We’ve discussed the history of barbecue, bbq ribs, catfish, and more, and in this article, we’re adding a new BBQ classic to this list: smoked brisket. Brisket is an essential part of barbecue history, and a particularly popular dish, including at our own restaurant. However, what most people believe to be the history of this dish isn’t entirely accurate. Many claim and believe that brisket got its start in Central Texas, and while Texas played an important role in making brisket what it is today, its history goes further back than this.
Brisket is a part of Southern history. However, it actually originated as Jewish cuisine. If you grew up in an Ashkenazi Jewish home you might remember the delicious, oven-baked brisket your mom served for holidays.
Smoked Brisket: A Kosher Cut
Smoked brisket’s true origin is in Jewish cuisine. It all began within the Ashkenazi Jewish community in Central and Eastern Europe. Brisket was a favorite for holiday celebrations, such as Rosh Hashanah, Passover, Hanukkah, and Shabbat.
Jewish communities first began to favor this cut because it comes from the breast of the cow, located in the front, which makes it kosher. However, meat from this area is also very tough, muscular, and has many connective tissues. This made brisket a very cheap cut of meat, which in turn made it accessible to poor families.
The toughness of this cut also led to the ingenuity that has shaped smoked brisket into what we know today. To make brisket soft and tender, these communities learned to marinate it for a very long time and let it slow cook on low heat for even more time.
In the 19th century, Central and Eastern European Ashkenazi Jewish communities began to face many hardships. They were banished from areas in Lithuania, Ukraine, and Galicia due to the Church and their fellow community members becoming hostile toward them. To escape this, many Jewish refugees fled to the United States and they brought their culture and recipes with them, including smoked brisket.
Because of the opportunities and land available in the West, many Jewish immigrants settled in Texas. Eventually, the Jewish community and Texas ranchers began sharing their recipes for brisket and working together to create new smoking processes. By the early 20th century, the smoked brisket was a Texas staple and Jewish delis all over Texas featured brisket on their menus.
Later in the 50s, Black’s Barbecue in Lockhart, Texas, became the first barbecue restaurant to offer brisket exclusively. From here, brisket only increased in popularity until brisket could be found not just throughout Texas, but all over the United States.
The Smoken History of Smoked Brisket | A Bite Out of History Episode 3
FAQ
Where did the brisket originate?
Why do Jews like brisket so much?
Is brisket German food?
What is beef brisket called in the UK?
Where did brisket come from?
The origin of Brisket may not be what you expected as it didn’t begin with bbq-loving country folks; rather, it began as a traditional kosher food within the Jewish community. Brisket was and is still used as a special cut of meat on Jewish holidays such as Hannukah, Shabbat, and Passover.
What is the healthier substitute of brisket?
Brisket is high in fat. Instead of brisket, lean meat like chicken, turkey and fish will be a good option for healthy lifestyle. Chicken is good source of protein and has very less fat. Omega-3-fatty acids are good for healthy heart, which we used to get from fish.
Is brisket Jewish?
Brisket is associated with Southern American cuisine, but actually has Jewish origins. It was developed in many countries and is enjoyed world-wide.
What is a beef brisket?
The beef brisket is one of the nine beef primal cuts, though the definition of the cut differs internationally. The brisket muscles include the superficial and deep pectorals. As cattle do not have collar bones, these muscles support about 60% of the body weight of standing or moving cattle.