Ingredients:

5 cups kosher salt
5 cups sugar
2 whole star anise
2 sticks cinnamon
6 whole cloves
12 black peppercorns
1/2 cup Prague Powder #1

Recipe notes: Prague Powder #1 is available through Sausage Source: www.sausagesource.com/catalog. [LINK]

RECIPE

Brine for Meats

Colman Andrews

Author, Editor

Use this brine to make your own corned beef. Prague Powder #1 is a mixture of salt and sodium nitrite commonly used in curing meats; it is not essential in this recipe but will give the meats an attractive rosy color.

Yield: 2 gallons

Method:

Combine the salt, sugar, star anise, cinnamon, cloves, and peppercorns in a large stockpot and add 1 gallon of cold water. Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve the salt and sugar thoroughly. Remove the pot from the heat and let the liquid cool to room temperature. Add 1 gallon of cold water, then stir in the Prague Powder #1 (if using).

To brine meat, submerge the meat in the brine, weighing it down with a heavy nonreactive plate if necessary to keep it submerged. Set aside in a cool place (do not refrigerate) for 2 to 4 days.

Discard the brine after use.