Sunday, April 5, 2009

Short Rib Ragu w/ Pappardelle


I have this obsession with ragu, or maybe its just the thought of a cheap cut of meat that can be turned into melt in your mouth deliciousness. If there is any better comfort food than braised meat over fresh pasta or polenta on a rainy Vancouver day somebody better tell me! So far the best places I've had it have been Gastropod's beef ragu over tagliatelle and Campognolo's pork ragu over tagliarini. After a hunt for a great ragu I thought it was about time I made my own! I stopped off at Cioffi's Meat Market and Deli and picked up some short ribs (okay and maybe a stop at Italia Bakery for a zeppoli and cannoli or two). Even somebody who doesn't normally cook can't screw up braising meat! Longer you cook it, the more tender and fall off the bone it is. I guess thats why crockpots were invented!? I've seen many variations of braising short ribs but came up with my own concoction which included a little vino, fire roasted tomatoes and espresso powder, which added a nice rich depth of flavor to the sauce. After being braised for 2 1/2 hrs the result was a sauce which had reduced into the perfect consistency to coat the fall off the bone tender meat. Served over warm cheesy polenta or ribbons of chewy pasta, it's comfort food I tell ya.

Ready to be browned

I just moved into my new pad and this is the first real meal I've had a chance to prepare in my kitchen! Served with a salad of baby spinach, arugula, oven dried tomatoes, shaved parm and vincotto.

Short Rib Ragu
(Serves 6-8)
3 1/2- 4lbs short ribs (flanken style)
2 small carrots (small dice)
2 celery ribs (small dice)
1 small white onion (small dice)
5 garlic cloves (finely chopped)
1 28 oz can fire roasted tomatoes ( or crushed tomatoes)
3 cups beef stock
1 cup red wine
2 tbsp espresso powder
2 tbsp tomato paste
3 bay leaves
5 sprigs fresh thyme (finely chopped)
agave syrup (or sugar) to taste
s+p
*flour and s+p for coating meat* (reserve 2 tbsp of any leftover flour)

1. Heat a pot on med-high with oil (I like grapeseed)
2. Coat short ribs in flour seasoned heavily with s+p
3. In batches, brown short ribs until dark golden brown on all sides. Remove from pot and place on a plate.
4. In the same pot saute onion, carrot and celery till soft. Add garlic, cook until soft. Add 2 tbsp of the leftover seasoned flour, cook off for 1 minute.
5. Add red wine, stir and let reduce down for 1 minute
6. Add tomatoes, beef stock and tomato paste and espresso powder. Throw in thyme and bay leaves.
7. Reduce heat to a simmer, put a lid on the pot and cook for 2-2 1/2 hrs or until meat starts to fall off the bone. (Stir or turn the meat over once or twice in between)
8. Take meat out, seperate the bones from the meat and any tough ligament that hasn't broken down. Gently use a fork to pull apart the meat, or if you like big chunks leave as is.
9. Skim off any fat that has risen to the top of the sauce. Discard bay leaves
10. If your sauce is too thick, add more stock. If your sauce is too thin, crank up the heat and reduce down to your liking. Add agave or sugar and s+p to taste.
11.Place meat back in sauce. Serve over pasta or polenta with plenty of parmigiano reggiano.

4 comments:

Jessica604 said...

Yummy! I had a "spring pasta" moment hit me yesterday and set out to make some fresh pasta with zucchini and carrots.
This looks so fresh and healthy!

I'll have to check out those bakeries! ...looking forward to exploring the soupmeister too - now that you mention it I believe I watched a segment on ctv or something about him!

In the meanwhile, I'm gearing up for my next cannoli outing. :D

Justin said...

very impressive. when I looked at the photos, I thought this was something you'd ordered in a restaurant.

Laura said...

Thanks Jessica! I hope you had a chance to check out those bakeries!

Thanks Justin! I didn't even know how I was going to plate this. You just know when your guests are hungry you have to plate it as fast as possible, take the picture and be able to serve it while its still piping hot!!

Lorraine @NotQuiteNigella said...

I have an obsession with ragus too! And there's nothing that beats it for Winter served over thick ribbons of papardelle. I've never seen short rib ragu but as I love short ribs it sounds delectable!