Unlock Terraform Skills with a Savory Brisket Code Recipe

Ever thought of coding a brisket? This might sound a bit out there, but let’s have some fun with it. Imagine a Terraform script where your brisket’s weight dynamically adjusts seasoning amounts and cooking time. This recipe—disguised as infrastructure code—invites you to crack the code, literally.

Getting Started

Our brisket’s weight is the primary variable in this configuration. Based on that, we’ll scale the seasoning quantities and calculate the recommended cooking time. Terraform will let us create a resource for seasoning, set our smoker’s temperature, and outline the process to achieve a perfectly smoked brisket.

Code Recipe: Smoked Brisket

Let’s start by defining our variables. In this setup, the brisket_weight variable controls both the cooking time and the seasoning proportions. The larger the brisket, the more seasoning you’ll need, and the longer the cook.

provider "azurerm" {
  features {}
  subscription_id = var.subscription_id
} 

variable "subscription_id" {
  default = "635a2a50-5b7c-4391-adc5-468d76cd1ce3"
}

# Define brisket weight
variable "brisket_weight" {
  description = "Weight of the brisket in pounds"
  type        = number
  default     = 10 # Adjust this value to change servings
}

# Seasoning proportions per pound of brisket
locals {
  salt_per_lb        = 0.5  # tablespoons per pound
  pepper_per_lb      = 0.5  # tablespoons per pound
  paprika_per_lb     = 0.25 # tablespoons per pound
  garlic_per_lb      = 0.25 # tablespoons per pound
  onion_per_lb       = 0.25 # tablespoons per pound
  brown_sugar_per_lb = 0.25 # tablespoons per pound
}

# Calculate total seasoning based on brisket weight
locals {
  salt_total        = local.salt_per_lb * var.brisket_weight
  pepper_total      = local.pepper_per_lb * var.brisket_weight
  paprika_total     = local.paprika_per_lb * var.brisket_weight
  garlic_total      = local.garlic_per_lb * var.brisket_weight
  onion_total       = local.onion_per_lb * var.brisket_weight
  brown_sugar_total = local.brown_sugar_per_lb * var.brisket_weight
}

# Calculate cook time (1.5 hours per pound)
locals {
  cook_time = var.brisket_weight * 1.5
}

# Define refrigeration and resting times
locals {
  refrigeration_time = 12 # hours in the fridge for seasoning absorption
  rest_time          = 30 # minutes to rest after cooking
}

# Output the ingredient amounts
output "seasoning_amounts" {
  value = {
    salt        = "${local.salt_total} tablespoons"
    pepper      = "${local.pepper_total} tablespoons"
    paprika     = "${local.paprika_total} tablespoons"
    garlic      = "${local.garlic_total} tablespoons"
    onion       = "${local.onion_total} tablespoons"
    brown_sugar = "${local.brown_sugar_total} tablespoons"
  }
  description = "Total seasoning amounts based on brisket weight."
}

# Output the refrigeration instructions
output "refrigeration_instructions" {
  value       = "Refrigerate seasoned brisket for ${local.refrigeration_time} hours to let flavors absorb."
  description = "Instructions for refrigerating the seasoned brisket."
}

# Output the cooking instructions
output "cooking_instructions" {
  value       = "Smoke the brisket at 225F for ${local.cook_time} hours."
  description = "Instructions for smoking the brisket."
}

# Output the resting instructions
output "resting_instructions" {
  value       = "Let the brisket rest for ${local.rest_time} minutes before slicing."
  description = "Instructions for resting the brisket."
} 

Code Walkthrough

1. Variable: brisket_weight
   The brisket_weight variable represents the brisket’s weight in pounds. Adjusting this value will automatically scale up the seasoning quantities and cooking duration.
2. Local Variables: salt_per_lb, pepper_per_lb, etc.
   Each seasoning ingredient is defined per pound of brisket. For instance, we allocate 0.5 tablespoons of salt per pound. Using the brisket_weight variable, we multiply each seasoning amount to calculate the totals.
3. Local Calculations for Seasoning
   By using the brisket_weight variable, we calculate the total amount for each ingredient, allowing readers to see how much seasoning they’d need based on the brisket’s size.
4. brisket_seasoning Resource
   This Terraform resource represents the mix of seasonings, outputting each ingredient’s total amount. This helps readers visualize the recipe structure, making it easier to follow the seasoning breakdown.
5. smoker Resource
   Here, we set the smoker’s temperature to 225°F, ideal for a brisket. We also calculate the cooking time based on weight, using a general rule of 1.5 hours per pound.
6. Output: brisket_recipe
   The output lists the brisket’s weight, seasoning amounts, and cooking instructions.

Terraform Plan Output

Changes to Outputs:
  + cooking_instructions       = "Smoke the brisket at 225F for 15 hours."
  + refrigeration_instructions = "Refrigerate seasoned brisket for 12 hours to let flavors absorb."
  + resting_instructions       = "Let the brisket rest for 30 minutes before slicing."
  + seasoning_amounts          = {
      + brown_sugar = "2.5 tablespoons"
      + garlic      = "2.5 tablespoons"
      + onion       = "2.5 tablespoons"
      + paprika     = "2.5 tablespoons"
      + pepper      = "5 tablespoons"
      + salt        = "5 tablespoons"
    }

You can apply this plan to save these new output values to the Terraform state, without changing any real infrastructure.

Testing the Recipe

You can change the brisket weight to see how the outputs are modified. It’s a fun way to see how variables and locals works in Terraform.

Final Thoughts

Am I a brisket expert? Not even close! But do I love smoking brisket at home? Absolutely—big shoutout to BBQ Outfitters! So, I thought, why not make learning Terraform more engaging by incorporating a beloved Texan cut of meat? Feel free to copy the code, tweak the seasoning, or add your own twist. It’s a fun way to explore how locals, variables, and outputs work. Now keep in mind, running this code won’t actually create any resources—especially not brisket! However, if this article helped you, well, then I’ll take the win.