Two ingredients make these braised short ribs stand out: fresh coconut and curry leaves. Unlike dried coconut, the fresh stuff doesn’t need to be toasted to bring out its natural nutty and sweet flavors (though dried will work just fine here in a pinch). Fresh curry leaves impart a subtle citrusy, nutty, lemongrass-like taste unlike anything else and are an excellent contrast to the richness of the ribs. They are readily available online if you can’t find them at a local market. This is our answer to the classic big, meaty braise.
INGREDIENTS
- 1.5 kg bone-in beef short ribs
- Kosher salt
- 2 Tbsp ghee or clarified butter
- 3 large onions, thinly sliced
- 4 garlic cloves, finely grated
- 1 2"-piece ginger, peeled, finely grated
- ¼ cup tomato paste
- 3 Tbsp garam masala
- 3 Tbsp ground coriander
- 2 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 1 tsp ground turmeric
- 3 sprigs fresh curry (about 30 leaves)
- ½ cup fresh or frozen grated coconut or dried unsweetened coconut
- 1 kg medium potatoes, halved lengthwise
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Cilantro leaves with tender stems and lime wedges (for serving)
RECIPE PREPARATION
- Pat short ribs dry; season with salt. Heat a dry Dutch oven over medium. Cook ribs until golden brown, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer ribs to a plate with tongs.
- Preheat oven to 350°. Add ghee to fat in pot and heat until melted. Add onions, garlic, and ginger and mix to coat. Cook, stirring, until onions are softened and starting to turn translucent, about 2 minutes. Stir in a pinch of salt, cover pot, and cook until onions are golden, 8–10 minutes. Uncover and cook, stirring often, until onions are golden brown, 15–20 minutes. Most of the water will have cooked off at this point and there might be some bare spots where the onions could start to burn. If this happens, stir in a splash of water. The liquid will dissolve the cooked-on bits, which onions will reabsorb. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are deeply browned and almost blackened around the edges and very soft, 8–10 minutes.
- Add tomato paste, garam masala, coriander, paprika, cumin seeds, and turmeric to onion mixture, season generously with salt, and cook, stirring, until spices are fragrant, about 2 minutes (you should have a thick dark brown paste). Add curry leaves, coconut, and 3½ cups water and mix to make a thick braising liquid. Return short ribs to pot, nestling in so they are covered in some liquid. Bring to a simmer, cover pot, and braise in oven until liquid is thickened and meat is tender and falling off the bones, about 1 hour and 45 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside.
- When ribs have cooked 1 hour, slide potatoes on a rack just below pot and bake until a fork slides easily through them, about 45 minutes. Let potatoes cool 5 minutes.
- Increase oven temperature to 500° (or as high as your oven goes). Using tongs, lift up foil at 1 corner; pour off water into the sink (foil will hold back the potatoes). Remove foil and drizzle oil over potatoes; season generously with salt and pepper. Let sit until cool enough to handle, then toss to coat. Turn potatoes cut side down again.
- Roast potatoes until skins are golden and cut sides are deeply browned and crisp, 20–25 minutes. Transfer to a large shallow bowl or platter.
- Serve reserved short ribs with cilantro and lime wedges and roasted potatoes.
Do ahead: Ribs can be braised 1 day ahead. Let cool; cover and chill.
Recipe by Rachel Gurjar | Food styling Rebecca Jurkevich
