Jacq makes Vietnamese Brisket with Pineapple Soba Salad, slow cooked brisket simmered with lemongrass, makrut lime leaves, star anise, ginger, garlic, fish sauce and coconut sugar until fall apart tender. Serve it over a fresh soba salad packed with wombok, cucumber, carrot, tomatoes, pineapple, mint and coriander, then finish with peanuts, chilli and a big squeeze of lime for the ultimate sweet salty tangy bowl.
Heat oven to 160°C.Cut brisket in 2 pieces, place in a bowl and season. Heat a large stove and oven proof casserole pan on medium to high heat, add enough extra virgin olive oil to coat the pan and avoid sticking, then add the brisket and brown off. Once browned on each side, transfer to a plate, then add a touch more oil to the pan if needed, then add garlic and ginger and cook for 30 seconds before adding the stock, fish sauce, soy sauce, lemongrass, lime leaves, star anise and coconut sugar. Bring a simmer, then add the brisket pieces back in. Cover with a lid or a double layer of tightly sealed foil and place in the oven to cook for 5-6 hours.
When the meat is almost cooked, prep all the ingredients for the salad and add cabbage, soba noodles, carrot, cucumber, red onion, pineapple, mint and coriander to a large salad bowl. Whisk together the ingredients for the dressing. Toss the salad, pour over the dressing and toss again.
Once the meat is cooked, remove from the oven, shred the meat and toss to coat the pieces of beef with the cooking juices. Divide the salad between bowls, top with meat and finish with a sprinkle of peanuts, chilli and a big squeeze of lime juice.