Mole Braised Beef Short Ribs Recipe 435

Steps:

• Heat oven to 275 degrees. Heat oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Season short ribs on all sides with salt and pepper. Working in batches, sear short ribs on all sides until deeply and evenly browned, 6 to 8 minutes per batch. Transfer browned short ribs to a large plate and continue with remaining ribs.
• Pour off all but 2 tablespoons of remaining fat, leaving the good browned bits behind. Reduce heat to medium, and add garlic, cut side down and cook, undisturbed, until golden brown, about 1 to 2 minutes. Add onion, celery and carrots and season with salt and pepper. Toss to coat and continue to cook until vegetables are softened but not yet browned, about 5 to 10 minutes. Add tomato paste and stir to coat. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until tomato paste has started to caramelize a bit on the bottom and up the edges of the pot, about 2 to 3 minutes.
• Add red wine and, using a wooden spoon, scrape up any browned or caramelized bits. Let this simmer 2 to 3 minutes, just to take the edge off and reduce a bit. Stir in beef stock along with thyme. Using tongs, return short ribs to the pot, along with any juices that have accumulated, nestling them in there so that they are submerged (if they are just barely covered, nestle them bone side up so that all the meat is submerged, adding more beef stock or water as necessary to cover). Bring to a simmer, then cover and transfer to oven.
• Cook, undisturbed, until short ribs are meltingly tender and falling off the bone (you should be able to shred the meat with a fork), 3½ to 4 hours.
• Using tongs, remove the ribs from the pot, taking care (for presentation purposes, really) not to let the bone slip out and transfer them to a large plate. (While you could serve the short ribs right out of this pot, the vegetables have all given up their flavor and texture and aren't worth much now, so feel free to strain the sauce for easier eating.) Scatter parsley, chives and lemon zest over the top of the short ribs. Separate the fat from the sauce, season with salt and pepper and serve alongside.

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 300 degrees. Very generously season the ribs on all sides with salt and pepper. Heat a Dutch oven or large heavy pot over medium-high heat. Add the oil and heat for 1 minute. In a single layer, working in several batches if needed, brown the ribs well all over, 6 to 8 minutes a side. Transfer the ribs to a platter.
• Add the onion, carrot, and celery and cook until browned, 5 minutes, stirring often. Return the ribs to the pot and add the bay leaf and water to cover. Bake, tightly covered, until very tender, about 3 hours.
• Meanwhile, prepare the mole. Tear open the chilies, removing and discarding the stems and seeds. Place the chilies in a bowl with 2 cups warm water and soak until softened, 15 minutes.
• Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook until translucent but not brown, stirring with a wooden spoon, about 3 minutes. Stir in the cumin and cook for 1 minute.
• Transfer the chilies to the pan, reserving the soaking liquid. Sauté until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add the soaking liquid and all remaining ingredients. Gently simmer until the plantains and raisins are soft, about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove the cinnamon stick. Puree the sauce in a blender until smooth, then return it to the saucepan.
• Add 1/2 to 1 cup of the rib cooking liquid until the sauce is thick but pourable. Adjust the seasoning, adding salt, sugar, or vinegar to taste - the mole should be highly seasoned and a little sweet with just a faint hint of tartness. (The mole can be prepared up to one day ahead and reheated.)
• To serve, turn on the broiler or heat the oven to 450 degrees. Spoon half of the mole over the bottom of a baking dish just large enough to hold the ribs. Remove the ribs from their braising liquid, drain well, and place on top. Spoon the remaining mole over the ribs. Broil or bake until the mole sizzles and browns, 2 to 4 minutes on each side under the broiler, or 8 to 12 minutes in the oven.