Braised Short Ribs of Beef with Red Wine, Apricots and Black Olives
- 8 beef short ribs (6 ounces each)
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour for dusting
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 3 ounces smoked bacon, cut into 1x¼-inch lardons
- 2 medium carrots, peeled and chopped into ½-inch dice
- 1 medium onion, chopped into ½-inch dice
- 16 garlic cloves, smashed
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 cups dry red wine
- ½ cup brandy
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
- 1 teaspoon celery seeds
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 5 whole cloves
- 2 cups Chicken Stock or high-quality canned low-sodium chicken broth
- â…“ cup Kalamata olives, pitted 18 dried apricot halves
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
Instructions:
After scraping any congealed fat from the surface of the sauce, reheat, covered, in a 350°F oven for 20 to 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 325°F.
- Season the ribs with salt and pepper. Dust with the flour. Heat the oil in a large braising pan or ovenproof casserole over medium-high heat. Add the bacon and cook until most of the fat is rendered, then remove and set aside.
- Add as many ribs as can fit in a single layer to the pan. You will need to cook them in batches. Sear the ribs on both sides until well browned, then remove from the pan and set aside. Repeat with the remaining ribs. Discard all but 2 tablespoons of the fat from the pan.
- Lower the heat to medium, add the carrots and onions, season with salt and pepper, and sauté until the vegetables begin to brown, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic and tomato paste and cook for 4 more minutes. Add the red wine and brandy and reduce by half, about 6 minutes.
- Return the ribs and bacon to the pot. Add the remaining ingredients except the apricots and parsley and bring to a boil. The liquid should come one-third of the way up the ribs—if not, add some water. As soon as the liquid comes to a boil, turn off the heat and cover the ribs tightly with foil, pressing the foil down into the pan, then place a lid on the pan.
- Braise the ribs in the oven for 2 hours, turning them every 30 minutes so they cook evenly. Add water as necessary to keep the braising juice one-third of the way up the ribs.
- After 2 hours, add the apricots and cook for an additional 30 minutes. The meat should be almost falling off the bones. Transfer the short ribs to a large platter. Spoon the vegetables, olives, and apricots over them. Keep warm.
- Strain the braising juices into a clear glass container and siphon or skim off the fat. The braising juices may already be the consistency of a sauce. If not, return them to the pan and boil for a few minutes to thicken. If you prefer an absolutely smooth sauce, strain out any remaining pieces of vegetable. Taste, season with salt and pepper, and add the parsley. Pour the sauce over the ribs and serve immediately.