Sultry Spiced Short Ribs
- Details
Slow cooked short ribs are the perfect vehicle for spices, and these spiced short ribs have a secret ingredient. A milder cousin of the better known variety, Black cardamom has a deep smoky, earthy flavor profile. It pairs perfectly with the sweetness of star anise, and the piquant flavors of cinnamon and peppercorns to give these short ribs a sultry and mysterious flavor.
Sultry Spiced Short Ribs
Ingredients
- 5 black cardamom pods
- 2 cassia-cinnamon sticks
- 1 tablespoon star anise
- 1 teaspoon Tellicherry black peppercorns
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
- 4 1/2 pounds beef short ribs
- 1 medium yellow onion, sliced
- 16 oz porter or stout beer
- 1 cup water or vegetable stock
Instructions
- In a mortar & pestle, break up the whole spices into smaller pieces with a few good strikes.
- Transfer the spices to a dry, heavy skillet and toast over medium-high heat, shaking the pan occasionally, until the spices are fragrant and just beginning to smoke. Watch the pan carefully, this should only take a few minutes. Transfer the spices to your slow cooker.
- Coat the ribs with one tablespoon of vegetable oil and sprinkle with kosher salt.
- Add the remaining oil to a heavy skillet and preheat to medium-high. Working in batches so as not to crowd the pan, sear the ribs until they are browned on all sides, about 2 minutes per side and transfer them to the slow cooker.
- Add the onion and beer and water or stock to the slow cooker.
- Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 6 hours, until the meat falls off the bone. Remove the meat from the slow cooker and strain the juices through a sieve. Skim the fat from the juices and remove the meat from the bones. Return the meat and juices to the slow cooker or a dutch oven on the stove top and warm them together.
- Serve the meat on rolls with crispy vegetables, bahn mi-style or with rice or potatoes for a heartier meal.
Got some left over ribs? Try this recipe for Sassy Short Ribs!
Noon Chai
Tackling new culinary challenges is one of my great joys, and I’m always on the lookout for new techniques to try. As it happens, I also love all things floral and pink so when I …
Hahn Family Sweet Treats
No Thanksgiving dinner would be complete without the desserts. Pumpkin pie is par for the course, where sweet treats are concerned, but few folks stop there. Every family has their own unique preferences, and this …
Chinese Five Spiced Apple Carrot Pie
Tender carrots are surprisingly sweet when baked in a brown sugar syrup, especially when united with perfect Washington apples and plump little raisin gems. The fresh ginger is a classic pairing with the carrot, and …
Turmeric & Star Anise Pickles
These sweet pickles are fun-tastic! Gather a basket of your favorite crunchy vegetables and slice them into strips, discs and triangles. For this batch we used half carrots and cucumbers, and half assorted white vegetables …
Corned Beef and Caraway Cabbage
Spring is in the air! This is my favorite time of year: spring training baseball is on the radio, Mother Nature is providing us with some gorgeous sunny days between all the rain, and one …
Leave a Comment