To make the barbecue sauce, heat the oil in a frying pan, then cook onion and garlic for a few minutes until soft. Add the rest of the sauce ingredients to the pan with a good pinch of salt and simmer for 20 minutes. Use a hand blender or food processor to whiz it to a smooth puree.

Heat the oven to 150C. Make the rub by mixing all the ingredients with a pinch of salt. Rub the mix all over the beef and set aside.

In a large roasting tray, mix the barbecue sauce with two cups of water. Add the brisket to the tray, cover tightly with baking paper and then foil, then cook for four to five hours until the meat is really tender when you push a fork into it. The beef can be cooked the night before – just leave it to cool in the tin covered with foil.

To finish the beef, fire up a barbecue and wait until the coals have settled – you want a low, not fierce, heat. Lift the beef out of the roasting tin and place on the barbecue to char. If your barbecue has a lid, close it. Cook for about 20 minutes, turning the meat carefully with tongs, until lightly charred all over and heated through. Lift on to a board and serve sliced with the remaining barbecue sauce on the side.

Serve with collard greens, corn bread or my macaroni and cheese (pictured).