Braised Beef Short Ribs

Name: Braised Beef Short Ribs
Ingredients: 8 beef short ribs; 1 tablespoon kosher salt; 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper; 1 teaspoon dried thyme , preferably Spice Islands brand; ¼ cup peanut oil or lard; 3 large yellow onions , peeled and sliced into ½-inch wedges (about 4 cups); 3 bay leaves; 12 whole cloves garlic , peeled; 28 ounces canned whole tomatoes (preferred) or 8 very ripe garden tomatoes , cored and peeled; 1 cup Chicken Stock or water; ½ cup red wine

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The Gift of Southern Cooking: Recipes and Revelations from Two Great Southern Cooks

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This image courtesy of Joseph DeLeo

Miss Lewis was quoted once as saying, “I figured out a long time ago that beef has no flavor.” And while it’s true that she rarely cooks or eats beef, she does love short ribs, especially these short ribs. They’re prepared almost exactly like the lamb or veal shanks, though here red tomatoes are used, along with lots of onion. During the final, uncovered cooking, the liquid reduces to an intense sauce, which just coats the meat. Butchers cut short ribs two ways, either between the bones, so each chunk has one rib, or across the bones, so each piece has several small bony sections connected by meat. Both kinds of ribs are fine for this, though I prefer the latter cut—known as “flanken”—because the exposed bones and cartilage release more flavor and body into the dish. Serve with rice or grits.

NotesIf you chill the casserole, it’s much easier to peel off the fat.

TO REHEAT: Put covered into a preheated 350°F oven for 25 minutes. Uncover and continue heating for 10 minutes longer.

Cooking Methodbraising

CostModerate

Total Timeunder 4 hours

Make Ahead RecipeYes

OccasionCasual Dinner Party, Formal Dinner Party, game day

Recipe Coursemain course

Dietary Considerationkosher

Mealdinner

Moodblue

Taste and Texturemeaty, rich, umami

Ingredients

8 beef short ribs
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon dried thyme, preferably Spice Islands brand
¼ cup peanut oil or lard
3 large yellow onions, peeled and sliced into ½-inch wedges (about 4 cups)
3 bay leaves
12 whole cloves garlic, peeled
28 ounces canned whole tomatoes (preferred) or 8 very ripe garden tomatoes, cored and peeled
1 cup Chicken Stock or water
½ cup red wine

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 325°F.
Rinse the short ribs under cool water, and pat them dry with paper toweling. Sprinkle the salt, pepper, and ½ teaspoon of the dried thyme all over the ribs. Heat the oil or lard in a large, heavy-bottomed skillet until hot, then add the ribs in batches without crowding, and cook, turning as needed, until they are deeply browned on all sides. Transfer the browned short ribs to a baking dish or casserole just large enough to hold them, and set aside.
Carefully pour off all but 2 tablespoons of the cooking fat from the skillet, and immediately add the onions to the pan. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon salt over the onions, and stir well. Cook the onions over medium heat, and, using a wooden spoon, scrape the bottom of the skillet as they cook to dislodge any caramelized bits left from browning the ribs. Add the bay leaves, a few grindings of black pepper, and the remaining ½ teaspoon dried thyme. Stir well to distribute the seasonings. Add the whole garlic cloves and cook 3 minutes longer. Pour in the tomatoes, stock, and red wine, bring to a simmer, and cook for 5 minutes. Taste carefully for seasoning. The braising vegetables and liquid should be highly seasoned.
Pour the vegetables and liquid over the browned ribs, and spread the vegetables around so they are in an even layer. Cover with a piece of parchment paper and a double thickness of heavy-duty aluminum foil, shiny side down. Seal tightly, and put in the center of the preheated oven to cook for 1½ hours, or until a paring knife pierces the meat easily. Uncover, and bake 30 minutes longer, basting often, to caramelize the ribs. Remove from the oven and spoon off any visible fat. Taste the braising juices carefully for seasoning, and correct if necessary. Serve hot, with the vegetables and braising juices spooned over as a sauce.