Print Options:

Short Ribs Wrapped in Fig Leaves with Mission Fig Black Mole





Yields
Serves 4




Total Time
6 hrs

Javier Plascencia, of Misión 19 (and nine other restaurants) in Tijuana, is a leading force in the style of Mexican cooking called Baja Mediterranean. It combines Mexican cuisine with European techniques and incorporates local, seasonal ingredients from Baja and up into California, too. This is one of Plascencia's signature dishes, made with black Oaxacan mole paste—robust and spicy from chilhuacle negro chiles—flavored with black Mission figs and Baja Cabernet Sauvignon. He serves the dish with kabocha squash chips and purée as well as little masa dumplings called chochoyones. To simplify for the home cook, we've focused the recipe on the meat and the sauce.

su-Short Ribs Wrapped in Fig Leaves with Mission Fig Black Mole




Photo: Coral Von Zumwalt
  SHORT RIBS
 4 bone-in beef short ribs*, 3/4 to 1 lb. each
 1 large onion, coarsely chopped
 2 garlic cloves, smashed
 1 large bunch fresh thyme sprigs
 4 rosemary sprigs (7 to 8 in. each)
 2 dried bay leaves
 1 teaspoon kosher salt
 4 to 8 large fresh fig leaves, stems trimmed, rinsed; or use 4 (12- by 12-in.) pieces thawed frozen banana leaves*
  MISSION FIG BLACK MOLE
 1 cup Cabernet Sauvignon
  About 2 tbsp. balsamic vinegar
 8 dried Mission figs, stems trimmed
 1 cup mole sauce* (preferably Oaxacan-style mole negro); or use 1/4 cup mole paste mixed with 3/4 cup beef broth
  About 1 tbsp. molasses
  About 1/2 cup beef broth
  TOPPINGS
  Sweet-potato chips or other root-vegetable chips (optional)
 1 1/2 teaspoons cacao nibs*
 2 tablespoons salted roasted pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
  Salt
Step 1
1

Cook ribs: Preheat oven to 425°. Put ribs in a wide ovenproof 5- to 6-qt. pot with onion, garlic, thyme, rosemary, bay leaves, salt, and enough water (about 1 qt.) to almost cover meat. Cover pot and bake 1 hour. Turn ribs over, reduce oven to 300°, then bake, covered, until fork-tender, about 3 more hours. Uncover and let meat stand in liquid until cool enough to handle, about 1 hour.

Step 2
2

Meanwhile, make mole: In a small saucepan, cook wine and 2 tbsp. vinegar over medium-high heat until reduced to 1/2 cup, 10 to 14 minutes. Stir in figs, mole sauce, 1 tbsp. molasses, and 1/2 cup broth. Bring to a boil, then simmer over low heat, stirring often, until figs are tender when pierced, 50 minutes. Set aside up to 1 hour, or chill until used.

Step 3
3

Cook fig leaves in a medium pot of boiling water until flexible, about 20 seconds. Drain.

Step 4
4

Transfer ribs to a board. Slide bones from meat and discard. Trim and discard fat.

Step 5
5

Lay 4 fig leaves on a work surface, vein side up. Center a short rib on each leaf. Wrap leaves over ribs, starting from bottom and tucking in edges; if needed, add a second leaf to each to cover meat. Set packets folded side down in a greased shallow baking pan.

Step 6
6

Preheat oven to 350°. Bake packets until meat reaches 145° in center on an instant-read thermometer, 25 to 30 minutes. Loosen from pan with a spatula, cut open leaves down center of packets, and fold back edges.

Step 7
7

Meanwhile, reheat mole to simmering, stirring; if needed, add more broth so mole is pourable. Adjust seasoning with more vinegar or molasses. To serve, set packets on plates. Spoon some mole over meat and arrange figs next to ribs. Scatter chips, cacao nibs, and pepitas on top and serve with remaining mole and more salt to taste.

Step 8
8

*Ask a butcher to cut ribs to size. Buy banana leaves at Latino markets (or use garden fig leaves). Find the mole negro at Latino markets or at oaxacanfoods.com (or use brown mole poblano sauce or paste, found at well-stocked grocery stores). Get cacao nibs on amazon.com

Nutrition Facts

Servings 0


Amount Per Serving
Calories 1125Calories from Fat 51
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 64g99%

Saturated Fat 24g120%
Cholesterol 279mg93%
Sodium 713mg30%
Total Carbohydrate 36g12%

Dietary Fiber 8.5g34%
Protein 98g196%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.