Short Rib Ragù with Orange-Parsley Gremolata

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This ragù stands apart from most with the addition of fennel seeds, ground allspice, and habanero hot sauce. Like most great braises, it tastes even better after a day or two in the fridge, making it a great do-ahead dish for entertaining. Be sure to look for meaty short ribs; they can sometimes be skimpy, consisting of mostly bones. The ragù is topped with gremolata for a bright, fresh finish. Traditional gremolata is made with parsley, garlic, and lemon zest, but here the lemon is swapped out with orange zest, a nice match for the fennel and habanero in the ragù.

Short Rib Ragu
Photo: Photo by Antonis Achilleos / Food Styling by Ruth Blackburn / Prop Styling by Christina Daley
Active Time:
30 mins
Total Time:
3 hrs
Servings:
4

Ingredients

  • 4 large garlic cloves, divided

  • 3 pounds 3- to 4-inch meaty bone-in beef short ribs

  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt

  • ½ teaspoon black pepper

  • tablespoons canola oil

  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped (about 2 cups)

  • 1 (28-ounce) can whole peeled plum tomatoes with juices

  • 1 cup dry red wine

  • 1 cup water

  • 10 (6-inch) oregano sprigs

  • 1 tablespoon fennel seeds

  • 1 tablespoon habanero hot sauce (such as Siete)

  • 1 teaspoon ground allspice

  • 1 teaspoon grated orange zest, plus 2 tablespoons fresh juice (from 1 orange), divided

  • 1 (16-ounce) package pappardelle pasta

  • ½ cup finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Using flat side of a chef's knife, smash 3 of the garlic cloves; set aside. Sprinkle beef evenly with salt and black pepper. Heat oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high. Add beef; cook, turning occasionally, until deeply browned on all sides, 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer beef to a plate. Reserve 2 tablespoons drippings in Dutch oven. Add onion and smashed garlic to Dutch oven; cook over medium-high, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add tomatoes with juices, crushing tomatoes with your hands as you add them. Add wine, water, oregano, fennel seeds, hot sauce, and allspice; stir to combine. Nestle beef into sauce. Bring to a boil over high. Remove from heat and cover.

  2. Transfer Dutch oven to preheated oven. Bake until meat is falling off the bone, 2 hours, 30 minutes to 3 hours. Remove from oven. Remove and discard bones and oregano sprigs. Skim fat from surface. Using 2 forks, shred beef in Dutch oven. Stir orange juice into ragù. The ragù can be cooled, covered, and refrigerated for up to 2 days. Reheat before continuing.

  3. Cook pasta according to package directions; drain. While pasta cooks, finely grate remaining garlic clove. Stir together grated garlic, parsley, and orange zest in a small bowl for the gremolata. Divide cooked pasta evenly among 4 bowls. Top pasta evenly with ragù and gremolata.

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