Italian Braised Pork Ribs With Pasta Recipes

BRAISED SHORT-RIBS WITH PASTA

Steps:

• You will need a heavy-bottomed pot that can go into your oven for this recipe.
• Cooking starts on the stovetop, moves to the oven, then returns to the top-of-the-stove.
• As well, it can be prepared over 2 days.
• Preheat oven to 400*F.
• On top of stove, get pot"hot" and add oil.
• Coat ribs in flour, shaking off excess.
• Sprinkle with oregano.
• Brown ribs one-at-a-time, browning them on all sides.
• Remove last ribs and lower stove-top temp.
• Add onions and garlic and cook for two minutes.
• Add wine.
• Deglaze the pot by scrapping all the brown bits from the bottom Return the ribs to the pot and add the can of tomatoes.
• (The ribs should be almost covered, but if not, add some water.) Bring the pot to a simmer and cover with lid or foil.
• Place pot in 400*F oven for 1 hour.
• Reduce oven heat to 300*F and cook ribs for an additional 2 hours.
• (All the above can be done the day ahead. Should you go the 2-day route, re-warm the sauce and ribs just enough to pull the meat off the bones.) Shred the meat discarding the bones.
• Return meat to the sauce and reheat fully.
• TO ASSEMBLE: On the stove-top over medium heat (and in another large pot), toss the cherry tomatoes.
• Cook tomatoes until soft.
• Add the last group of onions, garlic and chilis and cook, stirring, for another 2 minutes.
• Add the rib-meat and sauce and top it off with the last cup of tomatoes.
• Cook, uncovered, for another 10 minutes.
• Cook your pasta.
• (The Chef of the CARIBOU RESTAURANT recommends using a pasta like BUCATINI- a thicker one you can easily eat with just a fork.) Drain the pasta and put into a warm bowl.
• Scoop meat and sauce over the pasta and toss.
• Top with fresh basil and grated cheese.
• Enjoy!

BRAISED PORK RIBS WITH RIGATONI

Steps:

• Cut the rack of spare ribs between the bones into single ribs (or ask your butcher to do this for you). Season the rib pieces with salt and pepper. Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy braising pan over medium heat. Add as many of the ribs as will fit without touching. Cook, turning occasionally, until browned on all sides, about 10 minutes. Remove the ribs and drain on a baking sheet lined with paper towels. Repeat with the remaining ribs. Adjust the temperature throughout the browning so the fat in the pan is sizzling but the pieces of pork that stick to the pan don't burn.
• Pour off all but about 4 tablespoons of fat from the casserole. Add the onions, garlic, and cherry peppers and cook, stirring, until the onions are wilted and caramelized, about 4 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes, bay leaves, and thyme. Bring to a boil, scraping the pan to loosen the brown bits stuck to the bottom. Tuck the spare ribs into the tomato sauce, season lightly with salt and pepper, and bring to a boil. Adjust the heat to simmering and cook, turning the spare ribs in the sauce occasionally, until the ribs are fork-tender, about 2 hours. Ladle some of the hot water into the casserole from time to time as necessary to keep the ribs covered with liquid.
• To serve
• When the ribs are almost tender, heat 6 quarts of salted water to a boil in an 8-quart pot. Stir the rigatoni into the boiling water. Return to a boil, stirring frequently. Cook the pasta, semi-covered, stirring occasionally, until done, about 10 minutes. Drain the pasta, return it to the pot, and spoon in enough of the spare-rib sauce to coat the pasta generously. Toss in the parsley and bring the sauce and pasta to a boil, tossing to coat the pasta with sauce. Check the seasoning, adding salt and pepper if necessary. Remove the pot from the heat and stir in 2/3 cup grated cheese. Transfer the pasta to a warm platter or individual plates and top with the spare ribs. Spoon a little of the remaining sauce over the pasta and serve immediately, passing additional sauce and, if you like, grated cheese separately.

BRAISED SPARERIBS WITH RIGATONI

Steps:

• Heat oil in heavy large pot over high heat. Sprinkle spareribs with salt and pepper. Working in batches, add ribs to pot and brown on all sides, about 6 minutes.
• Transfer ribs to bowl. Add onions, garlic, cherry peppers and crushed red pepper to pot. Sauté until onions just begin to brown, about 10 minutes.
• Add tomatoes with their juices. Using back of fork or potato masher, coarsely crush tomatoes.
• Return spareribs and juices to pot.
• Add broth, wine, thyme and bay leaves and bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium- low. Simmer uncovered until spareribs are very tender and sauce thickens, stirring occasionally, about 2 hours. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 2 days ahead).
• Cool slightly. Refrigerate until cold, then cover and keep chilled. Remove chilled fat from top of sauce, if desired. Rewarm before continuing.).
• Cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until just tender but still firm to bite. Drain and return pasta to same pot. Add cheese, parsley and some sauce from spareribs and toss to coat. Transfer pasta to large bowl. Top with spareribs and remaining sauce and serve.