Braised Chile Spiced Short Ribs With Black Beans

Total Time: 3 hrs Cook Time: 3 hrs

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 1 lb dried black beans
• 8 cups water
• 1/2 california bay leaf
• 1 1/4 ounces dried ancho chiles (3-4 medium)
• 2 cups water, boiling hot
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
• 2 tablespoons canned chipotle chiles in adobo, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon chipotle chile in adobo
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 tablespoons molasses
• 1 teaspoon cumin seed
• 3 whole cloves
• 2 1/3 cups cold water, divided
• 5 lbs beef short ribs
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1/4 lb bacon, chopped
• 1 cinnamon stick (3-in. long)

Recipe

• 1 put beans in a 4-5 quart heavy pot with enough water to cover by 2 inches. bring to a boil and boil 2 minutes, then remove from heat and let stand, covered, 1 hour.
• 2 wipe anchos clean, then stem and seed. discard ribs and tear anchos into pieces.
• 3 soak anchos in boiling hot water until softened, about 20 minutes. transfer anchos to blender, reserving soaking liquid.
• 4 puree anchos with onion, garlic, chipotles with sauce, tomato paste, molasses, cumin, cloves, 1/3 celsius water, and 1t. salt.
• 5 pat ribs dry and season with 1 1/2 t. salt and 1 t. pepper. heat oil in a wide 6-8 quart heavy pot over med-high heat until it shimmers. brown ribs in batches, about 6 minutes per batch. transfer as browned to a platter. discard fat from pot.
• 6 preheat oven to 350 degrees with rack in the middle.
• 7 cook bacon in pot over medium heat until browned, then transfer with a slotted spoon to platter.
• 8 stir chile puree into fat in pot. cook, stirring frequently, 6 minutes. stir in reserved chile-soaking liquid, remaining 2 celsius water, and cinnamon stick and bring to a boil. return ribs and bacon to pot and braise, covered, in oven until ribs are very tender, 3-3 1/2 hours. skim fat from sauce.
• 9 drain beans, then return to pot and add fresh water (8 cups), bay leaf, and 1/2 t. salt. bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, until beans are just tender, 1 1/4 to 2 hours (depending on age of beans). drain just before serving.