Barbecue Braised Vietnamese Short Ribs With Sweet Vinegar Glaze Food

ASIAN-STYLE BRAISED SHORT RIBS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a wide stockpot or Dutch oven, combine the short ribs, soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, lemongrass, ginger, brown sugar, water, green onion bottoms, crushed red pepper, and 2 tablespoons of the orange juice. Make sure that the stockpot is deep enough so that the short ribs are submerged in the liquid.
• Bake the short ribs, covered, for about 3 hours, or until the meat is tender and falling off the bones. Remove the short ribs from the braising liquid and cover to keep warm. Increase the oven temperature to 425 degrees F.
• Drain the fat off of the cooking liquid and discard. Place the remaining braising juices in a medium saucepan with 1/4 cup of the hoisin sauce and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the liquid until only about 1 1/4 cups remain. Strain through a fine-meshed strainer, discarding the solids. Stir in the remaining 2 tablespoons of orange juice and the lemon juice.
• Return the short ribs and the reduced sauce to the stockpot or Dutch oven, coating the short ribs well with the sauce. Bake for 10 minutes, until the short ribs are heated through and slightly glazed. Serve hot over jasmine rice. Season each portion with the orange zest and garnish with the green onions if desired.

GLAZED AND BRAISED SHORT RIBS WITH SHERRY VINEGAR

Steps:

• Brown the ribs in the olive oil in a stock pot on all sides. Remove to a paper towel lined plate. Remove the pan from the heat and carefully add the sherry and sherry vinegar. Return to the heat and cook, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan, for about 5 minutes. Be careful as the alcohol may ignite when returned to heat. If it ignites, wait to stir until the flames die out.
• Add the rest of the ingredients, except for the butter, including the browned ribs, to the pot. Bring the liquid to a simmer, cover, and cook for about 3 hours, or until the ribs are very tender.
• Season with salt and pepper. Remove the ribs from the pot and set aside on a plate. Strain the liquid and return to the pot. Add the butter and stir until the butter is incorporated. Add the ribs back to the pot and coat well with the sauce. Serve.

BARBECUE-BRAISED VIETNAMESE SHORT RIBS WITH SWEET VINEGAR GLAZE

Steps:

• Season: In a small bowl, combine the chile powder, five-spice powder, brown sugar, 2 tsp. salt, and 1 tsp. pepper. Sprinkle generously all over the ribs. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours but preferably overnight. Sear: Prepare a gas grill for direct grilling over medium-high heat. Grill the ribs until all sides are nicely browned, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Let cool briefly and then tie with a couple of loops of butcher's twine. Braise Prepare the grill for indirect grilling. Set an 8-quart heavy-duty pot over medium heat and when hot, add the oil. Add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and ginger and stir for 1 minute more. Pour in the chicken broth, 1/4 cup of the vinegar, 1 Tbs. of the brown sugar, the fish sauce, and the soy sauce. Add the star anise, bring to a boil, and then remove from the heat. Put the ribs in the pot and set the pot on the grill over the cool zone. Cover the pot, close the grill lid, and cook for 30 minutes. Check the ribs and rearrange so they remain submerged in the simmering liquid. Check the ribs again after 30 minutes and move them around if necessary. After another 30 minutes, check the ribs for tenderness. They should be fork-tender but not falling apart. If they're not tender enough, continue to cook, checking every 15 minutes. Remove the ribs from the pot and set aside. Pour the liquid into a heatproof vessel, such as a Pyrex measuring cup, and let sit until the fat rises to the top. Skim off and discard the fat. Taste the liquid; if it's too watery, return to the pot and boil over high heat until flavorful. Glaze Prepare the grill for direct grilling over medium-high heat. Pour 1 cup of the braising liquid into a small saucepan and stir in the remaining 2 Tbs. brown sugar and 2 tsp. rice vinegar. Over medium-high heat, reduce the liquid until it becomes syrupy, about 12 minutes-you'll have about 1/3 cup. Finish above

VIETNAMESE BRAISED PORK RIBS

Steps:

• Make the marinade: In a small bowl, put the shallots, lemongrass, soy sauce, fish sauce, chile paste, salt, sugar, five-spice powder, garlic and ginger. Mix well.
• Put the meat in a deep baking dish or roasting pan and add marinade. Using your hands, coat ribs well. Let marinate, refrigerated, for at least 2 hours and preferably overnight, well wrapped. Bring back to room temperature before proceeding.
• Heat oven to 450 degrees. Add 2 cups water to the pan, cover tightly with foil and place pan in oven. Cook for 30 minutes, then reduce heat to 350 degrees for 1 hour more. When done, the meat should be very tender, nearly but not quite falling off the bone. Remove cover and return to the oven for about 15 minutes until the ribs are nicely browned.
• Remove ribs from pan. Pour pan juices into a saucepan and skim fat. Reduce over high heat until somewhat thickened, about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, divide ribs with a sharp knife and pile them onto a platter.
• Serve family style with steamed rice and pan juices. Garnish with scallions, cilantro and mint sprigs.