Woohoo! I got my first challenge-taker, and the ingredient: brisket.
Brisket is one of those meats that starts out super-tough. With a little gentle handling, a darn-good marinade, and a lot of cooking time, the meat can practically fall off the bone.
If you’ve eaten brisket, or any type of beef or pork roast and are looking for some leftover ideas, here are a few to get you started:
Burritos and/or tacos
For this recipe you’ll need:
Leftover brisket or roast, shredded (use your hands or two forks)
Tortillas (corn or flour work fine)
Optional toppings: shredded or chopped lettuce, diced tomato, chopped onion, chopped cilantro, sour cream, guacamole, salsa
To make this recipe:
Heat the leftover meat in the microwave or in a pan (you may add a small amount of water to the meat to re-steam it if it seems a little dry—just make sure and cover the pan with a lid if you do this). Using your fingers or two forks, shred the meat.
Heat your tortillas in the oven or the microwave (if using corn tortillas, spray them individually with cooking spray (brush them with oil if you’d rather), wrap them in a few paper towels and then microwave them—they’ll soften up without added fat)
Top each tortilla with meat, cheese, and any toppings you’d like. Enjoy as a taco with a squeeze of lime or roll into a burrito by folding the outer sides of the flour tortilla toward the center. Then fold the bottom side up and roll semi-tightly into a burrito.
For an added treat (with added calories) you can make a chimichanga out of your burrito by sautéing it over medium-high heat in canola oil. Top it with cheese and other toppings for a delicious meal.
You can also add leftover rice to your burritos—just heat it up (you can add a dash of chili powder, paprika, or cumin if you’d like) and put it on top of the meat. Continue as directed.
And there you have it! Keep sending in your requests–leftovers don’t have to be boring! Enjoy.