Ingredients

  • 4 pounds beef short ribs
  • 1 teaspoon garam masala
  • salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
  • 1 pinch ground cayenne pepper, or to taste
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
  • 1 teaspoon red curry paste, or to taste
  • 6 cloves garlic, peeled
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 1 cup coconut milk
  • 1 teaspoon fish sauce, or to taste
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 star anise
  • 1 head cauliflower, chopped
  • 4 green onions, chopped
  • 1 cup basil leaves, fresh, chopped

Method

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
  • Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil; oil lightly.
  • Place short ribs on the baking sheet and season on all sides with garam masala, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper.
  • Bake short ribs in the preheated oven until browned, about 20 minutes.
  • Combine onion, tomato paste, vegetable oil, and red curry paste in a large Dutch oven over medium heat until onion begins to soften, about 3 minutes.
  • Stir in garlic cloves and cook until garlic is lightly browned, about 5 minutes.
  • Stir in chicken broth, coconut milk, fish sauce, bay leaves, and star anise. Increase heat to medium-high and bring to a simmer.
  • Transfer browned short ribs into coconut milk mixture. Reduce the oven temperature to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C) and bake until ribs are tender when pierced with a fork, 3 hours.
  • Remove Dutch oven from the oven, transfer short ribs to a small bowl, and set aside.
  • Return Dutch over to the stove top over high heat. Skim fat from top as it begins to boil and remove any bones that may have fallen from the meat.
  • Stir in cauliflower and cover Dutch oven. Cook until cauliflower is tender, about 5 minutes.
  • Remove bones from short ribs and place meat in the Dutch oven. Stir in green onions and basil leaves; season with salt and pepper to taste.