Vermouth-Braised Short Ribs with Warm Spices & Dried Fruit

Vermouth-Braised Short Ribs with Warm Spices & Dried Fruit

by: Lior Lev Sercarz

Both red vermouth and bits of dried fruit bring a jammy sweetness to this braise. Savory spices like bay leaves and white pepper balance the sugar, which is accentuated with warming allspice, anise, and bitter cocoa.

Serves 8-12

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Ingredients

Spice Blend

• 5 whole dried bay leaves

• 1 tablespoon plus 1⁄4 teaspoon Muntok white peppercorns (10 grams)

• 1 1⁄4 teaspoons allspice berries (5 grams)

• 1 tablespoon plus 1⁄4 teaspoon anise (10 grams)

• 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder (8 grams)

  
  Finely grind the bay leaves, peppercorns, and allspice together and immediately mix with the whole anise and cocoa powder.
  

  Short Ribs

• 41⁄2 pounds bone-in short ribs, preferably 2 × 4-inch pieces with more meat than bone on each one

• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

• Canola oil

• 1 orange

• 2 medium yellow onions

• 3 medium carrots

• 6 medium or 4 large garlic cloves

• 3 cups red vermouth

• 1⁄4 cup raisins

• 1⁄4 cup dried apricots, diced

• 1⁄4 cup dates, pitted and diced

• 1⁄2 cup dried cranberries

Directions

1. To make the short ribs: Preheat the oven to 300°F. Line two half-sheet pans with parchment paper.

2. Put the ribs on one of the prepared pans and season them very generously with salt and pepper on all sides. Heat a large Dutch oven or other heavy oven-safe pot over medium-high heat. Add enough oil to coat the bottom (2 to 3 tablespoons). Add enough short ribs to fit in a single layer. Sear to evenly brown, 4 to 5 minutes per side. Transfer to the other sheet pan. Repeat with the remaining short ribs.

3. While the short ribs are browning, cut the oranges into 11⁄2-inch wedges (with their peel). Cut the onions into 1-inch chunks. Scrub and trim the carrots and cut one at an angle into a 1-inch piece. Rotate the carrot and cut another 11⁄2-inch wide triangular piece at an angle. Repeat with the remaining carrots. Peel the garlic and cut any large cloves in half lengthwise.

4. Once the meat is done browning, add the oranges, onions, carrots, and garlic to the Dutch oven. Stir well and sprinkle with salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions have a little color, 5 to 8 minutes

5. Sprinkle two-thirds of the spice blend over the orange mixture. Reduce the heat to low and stir to evenly coat. Don’t let the spices burn. While stirring, add the vermouth in a steady stream, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan (you want the cocoa to gradually thicken the liquid without clumping). Add dried fruits and raise the heat to high and bring to a simmer.

6. While the liquid heats, sprinkle the remaining one-third of the spice mixture all over the short ribs. Nestle the ribs in the Dutch oven bone- side up. Pour 1⁄2 cup water into the sheet pan that held the meat, scrape up any spices and browned bits, and pour it all into the pot. Bring to a simmer, cover, and transfer to the oven.

7. Bake until the bones lift right out of the tender meat, 3 to 31⁄2 hours. Discard the bones and cartilage and serve hot.

Recipe Note 

For a more elegant presentation, transfer the short ribs to a half sheet pan lined with parchment paper, discard the bones, and remove and discard any cartilage. Strain the braising liquid into an airtight container and refrigerate; discard the solids or save to eat another time. Chill the short ribs until cold and firm, about 3 hours or up to 1 week, and then trim and cut the cold short ribs into neat pieces. Pour the braising liquid into a large, deep skillet and bring to a simmer. Add the short ribs pieces to the liquid and reheat, spooning the sauce over to glaze the meat. Serve hot.

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