Short ribs braised with Chinese flavors

Name: Short ribs braised with Chinese flavors
Prep time: 4 h
Total time: 4 h
Yield: Makes 4 servings
Cuisine: Chinese
Ingredients: ¼ cup roughly chopped ginger (don’t bother to peel); 2 tablespoons sugar; 5 star anise; 5 dried chiles; Salt and freshly ground black pepper; Salt and freshly ground black pepper; 1 large onion, peeled and roughly chopped; 4 large cloves garlic, peeled and smashed; ¼ cup peanut or neutral oil, such as canola or grapeseed; ¼ cup peanut or neutral oil, such as canola or grapeseed; ¼ cup peanut or neutral oil, such as canola or grapeseed; 4 pounds short ribs; ¼ cup peanut or neutral oil, such as canola or grapeseed; 12 water chestnuts, preferably fresh, peeled, washed, and cut into quarters (canned are okay; rinse them first); 1 pound bok choy (preferably 4 small heads; or 1 large head, split into quarters); Minced cilantro for garnish; 2 tablespoons peeled and finely minced ginger; 20 cilantro stems, preferably with roots attached, well washed; 2 tablespoons Szechwan peppercorns; ½ cup soy sauce; 1 cup dry (fino) sherry

Preparation info

Makes
4
servings

Difficulty
Complex
Ready in
4 hr

Appears in

Simple to Spectacular

By Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Mark Bittman

Published 2000

About

This is a different kind of classic, but one that is equally venerable as the first two French-style ones. You can consider the additions of bok choy and water chestnuts optional; without them, this is a fairly simple preparation (though no less time-consuming). Almost needless to say, serve this with white rice.

Ingredients

¼ cup peanut or neutral oil, such as canola or grapeseed
4 pounds

Asia
China

Method

Put 2 tablespoons of the oil in a deep heavy skillet or casserole and turn the heat to high. Brown the ribs well on all sides, seasoning well with salt and pepper as they cook; this will take about 20 minutes. Remove the ribs, pour out and discard the fat, and wipe out the pan.
Preheat the oven to