Brisket Tacos with Spicy Watermelon BBQ Sauce and Pickled Rind Relish #TacoTakedown

Posted on March 18, 2015 by Jennifer FIsher

I enjoyed a one-of-a-kind, sorta-strange experience as only Austin can host at the Taco Takedown that was held this past weekend near the be-hip-or-go-home scene at SXSW (South by Southwest). I’ve been in quite a few cook-offs including the iconic Pillsbury Bake Off in Vegas with $1 Million prize (obviously I didn’t win), the Crisco Cook Off in Nashville as part of the Country Music Festival, and even many times in my home-town Hatch Green Chile Cook Off where I hold bragging rights as the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd place winner.

The right to battle it off as a finalist in most of these showdowns required each recipe to make it through some sort of qualifying round, being made and examined in a test kitchen by professional chefs and pre-judged on factors like presentation, fit within a certain category, creativity, convenience, taste and so on. Typically, pages of rules, do’s and don’ts, and lists of disqualifications were also involved. However, not at the Taco Takedown – basically all the info I was given was just show up with your best taco. So, of course I started over analyzing and guessing at the non-existent details. And, in the end I decided to fly by the seat of my pants. I wondered what kind of taco would win – surely in Austin, a freaky taco would beat a traditional taco any day.

My Beefy Man Hunk Taco Model

That’s why I wrapped all my loves, as strange as the combo might sound, in one tortilla – viola, a Beef Brisket Taco with Spicy Watermelon BBQ Sauce (and Pickled Rind Relish) recipe was born. Well, I guessed wrong because a Crispy Chicken with Avocado Taco dished up by Evin at Food Good, Laundry Bad took top honors. As partial as I was to my wacky yet wonderful watermelon beef taco, I have to admit, the winner was really, super-ultra-deluxe good – and it was fried, how could I compete with that?! But, I got to go home with the beefy man-hunk taco model — so, really, I was the WINNER!

It’s no secret that I’m a fan of meaty beef, and summer-sweet watermelon and a surprise of spiciness, these are a few of my favorite things (is there a song here . . )? I knew these flavors would mingle together for a memorable taco –as they did. I didn’t want to smoke the brisket, so I had four massive slow-cookers breaking down the beef into the perfect tenderness for fork shredding. But, holy-moly, it took a long time to shred 27 pounds of brisket! The BBQ sauce was a not-too-vinegary, not-to-tomatoey sauce sweetened with watermelon just and spiced up with Sriracha. Probably the most unique thing going on was the pickled watermelon rind that was diced up in the salsa. A true southerner uses ALL parts of the watermelon. And, of course, I topped it all off with some salty, crumbly queso fresco cheese.

Use this Spicy Watermelon Barbecue Sauce on beef — but also on chicken, baked beans, fish, sausage, pork and more. I’ve also used it as a salad dressing!

Because you’re probably not cooking for a 250 person crowd, I’ve scaled down the recipe for you to feed about 8 and maybe some leftovers!

Brisket Tacos w/ Spicy Waterrmelon BBQ Sauce, Pickled Rind Relish #SXSW #TacoTakedown

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What’s the craziest thing you’ve wrapped in a tortilla and called a taco? Please share in the comments!

Beef Brisket Taco with Spicy Watermelon BBQ Sauce and Pickled Rind Relish

Prep Time

20 mins

Cook Time

10 hrs

Total Time

10 hrs 20 mins

Beef Brisket Taco with Spicy Watermelon BBQ Sauce and Pickled Rind Relish -- a strange but good recipe that will rock your next backyard party.

Course: Condiment, Main Dish

Cuisine: American, Southern

Servings: 8 servings

Ingredients

For Brisket:

2 lbs. Beef Brisket preferably center cut

4 cups water can substitute beef broth or beer!
1 tbsp garlic powder
2 medium sweet yellow onion sliced thinly
3 jalapenos seeded and quartered

For Spicy Watermelon BBQ Sauce:

3/4 cup watermelon juice
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp Dijon mustard
2 cloves garlic minced
4 ounces tomato paste
2 tbsp Sriracha pepper sauce more or less, to taste

Pickled Watermelon Rind Relish:

1 cup diced watermelon drained of excess juice
1/2 cup diced pickled watermelon rind homemade or oldsouth.com
2 tbsp liquid from picked watermelon rind
2 plum tomatoes seeded and diced
1 jalapeno seeded and minced
2 tbsp minced fresh cilantro

Other:

16 tortillas
1/2 cup queso fresco cheese, crumbled

Instructions

For Brisket:

Add ingredients for brisket into 6 - 8 quart capacity slow cooker. Cook on low setting for 10 hours. Remove brisket from cooking juices and strain out onions and peppers. Chop of onions and peppers, set aside. Cut excess fat of brisket and use fork or fingers to shred beef. Stir back in onions and peppers.

For Spicy Watermelon BBQ Sauce:

Prepare BBQ sauce by adding all ingredients together in medium sauce pan. Bring to boil over medium-high heat and reduce to low. Simmer for 20 minutes. Pour desired amount over beef, remainder may be stored in the refrigerator for a week. Makes about 2 cups.

For Picked Rind Relish:

To make relish, toss together all ingredients in medium bowl. Refrigerate until ready to use.

To Serve:

To serve, place sauced, shredded brisket in tortilla. Top with relish and queso fresco.

Recipe Notes

Benefits of Ginger & How To Use Ginger in Beverages + Smoothie Recipe

Posted on September 3, 2014 by Jennifer FIsher

Gnarly and knotted up, a chunk of ginger may not be the most appealing item in my fruit and veggie bin – but, trust me, this weird-looking root is well worth your time, it is loaded with flavor, nutrients and healthy benefits. What first draws me to ginger is the spicy explosion of flavor it adds to my recipes – it’s at once lemony, peppery, sweet and pungent. Kinda complicated, like me! Foodies around the globe have been kicking up their respective cuisines with the zing of ginger for thousands of years – I’m surprised it’s not more popular in American kitchens beyond gingerbread and ginger ale.

In addition to feisty flavor, ginger also offers a powerful punch of preventative and restorative nutrition. For example, ginger eases up inflammation and muscle pain, something I appreciate as an athlete needing some extra recovery. Ginger also helps with a host of digestion issues including nutrient absorption and the reduction of gas and bloating (so I hear). Ginger also takes the edge off the “queasies,” including nausea caused by morning sickness, motion sickness and hangovers (again, so I hear). And, if that isn’t enough, ginger fortifies the immune It system, protects against many types of cancer and relieves migraines. Oh, and ginger helps clear the sinuses – take a bite of raw ginger root and you’ll see what I mean!

Try my Carrot Ginger Date Smoothie for a morning pick-me-up – it’s super nutritious with carrots, banana, and only the added sweetness from a date. The ginger in the recipe can be grated on a micro place or you can boil it down with water and mix in stevia to make a sugar-free simple ginger syrup. I’m including that recipe too!

Carrot Ginger Date Smoothie Recipe

8 steamed baby carrots (cooled)
2 large dates (seeded)
1/3 frozen medium banana
2 teaspoons finely grated ginger ( or 1 tablespoon sugar-free ginger syrup (recipe follows)
8-ounces milk of choice ( like almond or coconut)
Handful of ice
1 teaspoon hemp seeds

Add steamed carrots, dates, banana, ginger, milk to blender; process until smooth. Add ice and blend to achieve desired consistency. Pour into tall glass and sprinkle with hemp seeds. Serves 1.

Here is my special stevia-sweetened Zingy Ginger Simple Syrup recipe it will keep in the fridge, covered, for a couple of weeks! Plus, it’s made with

4 oz fresh ginger root, thinly sliced
2 cups water
1 tablespoon powdered Stevia

Add ginger and water to small sauce pot and bring to a boil. Lower to medium low and let simmer for about 30 – 40 minutes or until liquid is reduced by half. Remove from heat and pour through strainer into container. Discard ginger slices. Stir in Stevia and keep in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

I also like to use the ginger syrup in this refreshing Watermelon Ginger Limeade recipe. Such a thirst-quenching beverage, especially considering it is still in the upper 90s here in Austin. At least six more weeks until noticeably cooler weather in Austin!

Another little tip – you can also extract the juice of ginger root by squeezing it in a garlic press!

So, these are my top three ways on how to use ginger in beverages: 1) grate it on microplaner, 2) infuse it into a sugar-free simple syrup and 3) juice it in garlic press.

Do you have a specific herb or food you eat to feel better?

Slice & Slurp, it’s National Drink Watermelon Day + Watermelon Ginger Limeade Recipe

Posted on July 23, 2014 by Jennifer FIsher

The weathermen don’t need to convince me that July 24^th is considered the hottest day of the year. Here in Austin with temperatures about to pass the 100 degree mark, I think I could sear my favorite spice-crusted tenderloin steak to perfect mouthwatering, medium-rareness right on the sidewalk. Seriously. I actually enjoy the heat and think in a past life I may have been a lizard. However, unrelenting warm temperatures create challenges when exercising outdoors — one of the biggest problems is remaining hydrated as sweating increases. Even becoming moderately dehydrated really puts a downer on the day – who wants to deal with muscle cramps, a nagging headache and lingering fatigue?

I was super excited to find out today is National Drink Watermelon Day, a pretty awesome proclamation made by the National Watermelon Promotion Board (NWPB). Drinking watermelon juice is a great way to keep fluid levels topped off – this jumbo-sized juicy fruit is made from 92 percent water and is a robust resource for replenishing electrolytes. Watermelon can even help your muscles recover more quickly from workouts thanks to the amino acid L-citrulline. I talk about this in more detail in the Running & Watermelon Hydration and Watermelon & Workout Recovery posts I did for my recent week of #LivingOnTheWedge.

Outdoor athletes aren’t the only ones that need to stay hydrated during the summer. A recent Harris Poll commissioned by NWPB reported that nearly 1/3 of us don’t drink enough water – the main reason being lack of flavor. Really, you could just eat an 18 ounces slice of watermelon and it would be like drinking a 16 ounce bottle of water. However, there are so many taste bud tantalizing drinks you can make with watermelon that are so much more exciting than just putting a lemon slice in water. Some of my favorite past recipes are Watermelon Agua Fresca and Watermelon Chia Seed Smoothies. One of my favorite sports hydration companies, Nuun Hydration, even makes a Watermelon-flavored electrolyte replacement tab — I like to add these do watermelon juice for a double boost!

.However, in honor of National Drink Watermelon Day, I’ve come up with a new watermelon beverage that quenches thirst with a kick of ginger – Stevia-Sweetened Watermelon Ginger Limeade. Ginger is an awesome addition to any drink – it boosts the absorption and assimilation of essential nutrients in the body and it has anti-inflammatory properties to sooth sore muscles and joints. A glass of this lightly sweet-sour-spicy drink will make you say “hello” to hydration – who doesn’t want to drink MORE of something that tastes so outrageously good. And, please do drink more – I’ve made this healthy recipe with Stevia to keep the carbs lower!

Stevia-Sweetened Watermelon Ginger Limeade Recipe

4 oz fresh ginger root
2 cups water
1 tablespoon powedered Stevia (like Wholesome Sweeteners Organic Stevia)
4 cups watermelon juice
½ cup fresh lime juice
12 oz sparkling water
Optional Garnish – lime slices, watermelon balls and fresh mint

Wash and thinly slice ginger root, peeling is not necessary. Add sliced ginger to small sauce pan filled with 2 cups water. Bring to boil and the lower heat and let simmer (no lid) for about 30 – 45 minutes or until liquid reduced by half.
Pour ginger and water through fine-meshed strainer and into a bowl. Mix in stevia and stir until dissolved. Discard ginger or save for another use.
Prepare watermelon juice by pureeing about 6 cups of watermelon in the blender and straining off pulp. An easier way is just to collect the juice that runs off watermelon when cutting it into chunks – I save all of mine and keep it in the freezer for recipes like this!
To prepare beverage, pour watermelon juice, lime juice, ½ cup ginger “syrup” juice into tall pitcher; stir to combine. Pour in sparkling water and lightly stir.
Serve in tall glasses garnished with lime slices and watermelon balls. Serves 4

This post was sponsored by the National Watermelon Promotion Board and I received nominal compensation to share my love for watermelon. All recipes and opinions are my own.

Best Watermelon Tips – Day 7 #LivingOnTheWedge

Posted on July 6, 2014 by Jennifer FIsher

Did you know the average person eats 16 pounds of watermelon per year? That’s pretty close to the weight of a typical medium watermelon – but I’m not typical nor am I average when it comes to most things and I could eat another person’s annual allotment in two days – now that’s #LivingOnTheWedge! My friends and family will agree that I often like to take moderation in moderation — sometimes over-the-top is under rated! There’s that time I tried to set a Guinness World Record in 6^th grade for “Sitting on the Wall.” I held the hideous, quad-burning position for 1 hour and 37 minutes before the school nurse made me stop. Or, when I decided to run an out-of-town, 50 mile ultra-marathon race on a whim literally, on the morning of the event with no training or preparation other than serendipitously having packed my running shoes . . . . or, that time I won a beer drinking competition on my honeymoon. I don’t really even like beer.

But I do love watermelon! Here are some tips you should know about picking out, storing and serving watermelon:

Storing watermelon: The general rule of thumb is to keep your melons chilled between 32 and 55 degrees. Watermelons won’t ripen any further once they’ve been picked from the vine. However, a watermelon will stay fresh for around a week at room temperature. Freezing doesn’t work well for watermelon, except in the case where you want to use it in a smoothie or frozen treat recipe.

Cutting watermelon: As with any fruit or vegetable, you should wash the exterior before slicing into the flesh. You don’t want your knife to cross-contaminate the inside with any germs that were lurking on the outside. There are many ways to cut up and serve a watermelon – if you have the patience, you can even use a melon baller for a nice presentation. However, I like to cut my watermelon in half and cross-hatch it into spears for the quickest, most convenient way to serve.

If you have a watermelon tip to share, please post it in the comments. Or, better yet, join the group at my #LivingOnTheWedge Pinterest board.

If you haven’t already, enter my giveaway for a great Watermelon Prize Pack.

This is the last post in my #LivingOnTheWedge week but please go back and visit all the other the other watermelon love I’ve been sharing since July 1^st, the start of National Watermelon Month.

The National Watermelon Promotion Board is providing me with compensation to share my love of watermelon. However, the opinions and content (unless otherwise noted) shared are my own and NWPB did not tell me what to say or how to say it.

Watermelon Smoothies – Day 6 #LivingOnTheWedge

Posted on July 5, 2014 by Jennifer FIsher

Come over to my house in the morning and you’ll hear the low hum of my blender – it seems to be in constant use! My husband makes a smoothie to drink during his commute to work and I whip one up to cool down and rehydrate after a run. And, the kids love them for breakfast or as a healthy snack anytime of the day – especially when watermelon is an ingredient. Everyone loves my recipe for this Watermelon Chia Seed Smoothie. It’s very good for you and very versatile – use the milk product of your choice and put in (or omit) protein powder based on your dietary needs.

Directions: Pour 6 ounces of milk (cow, soy, coconut or almond) into blender pitcher. Add 2 cups watermelon chunks and process until smooth. If desired, add one scoop (about 1/3 cup) vanilla protein powder and another 2 tablespoons of milk; process again until smooth. Add 1 teaspoon chia sees and pulse a few times to mix through. Serves 1.

I place a priority on “eating clean” as much as I can. That being said, I’m no saint – a burger with fries or pizza with the works are two of my favorite ways to splurge. After all, as Julia Child once said, “All things in moderation including moderation”! When I need to hit the “reset” button, this Super Green Detox Smoothie from Watermelon.org helps me get back to my healthy eating plan. It’s packed with watermelon, kale, avocado, hot chile paste and other nutritious ingredients that will get your engine humming once again.

This yummy Watermelon Malibu Surf Smoothie is blended with strawberries, watermelon, coconut cream and a little something extra — rum! Sure to be a popular drink at your next outdoor party. If you prefer a non-alcoholic drink or are looking for a kid-friendly version, just swap the rum for extra watermelon juice.

Someone special reads my blog and gave me a watermelon for my birthday!

I’m getting toward the end of my #LivingOnTheWedge week, and I am not anywhere near running out of things to share about watermelon. I’ve talked a lot about how the vitamins, minerals and other nutrients in watermelon can help improve your workouts and keep you hydrated during running and other outdoor, but I shouldn’t fail to mention the basics in nutrition this healthy sweet treat offers everyone.

Vitamin A found in watermelon promotes healthy eyes and supports your immune system by bolstering the infection-fighting ability of lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell).
Vitamin B6 found in watermelon assists in the production of antibodies that your immune system uses to fight disease. Vitamin B6 also helps keep your nervous systems in tip-top shape, aids in the restoration of red blood cells, and synthesizes protein.
Vitamin C found in watermelon helps keep your body “younger” by warding off cellular damage and medical conditions that can be created by free radicals. Vitamin C also helps promote a healthy immune system ready to combat invading infections and viruses.
Potassium found in watermelon helps keep your electrolytes in balance and helps keep you from getting dehydrated.
Low in calories, watermelon fills you up and satisfies cravings for “sweet” – this can help in weight management. A 2 cup serving of watermelon chunks has only 80 calories and no fat.

Also, check out all the other posts on watermelon I’m featuring all week and don’t forget to enter the giveaway for a great Watermelon Prize Pack! I also have a group pinterest board to share all the #LivingOnTheWedge love — you are invited to join!

The National Watermelon Promotion Boardnofollow is providing me with compensation to share my love of watermelon. However, the opinions and content (unless otherwise noted) shared are my own and NWPB did not tell me what to say or how to say it.

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Tag Archives: watermelon

Brisket Tacos with Spicy Watermelon BBQ Sauce and Pickled Rind Relish #TacoTakedown

Benefits of Ginger & How To Use Ginger in Beverages + Smoothie Recipe

Slice & Slurp, it’s National Drink Watermelon Day + Watermelon Ginger Limeade Recipe

Best Watermelon Tips – Day 7 #LivingOnTheWedge

Watermelon Smoothies – Day 6 #LivingOnTheWedge