Pot-roast beef brisket with ale and onions

Method

1. Heat the oven to 150°C fan/gas 3½. Heat the oil in a large hobsafe casserole (one with a lid) over a high heat. Sear the brisket for a few minutes on each side until golden all over. Use tongs to lift it onto a plate.
2. Turn the heat down to medium, add the onions to the pot and cook for 15 minutes until softened and golden. Stir in the flour, cooking for a minute, then pour in the ale, stir and simmer for 5 minutes. Add the beef stock, Worcestershire sauce, garlic and bay, then lower the brisket into the liquid. Bring to a simmer, then cover with a lid and put in the oven. Cook for 3 hours, turning the meat over halfway through.
3. Remove the lid and return to the oven for 20-30 minutes to reduce and thicken the sauce. Serve the pot roast with mashed potato, greens and hot sauce, or remove the brisket and bubble the sauce to reduce it further, then pile slices of the brisket and the sauce-coated onions into buns. Freeze any leftovers and use in our other great recipes (see intro).