Chile Braised Short Ribs Recipes

CHILE-BRAISED SHORT RIBS

Steps:

• Season ribs with salt. Let sit at room temperature 1 hour, or chill, uncovered, up to 12 hours. If chilling, let sit at room temperature 1 hour before cooking.
• Meanwhile, place chiles and 5 cups hot water in a blender and let sit while you prep onion and garlic.
• Heat broiler. Broil onion and garlic on a rimmed baking sheet, undisturbed, until charred on top (don't worry if they get super dark), 8-10 minutes.
• Pop garlic out of their skins and place garlic, onion, red pepper flakes, coriander, cumin, and cinnamon in blender with chiles. Blend until smooth but still speckled with chiles; season purée lightly with salt. Set aside.
• Heat 2 Tbsp. oil in a medium heavy pot over medium-high. Working in 2 batches, cook ribs, turning occasionally and reducing heat if needed, until browned all over, 10-12 minutes per batch. Transfer to a plate.
• Carefully pour off oil and wipe out pot. Pour remaining 1 Tbsp. oil into pot and place back over medium-high heat. Add tomato paste and cook, stirring often, until tomato paste begins to separate and stick to pot, about 3 minutes. Stir in chile purée. Return ribs to pot and bring liquid to a simmer. Partially cover pot and cook, reducing heat to low to maintain a very gentle simmer, turning ribs occasionally, and skimming any excess fat from surface, until meat is very tender, 3-3 1/2 hours. (If sauce gets thick before meat is done, add water as needed to thin out a bit.)
• Add squash to pot and push down so it's mostly submerged. Bring to a simmer and cook, uncovered, until squash is tender and liquid is thickened and saucy, 18-20 minutes.
• Serve ribs and squash, topped with yogurt and cilantro, with lime wedges.
• Do Ahead: Ribs (without toppings) can be made 3 days ahead. Cover and chill.

CITRUS AND CHILE BRAISED SHORT RIBS

Steps:

• Season short ribs with salt and pepper. Place on a rimmed baking sheet and chill, uncovered, at least 2 hours (ribs are even better if you can do this a day ahead).
• Preheat oven to 325°F. Heat oil in a large heavy pot over medium. Working in batches, cook short ribs until evenly browned, about 5 minutes on each side. Transfer to a platter; pour off pan drippings between batches.
• Wipe out any burned bits from pot, but leave the golden-brown pieces (doing this will keep the finished sauce from tasting bitter). Place onions, garlic, celery, carrots, tomato paste, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, and 6 chiles in pot; season with salt and pepper and stir to coat. Increase heat to medium-high and cook, stirring often, until vegetables are softened, tomato paste is slightly darkened in color, and spices are fragrant, 10-12 minutes.
• Add oregano, wide strips of orange zest, 1 cup orange juice, and 6 cups water to pot, scraping up any browned bits; season with salt and pepper. Add ribs with any juices accumulated on the platter, making sure they're completely submerged. Cover pot and braise ribs in the oven until meat is tender and falling off the bone, 4-5 hours.
• Carefully transfer ribs to a platter. Strain braising liquid into a large bowl, then return to pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until reduced by half (it will be thickened but still saucy). Return short ribs to pot and turn to coat.
• To serve, drizzle short ribs with remaining 2 tablespoons orange juice and squeeze limes and crush remaining chile over. Top with cilantro and thin strips of orange zest.
• Do Ahead
• Short ribs can be braised 5 days ahead. Let cool; cover and chill in strained braising liquid.

BRAISED SHORT RIBS IN PASILLA CHILE POZOLE

Steps:

• Place the flour with the coriander, cumin, garlic powder and ground mustard in a shallow dish, and mix well with a wooden spoon. Generously sprinkle the short ribs with salt and pepper, then dredge both sides in the seasoned flour one by one, making sure to shake off any excess flour.
• In a large Dutch oven over medium heat, add 2 tablespoons oil. When the oil smokes, add the short ribs in batches. Brown the short ribs until a golden crust starts to form, about 5 minutes on each side. Once brown, reserve and continue until all the ribs are brown, adding more oil as needed. Set the ribs aside.
• While the short ribs are browning, heat a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. When the skillet is hot, add the pasilla chiles and toast until they start to smoke, about 4 minutes. Remove the chiles and submerge in the hot water. Allow to steep until they become soft and pliable, about 10 minutes. Remove from the water and puree in a blender with 1/4 cup of the steeping water. Set aside the puree.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Add the carrots, garlic, onions and celery to the Dutch oven. Cook until the vegetables caramelize, about 15 minutes. Deglaze the pot with the red wine, and then add the tomatoes, beef broth, hominy and reserved pasilla chile puree. Bring the whole mixture to a simmer. Start adding all the browned short ribs back into the pan. Cover and cook until the short ribs barely start falling off the bone, about 1 hour 30 minutes.
• Season with salt, pepper, cilantro and parsley; garnish with a lime wedge and serve.

SHORT RIB CHILI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Arrange the short ribs on a large sheet of foil. Sprinkle all over with 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon pepper.
• Bring the New Mexico chiles, ancho chiles and 1 1/2 cups water to a simmer in a medium saucepan over high heat. Cover, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until the chiles are just tender, 5 to 6 minutes. Transfer the mixture to a blender. Holding the top on firmly, blend until the chile puree is smooth.
• Heat the oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the short ribs in batches and brown on all sides, 5 to 6 minutes per batch, transferring the short ribs to a bowl each time.
• Add the garlic and red onions to the drippings in the pot. Saute until the onions soften, about 5 minutes. Mix in the cumin and oregano. Add the chile puree from the blender, the broth, agave, and espresso; stir to blend. Return the short ribs and any juices from the bowl to the pot; stir to coat. Bring to a simmer. Cover and place the pot in the oven. Braise until the ribs are very tender, about 2 hours 30 minutes.
• Tilt the pot. Spoon off and discard any fat that rises to the surface and pools at the lower end. Using tongs, transfer the ribs and any loose bones to a rimmed baking sheet. Carefully cut the membrane off each piece of meat (try to cut away only the membrane and not any meat). Discard the membranes and all bones. Cut the meat into small (scant 1/2-inch) cubes. Return the meat to the sauce in the pot. Mix in the black beans. Season the chili with about 1/4 teaspoon each of salt and pepper. If desired, add the adobo sauce by teaspoonfuls to increase the spiciness. Transfer the chili to a large bowl. Sprinkle with the green onions.
• Spoon the Creamy Corn Polenta into deep bowls. Ladle chili over. Sprinkle generously with chocolate. Serve with the garnishes.
• Bring the broth, 2 1/2 cups water, butter and 1 teaspoon salt to a boil in a heavy, large saucepan over high heat. Gradually whisk in the polenta. Continue to whisk until the polenta begins to thicken, 2 to 3 minutes. Reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook until the polenta is very thick and tender, stirring often with a flat-bottom spoon or heatproof rubber spatula to prevent sticking or burning, about 20 minutes. Blend the corn in a mini processor until a coarse puree forms. Stir the corn puree into the polenta. Season with more salt if desired.

SHORT RIBS BRAISED IN COFFEE ANCHO CHILE SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300°F.
• Soak ancho chiles in boiling-hot water until softened, about 20 minutes, then drain in a colander set over a bowl.
• Taste soaking liquid: It will be a little bitter, but if unpleasantly so, discard it; otherwise, reserve for braising.
• Transfer ancho chiles to a blender and purée with onion, garlic, chipotles with sauce, maple syrup, lime juice, and 1 teaspoon salt.
• Pat ribs dry and sprinkle with pepper and remaining 2 teaspoons salt.
• Heat oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then brown ribs in 3 batches, turning occasionally, about 5 minutes per batch.
• Transfer as browned to a roasting pan just large enough to hold ribs in 1 layer.
• Carefully add chile purée to fat remaining in skillet (use caution, since it will splatter and steam) and cook over moderately low heat, stirring frequently, 5 minutes.
• Add reserved chile soaking liquid (or 1 1/2 cups water) and coffee and bring to a boil, then pour over ribs (liquid should come about halfway up sides of meat).
• Cover roasting pan tightly with foil and braise ribs in middle of oven until very tender, 3 to 3 1/2 hours.
• Skim fat from pan juices and serve with ribs.
• Cooks' note: Ribs improve in flavor if braised 2 days ahead.
• Cool, uncovered, then chill, surface covered with parchment paper or wax paper and roasting pan covered with foil.
• Remove any solidified fat before reheating.

COFFEE-BRAISED SHORT RIBS WITH ANCHO CHILE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300°F. Heat oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Sprinkle short ribs with salt and pepper. Working in batches, add ribs to pot and cook until browned, about 4 minutes per side. Transfer to platter.
• Add onion, red bell pepper, and jalapeño to drippings in pot. Reduce heat to medium, cover, and cook until onion is tender, stirring occasionally, about 6 minutes. Stir in garlic and sauté uncovered 1 minute. Add brown sugar, ancho chile powder, oregano, and cumin; stir 15 seconds. Stir in coffee, tomatoes with juice, and tomato paste. Bring to boil, scraping up browned bits. Return ribs and any juices to pot; bring to boil.
• Cover and bake until meat is very tender, about 1 hour 45 minutes. Spoon fat from surface of sauce. Season sauce to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cool slightly. Chill uncovered until cold, then cover and refrigerate. Rewarm, covered, over medium heat before continuing.)
• Transfer ribs to platter. Spoon sauce over and sprinkle with chopped cilantro.
• *Available in the spice section of most supermarkets and at Latin markets.

SHORT RIBS BRAISED IN COFFEE ANCHO CHILE SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Soak ancho chiles in boiling-hot water until softened, about 20 minutes, then drain in a colander set over a bowl. Taste soaking liquid: It will be a little bitter, but if unpleasantly so, discard it; otherwise, reserve for braising. Transfer ancho chiles to a blender and purée with onion, garlic, chipotles with sauce, maple syrup, lime juice, and 1 teaspoon salt.
• Pat ribs dry and sprinkle with pepper and remaining 2 teaspoons salt. Heat oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then brown ribs in 3 batches, turning occasionally, about 5 minutes per batch. Transfer as browned to a roasting pan just large enough to hold ribs in 1 layer.
• Carefully add chile purée to fat remaining in skillet (use caution, since it will splatter and steam) and cook over moderately low heat, stirring frequently, 5 minutes. Add reserved chile soaking liquid (or 1 1/2 cups water) and coffee and bring to a boil, then pour over ribs (liquid should come about halfway up sides of meat).
• Cover roasting pan tightly with foil and braise ribs in middle of oven until very tender, 3 to 3 1/2 hours. Skim fat from pan juices and serve with ribs.

COFFEE-BRAISED SHORT RIBS WITH ANCHO CHILE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
• Heat oil in heavy large pot (Dutch oven) over medium-high heat; sprinkle short ribs with salt and pepper; working in batches, add ribs to pot and cook until brown, about 4 minutes each side, transfer to platter.
• Add onion, red bell pepper, and jalapeno to drippings in pot, reduce heat to medium, cover, and cook until onion is tender, stirring occasionally, about 6 minutes; stir in garlic and saute uncovered 1 minute.
• Add brown sugar, ancho chile powder, oregano, and cumin; stir 15 seconds; stir in coffee, tomatoes with juice, and tomato paste, bring to a boil, scrapping up browned bits;Return ribs and any juices to pot; bring to boil.
• Cover and bake until meat is very tender, about 1 hour and 45 minutes; spoon fat from surface of sauce, season to taste with salt and pepper, (can be prepared 1 day ahead, cool slightly, chill uncovered until cold, then cover and refrigrate, Rewarm, covered, over medium heat before continuing): Transfer ribs to platter, spoon sauce over and sprinkle with chopped cilantro.