Wednesday, September 15, 2021

Mexican-Spiced Braised Short Ribs

Mexican-Spiced Braised Short Ribs

Hearty and flavorful, this dish will warm up autumn

Chillier weather is headed our way. So we’re pulling out the braising pot – which is dusty after not being used all summer.

Braised beef short ribs are a fave around here. And we love Mexican-style dishes, so adding chilies is a natural.

We think you’ll love these short ribs. Serve them to guests, and they’ll love you too.

 
Mexican-Spiced Braised Short Ribs
 

Recipe: Mexican-Spiced Braised Short Ribs

Short ribs star in this dish, but chilies play a vital supporting role. And because this is Hatch chile season, we include Hatchies in the mix (if they’re unavailable in your market, fresh poblano chilies make a fine substitute). We also add jalapeño chiles (because we love jalapeños). Plus dried chipotle chile powder for its deep, smoky flavor.

We consider this dish moderately spicy, but you may disagree. So add or subtract chilies to reach your preferred level of heat.

This recipe mostly follows the procedure outlined in our post on Italian Braised Short Ribs (although the flavor of this dish is quite different). We also borrow some ideas from Rick Bayless.

Prep time for this dish is around 30 minutes. Cooking time adds about 2¼ hours (much of it unattended). Our instructions assume you’ll be making and serving this dish in one go. But we usually make it a day or two ahead of time and then reheat it (instructions for doing that are in the Notes).

This dish yields 4 servings (but see Notes).

Ingredients

  • 3 to 4 pounds beef short ribs (see Notes)
  • salt to taste (a teaspoon or two of kosher salt; see Notes)
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons cooking oil (as needed)
  • 1 large onion, cut into dice of about ½ inch
  • 4 to 6 garlic cloves, minced or sliced thinly (to taste)
  • 1 to 2 jalapeño peppers, stemmed, seeded, and minced (or to taste)
  • additional salt to taste (a teaspoon of kosher salt for us; see Notes)
  • ~8 ounces diced Hatch or poblano green chilies that have been roasted, peeled, and seeded (see Notes for prep instructions)
  • ~2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • ~2 teaspoons dried chipotle chile powder (to taste; see Notes)
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  • 28-ounce can of diced tomatoes
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • ¼ cup chopped cilantro
  • polenta or grits for serving (optional)
  • jalapeño slices for garnish (optional)
  • additional chopped cilantro for garnish (optional)

 Procedure

  1. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Then brown the short ribs: Heat a large Dutch oven over medium stovetop heat. While the cooking pot is warming, dry the short ribs with paper towels (they won’t brown properly if damp) and season them to taste with salt. When the cooking pan is hot, add the oil. Then add the short ribs – as many as you can fit in without crowding the pot (do this in batches if necessary, adding more oil if needed for each batch). Brown the short rib pieces on each side until they’re nicely colored (about 3 to 4 minutes for each side; don’t rush – the browner the short ribs, the better the flavor). When they’re fully browned, remove the short ribs to a plate.
  2. While the short ribs are browning, chop the onion, mince the garlic, and chop or mince the jalapeño peppers. When the short ribs have finished browning, pour off most of the cooking oil (leaving about a tablespoon in the pan). Add the onions to the pan, season to taste with salt, and sauté until the onions are translucent and beginning to brown (5 to 8 minutes). Then add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add the chopped Hatch or poblano peppers and the diced jalapeño peppers. Cook for 1 minute.
  3. Add the tomato paste and sauté for 2 minutes, stirring often so it doesn’t burn. Add the chipotle chile powder and the oregano, then stir them into the tomato paste. Next, add the canned tomatoes and the beef broth. Bring the mixture to a simmer.
  4. Return the short ribs to the cooking pot, nestling them into the braising liquid. Bring the liquid back to a simmer. Then cover the cooking pot with aluminum foil, pushing it down into the pot so that it almost touches the ribs (the foil creates a seal and reduces the amount of space in the pot, making for a better braise). Cover the cooking pot with a lid and place it in the oven. Braise for 2 hours.
  5. Check the meat. It should be tender after 2 hours, but not falling off the bone. If the meat isn’t done enough for your liking, continue to cook it a bit longer (or if you want it falling off the bone, cook another 30 minutes). 
  6. Remove the short ribs from the braising liquid. If serving immediately: Spoon off as much fat as possible from the braising liquid. Continue to cook the liquid on the stovetop to reduce it and create a thickened sauce (this takes about 15 minutes or so). Taste the sauce and add seasoning if necessary. Then stir in the chopped cilantro. Return the meat to the cooking pot to warm it, then serve. (If you prefer to make this dish a day or so ahead, see the Notes.)
  7. We like to serve these short ribs over polenta or grits: Add a dollop of polenta/grits to each serving plate, then center a short rib on top. Spoon on some of the sauce. Garnish each plate with a jalapeño slice if you like, and maybe sprinkle on some additional chopped cilantro. 

Mexican-Spiced Braised Short Ribs

Notes

  • We like to prepare this dish a day or two ahead of time. To do so: Remove the meat from the cooking pot in Step 6. Then let the sauce cool. Place the cooled meat and cooking liquid into a lidded container and refrigerate it. When ready to serve, remove any solidified fat from the surface of the sauce (the fat always rises to the top). Add the short ribs and sauce to a cooking pot and bring the mixture to a simmer. Cook until the meat is warm throughout (about 15 minutes). If the sauce isn’t as thick as you’d like, remove the short ribs, cover the short ribs with aluminum foil to keep warm, and reduce the sauce.
  • Short ribs have a lot of bone and fat, so we always figure on 1 large short rib (or 2 smaller ones) per person – about ¾ pound. We usually buy a bit more because someone might be extra hungry and want seconds. And leftover short ribs are delicious.
  • We generally buy several pounds of fresh Hatch green chilies when they’re in season, then roast, skin, seed, and freeze them in packages of about 8 ounces each. 
  • To roast green chilies (whether for freezing or immediate use): Wash and dry them, then spread them out on a broiler pan (you can place them on a rack if you wish). Place the pan under the broiler and heat the chilies until their skins begin to blister and blacken (you want to blacken the skin only, not the flesh of the chile). Turn the chilies and repeat until all sides are blistered. Then place the chilies in a bowl and cover with a plate or plastic wrap. Allow the chilies to steam for about 15 minutes. Then put on a pair of kitchen gloves (to protect your hands from the chile oils) and, using your hands, rub the skin of each chile until it peels off (this is sometimes easier to do under running water). Then cut off the stem-end of each chile, slice each chile open lengthwise, and remove the seeds.
  • Once your chilies are roasted and prepared, you can cut them into thin strips or dice them. Then portion and freeze the chilies (or use them immediately).
  • Most of chilies’ heat is contained in their seeds. So if you remove the seeds, you’ll cut down on the heat (but won’t lose any chile flavor).
  • We use dried chipotle chile powder in this recipe, but you could substitute a milder chile powder (like ancho) if you wish. Alternatively, you could substitute a whole canned chipotle chile or two (just whirl the chile in a mini food processor to mince it before using). 
  • Our recipe specifies 2 teaspoons of dried chile powder, but feel free to use more if you prefer a spicier dish. If you’re unsure about the heat level, start with 1 teaspoon of chile powder. Then add more in Step 6 if you wish. Be sure to simmer the sauce for at least 5 minutes after adding chile powder so its flavor permeates the dish.
  • We use kosher salt in cooking. It’s less salty by volume than regular table salt (the crystals are larger and more irregular, so they pack a measure less tightly). If you’re using table salt, start with about half the amount we suggest. But always season to your taste, not ours.

Mexican-Spiced Braised Short Ribs

Rib Ticklers

“Love Hatch chile season,” said Mrs. Kitchen Riffs.

“Whenever they appear in our market, we know summer is ending and autumn is upon us,” I said. “So it’s time to chile out.”

“That joke came up short,” said Mrs K R. “Appropriate for this recipe, I guess.”

“OK,” I said. “But you have to admit this dish really sticks to your ribs!”

“Was that supposed to be a witticism or a cry for help?” said Mrs K R.

She really knows how to rib me.

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60 comments:

Angie's Recipes said...

The meat looks so tender and literally falling off the bone. So flavourful, so good! I alone could devour at least 2 ps at one set.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Angie, we love short ribs when the meat is falling off the bone! SO good. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Valentina said...

All of those chiles with that tender, falling-off-the-bone meat sounds incredible. It's meals like this that call to me as we enter fall and the cooler months. Love it. :-) ~Valentina

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Valentina, meals like this call to us, too. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Terry at Blue Kitchen said...

John, you had me at the photo on this. Short ribs are one of my absolute favorite cuts of meat. And this sounds like an amazing, flavorful, slightly spicy treatment of them. Thanks for sharing it!

Pam said...

Hearty and comforting--perfect for this time of year. Yum!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Terry, we love short ribs too! Wonderful cut of meat. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Pam, double yum, I'd say. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Fran @ G'day Souffle said...

Yum, I made a similar dish two years ago, using charred corn and creamy polenta as garnish. I like the way you retained the bone on the rib, making the dish more flavorful. BTW, I posted a new recipe yesterday but for some reason, my subscribers didn't get the message in their inbox. Oh well!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Fran, thanks for the heads up about your new post! And polenta is great with this dish. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Mae Travels said...

My Texas cousin makes a "bowl of red" which is beef in a red sauce, and the spicing is very similar to this. So I know it must be really delicious!

best... mae at maefood.blogspot.com

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Mae, the three kinds of chilies in this provide loads of flavor. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Ben | Havocinthekitchen said...

Oh this looks and sounds terrific - delicious, aromatic, and so inviting. I am pulling out my braising pot... oh wait I should get one first :)

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Ben, you definitely need to get yourself a braising pot. :-) Thanks for the comment.

mjskit said...

Bobby has smoked short ribs a couple of times this summer and now I'm hooked of short ribs. Can't wait for the weather to cool off to make this. Braised short ribs on a cool/cold day sounds super comforting.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi MJ, it's easy to get hooked on short ribs. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Chef Mimi said...

Mexican flavors are so good, and Mexican ingredients can be used in just about anything! I love what you did here. Short ribs are the bomb, and you took them to another level!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Mimi, short ribs might be our favorite cut of meat for braising. And yes, we love Mexican flavors. :-) Thanks for the comment.

beyondkimchee said...

This sounds really satisfying. I am a huge fan of short ribs and Mexican spices sounds delicious with the ribs.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Holly, we're real fans of short ribs, too. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Eha said...

Others from Australia may have had a differing experience but I had to Google 'short ribs' as I have never bought any and do not remember eating such !! Yes, they are kept at the supermarkets under the name 'beef ribs' and often cut differently. Further reading brought forth comments that requests for them largely came about when locals began on-line activities :) ! Curiosity !!! As chillies used the Tex-Mex way also do not play as large a part in our Australasian modern cooking . . . this has made me curious . . .that can methinks only be fixed one way !!!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Eha, the names of meat cuts can vary so much from region to region! Kind of fun, isn't it? :-) Thanks for the comment.

Gerlinde de Broekert said...

I just love short ribs and don’t know why I don’t do them more often. A great recipe John, thanks.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Gerlinde, we love them too! And also need to make them more often. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Happy Retiree's Kitchen said...

I bought my very large blue cooking pot a few weeks ago just so that I could braise this kind of dish. We are just entering warmer weather, however Mexican food is always a winner here as well. I don't think we have hatch chillies here but I am presuming it is the larger variety of chilli, given how you process them, which is how I like to roast our capsicums as well. Thanks for sharing such an interesting recipe, a delicious recipe to chile out with. I must buy some beef ribs for a change if I can find them, but they must be short. We've been caught before.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Pauline, Hatch chilies come from Hatch, New Mexico -- but they're very similar to poblano chilies. And yes, they're the larger chilies -- not the type you typically see in your markets. You might be able to find them frozen, or canned. But any moderately spicy chile would work in this dish, although of course it wouldn't taste exactly the same (it'd still be good, though). Enjoy your blue braising pot! :-) Thanks for the comment.

Cocoa and Lavender said...

Can’t wait for our weather to cool down so we can try these! It’s still in the upper 90s these days… I love all the different chiles you use — and we have all on hand. I just roasted and froze a bunch of Hatch chiles from our recent drive through Hatch. Have you ever used boneless short ribs? I think the bone gives too much flavor to skip them…

savorthebest said...

This looks so good, I love the spices.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi David, I've thought about using boneless, but never have -- like you, I prefer the flavor of the bone. And more than that, the appearance of the bone-in short ribs is so nice. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Pat and Dahn, it's really a tasty dish -- amazing flavor. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Raymund said...

Wow! So drooling now after looking at that photo. I can imagine pulling that bone out

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Raymund, we're drooling just thinking about this! :-) Thanks for the comment.

Cocoa and Lavender said...

So true — I hadn’t thought about the appearance part! :-)

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi David, whenever we make short ribs for company, there is always a piece or two that loses its bone during the cooking process. When we have company, we plate in the kitchen. And I always mention we have pieces with and without the bone available. We have yet to have anyone ask for a piece without the bone. :-)

Family Spice said...

Hatch chiles and short ribs?! This is totally calling my name!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Laura, such a wonderful combo, isn't it? :-) Thanks for the comment.

R's Rue said...

Yum

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi R, yup. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Katerina | Once a Foodie said...

We love short ribs here! I feel like my young kids would baulk at all those chiles so perhaps this can be all for me! They look absolutely amazing, John. Enjoy fall, we are slowly transitioning into spring here but I am still using my braising pot before the weather gets too hot.

Judy@SavoringToday said...

Oh my! I have short ribs in the freezer right now and I love you idea about serving this with polenta ... well done John, well done.

Balvinder said...

That's a wonderful and hearty dish.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Katerina, I didn't like chilies when I was a kid -- silly me! Now I love them. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Judy, we love serving braised dishes with polenta! Mashed potatoes too, but this dish cries out for polenta. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Balvinder, it is! Really good stuff. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Food Gal said...

You must have read my mind! LOL We're having an unusual -- but welcome -- cool spell for this time of year, and it got me craving short ribs. These would definitely hit the spot.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Carolyn, we like short ribs even in the heat of summer. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Ron said...

John, I can almost smell this dish setting on some soft polenta. This is a perfect dish for our chilly nights these days. No fresh Hatch green chilies over this way but we have some Hungarian green peppers that are close, so I'll be giving your beef short ribs try soon. But I'll be using Tjocka spjäll (pork short ribs) instead of beef short ribs as you don't find that cut here. Thanks for the belly warming inspiration...

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Ron, pork short ribs would be excellent! We've made this with country ribs (rarely any actual bone in that cut, despite its name), and it works beautifully. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Healthy World Cuisine said...

I bet your house smells amazing cooking these braised ribs. Looks so tender and delicious. Great idea adding some spice for a little kick. The boys would be all over this idea. Bookmarking this recipe to try later.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Bobbi, we like a little spicy kick to our food. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Izaa said...

Yummy!!!!!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Izaa, SO good. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Eva Taylor said...

Short ribs are also well loved here and this flavourful dish would certainly become a fast favourite. I, too, like to make these types of braised dishes a day or two in advance, the flavours really get a chance to meld and it makes entertaining so much easier.
Eva http://kitcheninspirations.wordpress.com/

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Eva, making this ahead of time is definitely the way we prefer to go, particularity if we're serving this to company. Tastes better, and it's less hassle that way. Thanks for the comment.

R's Rue said...

😊

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi R, :-) Thanks for your comment.

Laura Dembowski said...

Short ribs, and other braised meat cuts, are always a hit in house, but I rarely think to take them in a Mexican direction. I will most definitely do so next time!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Laura, they're good with any kind of flavoring, but really work with Mexican spicing. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Debra Eliotseats said...

I'm loving your entree recipes this season. (Obviously, I'm working backwards through your posts....I've gotten really behind.)

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Debra, better late than never. :-) Thanks for the comment.