Tequila Braised Country Style Ribs Recipes

BEER-BRAISED COUNTRY-STYLE PORK RIBS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Pat the ribs dry, season with salt and sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon paprika. Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the ribs in batches and cook until browned, about 8 minutes per side. Remove to a plate. Add the onions and cook until browned, about 10 minutes. Add the remaining 1 teaspoon paprika and season with salt.
• Add the beer; bring to a boil and cook until the liquid is reduced by half, about 8 minutes, scraping up the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon. Add the chicken broth, bay leaves and thyme; when the liquid begins to simmer, return the ribs to the pot and transfer to the oven. Cook, uncovered, turning the ribs once or twice, until the meat is almost tender, about 1 hour.
• Mix the vinegar and honey in a measuring cup. Remove the pot from the oven and place on the stovetop; bring to a simmer over medium heat. Add the vinegar mixture and bring to a boil, then return the pot to the oven. Continue to braise, uncovered, until the ribs are tender, 15 to 20 more minutes. Return the pot to the stovetop and transfer the ribs to a plate. Bring the sauce to a boil over medium heat; skim off the fat and cook until thickened, 10 to 15 minutes. Return the ribs to the pot and heat through. Discard the bay leaves and thyme. Photograph by Con Poulos

TEQUILA-BRAISED COUNTRY-STYLE RIBS

Steps:

• Combine sugar, 5-spice powder and garlic. Rub mixture well into each rib. Cover and marinate overnight in refrigerator.
• Remove ribs from refrigerator and allow to sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes, to 45 minutes.
• For the sauce, heat oil over medium-low heat and add onions; cook slowly until they are caramelized. Add garlic and stir to blend. Add remaining sauce ingredients and bring to a simmer. Cook 5 minutes and remove from heat.
• Preheat oven to 325°F
• In a large, heavy skillet or Dutch oven, sear each rib until brown. The sugar in the rub will make the ribs brown quickly, and you may need to change pans if the build-up in bottom of pan gets to thick. After all ribs are seared, place them side by side, in single layer, in a deep roasting pan. Add sauce.
• Cover pan with foil and cook in oven for 2 1/2 hours, or until tender.
• Remove ribs from pan and keep them warm. Transfer pan drippings and sauce to a blender and puree (be very careful when blending hot liquids). Pour into a saucepan and reheat for serving.
• Serve ribs with sauce and garnish with chopped peanuts.

BRAISED COUNTRY-STYLE PORK RIBS WITH CHIPOTLE

Steps:

• Dry the ribs well, sprinkle all over with salt and allow to sit, refrigerated, for 1 to 2 1/2 hours.
• In a small bowl, combine cumin, coriander, chipotle pepper, black pepper, cayenne and cinnamon, and mix well. Dry the ribs well again and rub this mixture onto one side and the edges of the ribs, pressing to make sure it adheres. Heat oil over medium-high heat in a Dutch oven or other large, heavy pot until shimmering. In 2 batches, place the ribs in the pot, with the spice-rubbed side up, and brown the opposite side well, about 5 to 8 minutes. Remove to a platter as browned.
• Add onions and cook, stirring frequently, until they just start to brown, about 10 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute more.
• Move oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 325 degrees. Return ribs to the pot and add the orange juice, lime juice and enough beer so that the liquid comes halfway up the sides of the ribs. Bring to a simmer, then cover, put in the oven, and cook until the ribs are very tender, about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Remove the ribs from the pan, cover loosely with foil, and set aside. Continue to reduce the liquid if it is too thin, then adjust seasoning.
• Top each rib with a several tablespoons of sauce, sprinkle with cilantro and pomegranate seeds, if using, and serve.