OVEN-BAKED SHORT RIBS WITH PORTER BEER MOP

Oven-Baked Short Ribs with Porter Beer Mop image

Provided by Amy Thielen

Time 3h45m

Yield 6 to 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 17

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6 pounds beef spareribs, on the bone
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon dried thyme
4 dried red chiles
1-inch knob fresh ginger root, smashed
1/2 to 1 fresh serrano chile (depending on desired heat), stem discarded
1/2 medium sweet onion, cubed
4 inches fresh ginger root, peeled and sliced
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons butter
1 bottle dark porter beer
1/4 cup molasses
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons maple syrup
2 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro, stems too
Zest and juice of 1 lime (2 teaspoons zest, 2 tablespoons juice)

Steps:

For the ribs: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
Trim any gristle from the ribs and cut them into two-rib portions. Rub each piece with the salt, and sprinkle with the pepper and thyme. Arrange the ribs in a large roasting pan, add 1/4 cup water, the dried chiles and ginger, cover tightly and bake until tender when poked with a fork, about 3 hours.
For the porter beer mop: Meanwhile, in a food processor, combine the serrano chile, onions, ginger and salt, and process until smooth.
Heat a large saute pan over medium heat and add the butter. Add the onion mixture to the pan and cook, stirring often, until caramelized, a shade darker and fragrant, about 10 minutes. Add the porter, molasses, brown sugar and maple syrup, and cook at a simmer until the mixture thickens but is still saucy, 10 to 15 minutes. Add the cilantro, lime zest and juice and a bit of the pan juices.
To glaze the ribs, raise the oven temperature to 450 degrees F. (You may also glaze these ribs over a medium-hot grill.)
Brush the mop on both sizes of the ribs and roast, stopping to reapply the mop, until you've used it all and the ribs are coated with shiny black glaze, about 10 minutes.