The History of Brisket

Brisket is a fan favorite when it comes to just about any gathering or holiday.

If you have ever thought about where brisket came from, you’re in the right place. From Europe to America, brisket is known as a delicious, tender, melt-in-your-mouth meat.

Where Did It All Start?

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. The cut of beef was decided to be celebratory and important due to its location. Brisket is found in the cow’s front breast, making it kosher for Jews to consume.

During the 19th century, many European communities faced many challenges and adversities, thus, leading to immigration. To escape their hardships, many refugees fled to the United States, and with them came their culture, holidays, and customary cuisines, which presented America with Brisket.

Because of the amount of both land and opportunities, many planted roots in the South. Over time southern ranchers and new immigrants began sharing recipes and ideas, and before you could blink, brisket became a southern staple.

Although Brisket was a commonly seen meal, it was only cooked and served at home; that was until the 1950s. Black’s Barbeque in Lockhart, Texas, is credited with being the first public restaurant to serve brisket on its menu.

Brisket Today

Nowadays, brisket is served all over America and is widely served on special occasions or holidays such as Easter and Christmas. Brisket being a celebratory dish on Passover, has also been adopted and is often served on Easter, seeing as Easter is the Christian version of Jewish Passover. All over the world, and in various regions, brisket is served to place importance and emphasis on a meal. The brisket tradition started way back in the 19th century, yet it is still seen very commonly today.

Brisket is seen cooked in various ways all over America; however, it is naturally a tough and very muscular meat. Because of its makeup, the slow cook approach and lengthy marination times have become routine for brisket lovers. The tenderness of the meat mixed with the perfect marinade makes for the perfect bbq meat. Aside from being seen on holidays, brisket is one of the most popular meats in barbeque cuisine and is featured in practically every smokehouse or bbq joint across America.

While Brisket may have started on the other side of the Atlantic, Allegro is here to make sure brisket everywhere is seasoned to perfection for your next gathering. With Allegro’s delicious fajitas and brisket marinade, your brisket is guaranteed to have all your guests coming back for more! No matter the occasion, we’ve got you covered.