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Kansas City burnt ends
Smoky, sauced cubes of brisket point, caramelised
Burnt ends were once the charred trimmings that Kansas City barbecue joints handed out free at the counter; today they are the most prized thing on the menu. The fatty point end of a beef brisket is smoked low and slow until tender, cubed, tossed in sweet, tangy Kansas City sauce and smoked again until sticky and caramelised. They're eaten on white bread with pickles and beans. Chef's tip: wait for the brisket to probe tender, like pushing into soft butter, before cubing; temperature is only a guide.
- Total time
- 630 min
- Difficulty
- hard
- Serves
- 8
Ingredients
For the brisket
For the sauce
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Mix the 2 tbsp coarse salt, 2 tbsp coarse black pepper, 1 tbsp paprika, 2 tsp garlic powder and 2 tbsp soft brown sugar and rub all over the 5 ½ lb beef brisket point (deckle). Chill uncovered for at least 4 hours or overnight.
10 minStep 2: Heat a smoker or kettle barbecue set up for indirect cooking to 250°F with oak or hickory wood. Smoke the brisket fat-side up for 6–7 hours, until a dark bark forms and it reads 167°F.
400 minStep 3: Wrap tightly in foil or butcher paper and cook 2–3 hours more until it reads 203°F and a probe slides in with no resistance. Rest wrapped for 30 minutes.
180 minStep 4: Simmer the 1 cup tomato ketchup, 3 tbsp molasses, 3 tbsp cider vinegar, 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce and 1 ¾ oz soft brown sugar for 5 minutes.
5 minStep 5: Cut the brisket into 3 cm cubes, put in a foil tray and toss with the sauce and 1 oz butter.
10 minStep 6: Return to the smoker uncovered for 1–1½ hours, stirring once, until the sauce is sticky and the edges caramelised. A common mistake is rushing the first cook; tough brisket stays tough however much sauce you add.
80 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 560 kcal
- Protein
- 40 g
- Carbs
- 14 g
- Fat
- 38 g
- Fibre
- 0 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does kansas City burnt ends take?
- About 630 minutes in total: 30 minutes to prepare and 600 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 8 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- What can I use instead of paprika?
- Smoked paprika, half the amount.
- What can I use instead of soft brown sugar?
- White sugar + 1 tbsp molasses or treacle per 200g.
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