Braised Short Ribs With Creamy Parmesan Polenta Food

BRAISED SHORT RIBS WITH CREAMY PARMESAN POLENTA

Steps:

• So first we heat up our ovens to 325-degrees. If you want to use a crock pot for this...you will still sear and sweat all the veggies...and at the point that we put the pot in the oven, that will be the point that you will just cook it in a crock pot. I have done it both ways, however I prefer the oven route, funny enough to me it seems like it requires less babysitting.
• Warm up some oil in a heavy bottom pan. You want to use a coconut, avocado or any other oil with a high smoke point. Get it nice and hot.
• Season your short ribs really, really well with salt and pepper. I always use Kosher salt.
• Place them in one layer in your pot and let them sear. Don't touch for 5 minutes.
• In the mean time, dice up your onion and shallots. Shallots are just so wonderfully French. I have a pretty nifty tutorial on how to dice up an onion in case you forgot ????
• You will also want to dice up some carrots.
• After 5 minutes are up, your flip the meat to the other side and let it go for another 5 minutes.
• Once all the meat is nicely browned, remove it on a plate and turn the heat down to medium.
• Check your pot, if you have a lot of more oil than about 1 tbsp (accumulated from the meat) then pour it out.
• Add your onions, shallots, garlic cloves and carrots to the pot and sweat for about 5-7 minutes until aromatic and soft. Toss them in all those glorious pan drippings. Season with salt and pepper.
• Turn up the heat and add in about 3 cups of a nice dry red wine. Scrub the bottom as you do this. Pick up all those nice bits that have caramelized from the bottom.
• Nestle the short ribs back in and add in about 1 cup of chicken or beef stock...it really does not matter which honest. You want the meat about 3/4 of the way. Now go ahead and add in one sprig of rosemary and the parsley sprigs.
• Now just close the lid. Place it in the oven and let it roll for 1 hour. After the 1st hour, remove from the oven and turn the short ribs over to the other side. Place back into the oven for another hour.
• For the crock pot, let it cook on low for 4-5 hours.
• If at any point your liquid boils out, pour some more stock in or water. Check the meat after the next hour and ensure that it is fall apart tender. By the end most of your liquids will have reduced significantly and you will have something that looks like this. Well without the fresh parsley on top of course.
• At this point you have 2 options. You can place the pot in the fridge and let it cool over night so the fat can solidify and remove it then.

SPICY BRAISED SHORT RIBS WITH POLENTA

Steps:

• For the short ribs: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Heat the oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Sprinkle the short ribs generously with salt and pepper, then add them to the pot and brown on all sides until golden, about 8 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
• Add the mushrooms to the drippings in the pot and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and all the water has cooked out, about 8 minutes. Add half the garlic and continue to cook, stirring frequently, until the mushrooms are crisp and golden and the garlic is softened, about 3 minutes more. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the mushroom mixture to a bowl; set aside.
• Reduce the heat to medium, add the carrot, onion, rosemary and remaining garlic to the pot and cook, stirring often and scraping up any browned bits from the bottom, until the onions and carrots are softened, about 5 minutes. Pour in the wine and bring to a boil. Cook until slightly reduced, about 3 minutes. Stir in the arrabbiata sauce and 2 cups water and return the short ribs to the pot. Bring to a boil, cover with a tight-fitting lid and transfer to the oven. Cook until the meat is fork-tender, about 2 1/2 hours.
• Remove the meat from the sauce and transfer to a plate. Set the sauce aside to let the braising liquid and fat separate, about 10 minutes, then skim off and discard the fat. Discard the rosemary sprig, stir in the reserved mushrooms and add salt and pepper to taste. If you prefer it spicier, add crushed red pepper as well. Return the short ribs to the sauce and keep warm over low heat.
• For the polenta: Meanwhile, bring the chicken broth to a boil in a medium saucepan over high heat. While whisking constantly, slowly pour the cornmeal into the hot liquid. Stir in 1 1/2 teaspoons salt. Lower the heat to a gentle simmer and cook, stirring frequently, until the cornmeal is creamy and no longer grainy, about 30 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the Parmesan and butter.
• Divide the polenta among 6 shallow bowls and top each with a short rib and some sauce. Sprinkle with the parsley.

SHORT RIB BOURGUIGNON OVER CREAMY POLENTA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the lardons and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and the fat has rendered, 6 to 8 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to a paper towel-lined plate and set aside. Reserve the rendered fat in the Dutch oven.
• Generously season the short ribs with salt and pepper. In the same Dutch oven, working in batches, brown the short ribs in the remaining bacon fat over high heat, then remove to a plate and set aside. Remove all but 1 tablespoon of fat from the Dutch oven.
• To the Dutch oven with the reserved fat, add the carrots and shallots. Cook over medium-high heat until lightly browned, 10 to 15 minutes. Add the tomato paste and cook until slightly darker, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, about 1 minute. Remove about half of the carrots and shallots, and reserve.
• To the Dutch oven, add the wine, beef broth, cognac, short ribs and bouquet garni. Season with salt and pepper and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Cover, transfer to the oven and cook until the beef is very tender, 2 to 3 hours.
• Meanwhile, in a skillet over medium-high heat, melt 3 tablespoons of the butter. Add the mushrooms, season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring often, until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Set aside.
• Bring the Dutch oven from the oven to the stovetop. Remove the bouquet garni, carrots and shallots and discard. Bring the liquid to a simmer.
• Using a fork, in a small bowl, cream together the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter and flour, using your fingers if necessary to mix well. Stir the mixture into the stew. Simmer over medium-low heat for 15 to 20 minutes. Taste and adjust the seasoning as necessary.
• Serve the ribs over creamy polenta along with the mushrooms and reserved carrots and shallots. Ladle some of the sauce over the top before serving.
• In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, add the milk, then add the cornmeal gradually, whisking constantly. Add salt and pepper to taste, and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally.
• Turn the heat to low, and cook, stirring often, until the polenta is very thick, but is still creamy, 30 to 35 minutes. If the polenta becomes too thick, whisk in additional milk or water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until it is the desired consistency (it should be about the consistency of porridge).
• Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the butter using a wooden spoon. Taste for seasoning and serve immediately.