(notes used canned beans and skip only to the 45 min bit)



One of the pleasures of a dish like this is sopping up the wonderful sauce with crusty bread; make sure to have plenty on hand.

Makes 4 servings.

chef Tom Colicchio
 ingredients
Garbanzo beans
1 1/2 cups dried garbanzo beans

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, quartered
1 celery stalk, halved
1 medium carrot, halved
4 large fresh rosemary sprigs
4 large fresh thyme sprigs
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup raisins

Short ribs
8 3- to 4-inch-long meaty short ribs
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 small onion, chopped
1 small carrot, chopped
1 celery stalk, chopped
5 large fresh thyme sprigs
3 garlic cloves, unpeeled
3 cups low-salt chicken broth
1/2 cup Sherry wine vinegar
2 fresh tarragon sprigs

8 hot cherry peppers from jar, drained, left whole
 preparation
For garbanzo beans:
Place beans in large saucepan. Add cold water to cover by 2 inches and bring to boil. Remove from heat; cover and let stand 1 hour.

Drain beans. Heat oil in same pan over medium-high heat. Add onion, celery, and carrot; sauté until vegetables begin to brown, about 10 minutes. Add rosemary and thyme. Return beans to pan. Add enough cold water to cover by 2 inches and bring to boil.
Reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer beans uncovered until almost tender, about 45 minutes. Add 1 teaspoon salt. Continue to simmer until beans are tender, stirring occasionally and adding more water to keep covered if necessary, about 45 minutes longer. Add raisins; season beans with pepper. Cool. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.)

For short ribs:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Sprinkle short ribs on all sides with salt and pepper. Heat oil in heavy large wide ovenproof pot over medium-high heat. Add short ribs in single layer and brown on all sides, about 12 minutes. Transfer ribs to plate. Add onion, carrot, celery, 2 thyme sprigs, and garlic to pot. Sauté until vegetables brown, about 10 minutes. Return ribs to pot in single layer, meat side down. Add broth, vinegar, tarragon sprigs, and remaining 3 thyme sprigs and bring to simmer (broth will not cover ribs). Bake uncovered until ribs are tender, about 1 hour 45 minutes.

Using oven mitts, transfer short ribs to stove top. Tilt pot; spoon off fat from surface. Drain bean-raisin mixture. Add cherry peppers and drained bean-raisin mixture. Simmer until sauce thickens slightly, about 15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to bowl.
 
Reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer beans uncovered until almost tender, about 45 minutes. Add 1 teaspoon salt. Continue to simmer until beans are tender, stirring occasionally and adding more water to keep covered if necessary, about 45 minutes longer. Add raisins; season beans with pepper. Cool. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.)

For short ribs:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Sprinkle short ribs on all sides with salt and pepper. Heat oil in heavy large wide ovenproof pot over medium-high heat. Add short ribs in single layer and brown on all sides, about 12 minutes. Transfer ribs to plate. Add onion, carrot, celery, 2 thyme sprigs, and garlic to pot. Sauté until vegetables brown, about 10 minutes. Return ribs to pot in single layer, meat side down. Add broth, vinegar, tarragon sprigs, and remaining 3 thyme sprigs and bring to simmer (broth will not cover ribs). Bake uncovered until ribs are tender, about 1 hour 45 minutes.

Using oven mitts, transfer short ribs to stove top. Tilt pot; spoon off fat from surface. Drain bean-raisin mixture. Add cherry peppers and drained bean-raisin mixture. Simmer until sauce thickens slightly, about 15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to bowl.