cook, the better it will be.
Not everyone has the time to spend hours cooking a brisket. It is a time-consuming meat to cook correctly and can be an expensive throwaway if not used to its full potential. So, why not try something cheaper and easier to cook!
Our 4 Substitutes for Brisket
There are two cuts of brisket that you can buy: the pointcut is fattier and has more connective tissue, so it is tougher. The flat cut has much of the fattiness removed, so it is the better cut of meat and is more expensive.
The pointcut is the prefered cut for brisket dishes as it will prevent the meat from drying out while being slow-cooked. However, because of the amount of connective tissue, it does take much longer to cook than the flat cut.
Here are our top 4 substitutes for brisket:
1) Chuck Steak
Instead of being from the cow’s lower chest, a chuck steak tends to be from the neck or shoulder. Because of this, it may contain bones, but you can buy a cut that has already had the bones removed if you prefer.
There are a few types of chuck steaks that you will be able to find at your everyday supermarket. No matter which kind of chuck steak you use, you can guarantee to not have to pay as much as you would for brisket.
Each cut is better suited for a different cooking style, so consider the dish you are cooking before you deice the cut you want.
How Long Should You Cook It?
Chuck steaks have a lot of connective tissue like brisket, requiring slow, low heat cooking. They will not typically take longer to cook, but the longer you cook a chuck steak, the softer it will be.
2) Beef Clod
Beef clod should only be used if you intend to slow cook the meat for hours at a time.
It is a very fatty cut of beef made up of muscle from the shoulder of a cow. When cooked over a few hours, this fat melts and gets absorbed by the meat, making it tender and soft to the touch.
However, if cooked for a short amount of time, then this fat will not melt and will be an unpleasant texture.
Though beef clod is full of flavour, it should be marinated to ensure that it doesn’t lose flavour while cooking.
Consider Beef Shank
Beef shank has tough muscle that softens if cooked for a long time, though you will need to add your own fat to help the process. Some people prefer the texture of beef shank, but others prefer beef clod. Both are cheaper than brisket.
3) Short Rib
Unlike other beef cuts, short rib can come from any part of the cow. For this reason, beef short rib comes in a whole range of cut types.
Short rib tends to be much cheaper than brisket as it is smaller. It is cut into approximately 4-inch sections, with each section full of meat and fat. Due to coming from various parts of the cow, it may also have bones.
All of the extra fat and connective tissue allow for a juicy, tender piece of beef once cooked.
How Do You Cook Short Rib?
It is best to thoroughly marinade short rib and cook it in the oven for a few hours. It is smaller and will not need as long to cook as brisket but low and slow is still the best approach.
4) Lamb Roast
Obviously, lamb roast comes from lamb and not a cow. Because of this, there is going to be a noticeable difference in the texture and the flavour of the meat, but not too much.
Lamb pairs well with rich, robust flavours such as red wine sauce and rosemary.
It can be used for sweeter dishes too, but you will want to adjust the balance of your dish to account for its richer tastes.
Many lamb roasts have ample fat, muscle and connective tissue to create tender meat if cooked right.
Which Lamb Cut to Use?
If you are using your BBQ, substitute brisket with lamb chops. But if you are planning a nice, long roast, then use a leg or shoulder of lamb.
Other Substitutes for Brisket
The above brisket substitutes can get a little pricey, especially the more valuable meat replacements. So, here are a few more brisket substitutes that are more affordable:
- Chicken Thighs – The cheapest option, chicken will take well to any kind of seasoning but doesn’t have the natural depth like brisket. Chicken thighs are the toughest part of the chicken, so they will be the best replacement.
- Duck Thighs – Duck meat is richer than chicken, replicating brisket better. The thighs may not be as readily available but are fairly cheap when you find them.
Summary
If brisket is a little beyond your price range, plenty of cheaper beef cuts can work great without altering your dish too much. Or, if you don’t like beef, other types of meat can provide the same texture but a different taste to suit your palate.