And you know what? You can. Using a pressure cooker, like the Instant Pot, you can make tender, deeply flavorful brisket with a thick, rich gravy in about half the time! (New to the Instant Pot? Check out our post How To Use an Instant Pot: A First-Timer’s Guide.)
Video: How to Make Instant Pot Beef Brisket
Keeping It Kosher
If you’re making this brisket recipe for Passover, be sure to buy a kosher brisket, along with “kosher for Passover” brands of red wine and ketchup. If you are celebrating according to very strict kosher laws, you may also want to make sure your spices are designated “kosher for Passover.” Online stores like Rockland Kosher Supermarket are great resources for ingredients if you’re unable to track them down in your area.
How to Get the Best Flavor from Your Brisket
The gravy gets lots of flavor from the seared meat, so whatever you do, don’t skip on that step! Give the brisket a good six minutes on each side so that it becomes deeply and thoroughly browned. After the brisket is seared, quickly sauté the onions and garlic until they give up their liquid and the onions begin to brown. While they cook, scrape up any browned bits leftover from searing the brisket – these make the broth extra flavorful!
Easy Gravy with Your Brisket
Oh, and one more great bonus of pressure cooking: You can make the gravy right in the pot! Use an immersion blender to whiz the onions and garlic into the cooking liquid, making a thick, rich gravy. This also means zero stuck-on mess to clean up at the end of cooking. How much better does it get?
More Recipes for a Great Passover Dinner
Matzo Ball Soup Coconut Macaroons Apple and Sweet Potato Matzo Bake Charoset with Apples, Dates, and Walnuts Deviled Eggs with Horseradish and Dill
Make-ahead Instructions: Cook the brisket as indicated, allow it to cool, and refrigerate on its own. Refrigerate the strained onions and garlic separately. Transfer the cooking liquid to a storage container and refrigerate separately. The next day, scrape the solidified fat from the top of the liquid and discard. Warm the cooking liquid, onions, and garlic in the pressure cooker or in a medium saucepan. With an immersion blender or in a blender, blend the cooking liquid, onions and garlic into a thick gravy. Warm the brisket in the gravy before serving. Use a pair of tongs to lower the brisket into the pot with the side with the most fat facing down, and let it sear for 6 minutes. Turn it over and sear it for 6 more minutes. Both sides should be a rich, dark brown color. Transfer the seared brisket to a plate. Add the onions, garlic, and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Cook, stirring frequently, until the onions are soft and beginning to brown, about 10 minutes. Scrape the bottom of the pot as you stir the onions to help release all of the browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Select the “Manual” program, then set the time to 50 minutes at high pressure. (For stovetop pressure cookers, cook for 45 minutes at high pressure.) It will take about 10 minutes for your pressure cooker to come up to pressure, and then the actual cooking will begin. Total time from the time you seal the pressure cooker to the finished dish is about 60 minutes. With an immersion blender, blend the cooking liquid, onions and garlic into a thick gravy. (Alternatively, transfer the liquid, onions, and garlic to a blender to puree. Don’t fill the blender more than halfway, and be careful of the steam when opening the blender pitcher.
