Zinfandel-Braised Beef Brisket with Onions and Potatoes

Ingredients:

• 2 cups zinfandel or other fruity dry red wine
• 1/2 cup fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
• 1/4 cup tomato paste
• 1 (2 1/2-pound) beef brisket, trimmed
• 2 teaspoons salt, divided
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided
• Cooking spray
• 8 cups sliced Walla Walla or other sweet onion (about 4 medium) 
• 2 tablespoons sugar 
• 1 1/4 teaspoons dried thyme, divided
• 6 garlic cloves, thinly sliced 
• 2 carrots, peeled and cut into (1/2-inch-thick) slices 
• 2 celery stalks, cut into (1/2-inch-thick) slices 
• 1 1/2 pounds small red potatoes, cut into quarters 
• 1 1/2 teaspoons extravirgin olive oil 
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
• Chopped fresh parsley

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 325°.
2. Combine first 3 ingredients, stirring with a whisk.
3. Heat a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Sprinkle beef with 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add beef to pan; cook for 8 minutes, browning on all sides. Remove beef from pan; cover and set aside.
4. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, onion, sugar, and 1 teaspoon thyme to pan. Cook 20 minutes or until onions are tender and golden brown, stirring occasionally. Add garlic, carrots, and celery; cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Place beef on top of onion mixture; pour wine mixture over beef. Cover and place in oven.
5. Bake at 325° for 1 3/4 hours.
6. While beef mixture cooks, place potatoes in a large bowl. Add 3/4 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon thyme, oil, oregano, and red pepper; toss to coat. Arrange in a single layer on a jelly-roll pan coated with cooking spray.
7. Remove beef from oven; turn beef over. Place potatoes on lower rack in oven. Cover beef; return to oven. Bake potatoes and beef at 325° for 45 minutes or until beef is tender. Remove beef from oven; cover and keep warm. Increase oven temperature to 425°. Place potatoes on middle rack in oven; bake at 425° for 15 minutes or until crisp and edges are browned.
8. Remove beef from pan; cut across the grain into thin slices. Serve with onion mixture and potatoes. Sprinkle with parsley.