How To Make Slow-Braised Short Ribs With Green Pumpkin Seed Mole | Tasting Table Recipe

Cook your short ribs low and slow for fall-off-the-bone tenderness

These short ribs are even better when they are allowed to marinate in chile-garlic cooking liquid overnight. The pumpkin seeds and chiles in a bright mole sauce give the braised short ribs a deep flavor that makes them the perfect crowd-pleaser.

To learn more, read "Quick vs. Slow: Short Ribs."

Recipe adapted from Jason Marcus, Xixa, Brooklyn, New York

Slow-Braised Short Ribs With Green Pumpkin Seed Mole
5 from 33 ratings
After marinating in chile-garlic cooking liquid, these slow-braised short ribs are topped with a pumpkin seed mole that lends a deep flavor and makes this dish the perfect crowd-pleaser.
Prep Time
30
minutes
Cook Time
4
hours
Servings
6
servings
Total time: 4 hours, 30 minutes
Ingredients
  • For the Short Ribs
  • 3 pounds bone-in short rib slab
  • 8 cups water
  • 1 tablespoon chile powder
  • 4 teaspoons salt
  • 8 cloves garlic, peeled
  • For the Green Mole
  • 2 poblano peppers, seeded
  • 1 jalapeño pepper, stemmed
  • ½ pound (3 large) tomatillos, husked and roughly chopped
  • ½ yellow onion, peeled and roughly chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • 1 cup loosely packed cilantro sprigs, plus more for garnish
  • 2 tablespoons oregano leaves
  • ¾ cup pumpkin seeds, toasted, plus more for garnish
  • 1 cup chicken stock
  • Salt, to taste
  • Cooked rice, to serve 
Directions
  1. Preheat the oven to 300°.
  2. Make the short ribs: Place the short rib slab in a Dutch oven or deep baking dish, then add the water, chile powder, salt and garlic. Cover the dish with a lid or wrap it tightly with foil and place in oven. Roast until the short ribs are very tender and falling off the bones, about 4 hours. (Start checking them at 3 hours.) 3. Let the short ribs cool overnight in their cooking liquid, then remove the meat from the cold liquid and discard the fat and liquid (or reserve for another use). Remove the meat from the bones, trim it of any remaining fat or cartilage, and set aside.
  3. Make the green mole: In a blender, puree the poblano and jalapeño peppers, tomatillos, onion, garlic, cilantro, oregano, pumpkin seeds and stock until smooth. Pour the mole into a large saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium, season with salt, then add the pieces of short rib meat and cook over low heat until the meat is heated through, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  4. Serve the short ribs over rice, garnished with cilantro and toasted pumpkin seeds, if desired.
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