MADEIRA-BRAISED SHORT RIBS WITH PARSLIED POTATOES Use boneless short ribs for this dish. The butcher at any market will remove the ribs for you. 4 1/2 pounds boneless beef short ribs, cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces Salt and freshly ground pepper 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil 3 bay leaves 4 large carrots, coarsely chopped 1 large Spanish onion, coarsely chopped 8 garlic cloves, minced 1 large jalapeño, quartered through the stem 3 tablespoons tomato paste 1 1/2 cups Rainwater Madeira 6 cups beef stock or canned low-sodium broth 3 tablespoons finely chopped flat-leaf parsley Parslied Potatoes (recipe follows)

Season the meat with salt and pepper and dredge it in the flour, tapping off any excess. Heat 3 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large enameled cast-iron casserole. Add half of the meat and brown it well on all sides, about 10 minutes; transfer to a large plate. Add 2 more tablespoons of the olive oil and brown the remaining meat. Transfer the meat to the plate and discard the oil.

Add the remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil to the casserole and heat it. Add the bay leaves and cook until lightly browned, about 20 seconds. Add the carrots, celery and onion and cook over moderate heat, stirring frequently, until barely softened, about 7 mintues. Add the garlic and jalapeño and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in the tomato paste and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned, about 1 minute. Stir in the Madeira, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the casserole.

Add the beef stock and bring to a boil. Stir in the meat and bring to a simmer. Cover partially and cook over moderately low heat until the meat is very tender, 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Stir occasionally. Make sure that there is always at least 1 inch of liquid in the casserole. Add water if necessary. Skim off the fat and discard the bay leaves. Sprinkle with the parsley and serve with the Parslied Potatoes.

8 servings.

MAKE AHEAD: The short ribs can be refrigerated for up to 4 days. Add the parsley just before serving.

PARSLIED POTATOES

5 medium baking potatoes (about 2 1/2 pounds), peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
Salt and freshly ground pepper
3 tablespoons finely chopped flat-leaf parsley

Cook the potatoes in a large saucepan of boiling salted water until tender, about 10 minutes; drain. Return the potatoes to the saucepan and shake over moderately high heat to dry them out for 1 minute.

Melt the butter in a large, heavy skillet. When the foam subsides, add the potatoes and cook over moderate heat, turning occasionally, until browned, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, sprinkle with the parsley and serve.

8 servings.

MAKE AHEAD: The potatoes can be prepared through the first step and refrigerated for up to 2 days.

[Food & Wine, November 2000]