Cooks Illustrated Braised Beef Short Ribs Recipes

BRAISED BEEF SHORT RIBS

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine the 1/2 cup flour, salt and ground black pepper. Roll the ribs in the seasoned flour.
• In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the oil and brown the ribs well on all sides. Pour in 1 cup boiling water, tomatoes, and garlic. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 1 1/2 hours, adding more water if necessary.
• Place the potatoes, onions, and carrots in the pot. Continue to simmer for another 30 minutes to 1 hour, or until all vegetables are tender. Remove the meat and vegetables to a serving platter.
• In a separate small bowl, dissolve 1 1/2 tablespoons flour and 2 tablespoons water for every one cup liquid remaining in the pot. Add this to the pot and stir well until thickened. Pour over meat and vegetables.

BRAISED SHORT RIBS WITH PARSNIPS & PEARL ONIONS

Steps:

• Arrange short ribs in a large roasting pan bone side down in a single layer.
• Sprinkle with sea salt & black pepper. Roast on a lower oven rack at 450F for 35 minutes.
• Drain all liquid/fat (turkey baster works well).
• Continue to roast another 25 minutes or until well browned.
• Transfer ribs to a plate and drain pan liquids into a small bowl and reserve.
• Reduce oven to 300°F.
• Simmer the wine in the roasting pan on the stovetop over 2 burners, scraping the bottom with a wood spoon to loosen the roasted on bits, simmer 5 minutes.
• In a large dutch oven over medium high heat, heat 3 tbsp of the reserved fat.
• Add onions, carrots, and celery; saute 10-12 minutes until vegetables soften.
• Add garlic and cook for about 1 minute.
• Add flour and stir to combine, cook about 1 minute.
• Add the wine from the roasting pan, chicken broth, diced tomatoes, herbs, and tomato paste.
• Season to taste with sea salt & black pepper.
• Bring to a boil, add short ribs (completely submerge them), return to boil.
• Transfer to oven, bake covered for 2 1/2 hours.
• Remove from oven and cool with the lid cracked for about 2 hours.
• Transfer the ribs, minus loose bones & vegetables, to a plate or tupperware.
• Cover and refrigerate overnight.
• Strain the braising liquid into a medium bowl, pressing out the liquid from the solids.
• Discard the solids, cover and refrigerate the liquid (separate from the ribs).
• This can be refrigerated up to 3 days in advance.
• 45 minutes prior to serving: Heat a large dutch oven over medium heat; cook bacon until just crisp; transfer to papertowel lined plate.
• Add the pearl onions, parsnips, sugar and 1/4 tsp salt to the bacon grease and saute on high for 5 minutes or until browned.
• Remove the ribs and braising liquid from the refrigerator.
• Skim the solidified fat off the top of the liquid and discard.
• Add the liquid to the pearl onions and bring to a simmer.
• Season with sea salt & black pepper to taste.
• Add ribs to liquid and push below surface.
• Return to simmer over medium and cook with the lid cracked about 5 minutes until ribs are heated through and parsnips are tender.
• Stir in the bacon.
• Serve sprinkled with parsley.
• Note: If you are making this the same day as you plan to serve it, skip cooling the ribs in the braising liquid. Instead take them out straight from the oven, strain the vegetables out of the liquid and let it settle so you can spoon off the fat that rises to the top.

COOKS ILLUSTRATED BRAISED BEEF SHORT RIBS

Steps:

• 1. Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 300 degrees. Pat beef dry with paper towls and season with 2 teaspoons salt and 1 teaspoon pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in large heavy-bottomed Dutch oven over medium-high heat until smoking. Add half of beef and cook, without moving, until well browned, 4 to 6 minutes. Turn beef and continue to cook on second side until well browned, 4 to 6 minutes longer, reducing heat if fat begins to smoke. Transfer beef to medium bowl. Repeat with remaining tablespoom oil and meat. 2. Reduce heat to medium, add onions, and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and beginning to brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Add tomato paste and cook, stirring constantly, until it browns on sides and bottom of pan, about 2 minutes. Add garlic and cook until aromatic, about 30 seconds. Increase heat to medium-high, add wine and simmer, scarping bottom of pan with wooden spoon to loosen browned bits, until reduced by half, 8 to 10 minutes. Add broth, carrots, thyme, and bay leaf. Add beef and any accumulated juices to pot; cover amd bring to simmer. Transfer pot to oven and cook, using tongs to turn meat twice during cooking, until fork slips easily in and out of meat, 2 to 2 1/2 hours. 3. Place water in small bowl and sprinkle gelatin on top; let stand at least 5 minutes. Using tongs, transfer meat and carrots to serving platter and tent with foil. Strain cooking liquid through fine-mesh strainer into fat seperatpr or bowl, extracting as much liquid as possible. Allow liquid to settle about 5 minutes and strain off fat. Return cooking liquid to dutch oven and cook over medium heat until reduced to 1 cup, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in gelatin mixture; season with salt and pepper. Pour sauce over meat and sauce.