We recently hosted a small dinner party at our place, and due to all the hustle in the kitchen, I decided to document this meal with my phone instead of a professional camera.

I ordered about 10 pounds of wagyu beef short ribs from G5 Cattle and Meats in Sulpher Springs, Texas.  The arrived well-packaged and did not require much trimming. I created a sweet and sour dry rub with sumac, brown sugar, cinnamon, cardamom and other spices, then dry brined them overnight.

The ribs were slow roasted in the oven until tender, and paired with a moroccan-inspired BBQ sauce with harissa and dates.

Hummus, baba ganoush, and grilled pita were served as mezze (appetizers) with fresh vegetables. To make the baba ganoush, I charred one large eggplant on the grill then whipped the eggplant flesh with tahini, lemon juice and garlic. I topped the hummus with roasted garlic paste and spiced chickpeas.

To finish the short ribs, I glazed them in some of the BBQ sauce, then roasted the uncovered in a high temperature for a few minutes. I served them with a simple polenta, a serving of BBQ sauce, and a cucumber tomato relish.

North African-inspired BBQ Sauce + Glaze

• 4 Tbsp Butter 
• 1 shallot, minced
• Garlic paste (1 bulb garlic, steam in oven = 1 heaping Tbsp paste)
• ⅓ cup soy sauce
• ½  cup brown sugar
• 2 Tbsp tomato paste
• 1 Tbsp smoked paprika
• 1 Tbsp harissa
• Date water (4 pitted dates, briefly heated in microwave with 1.5 cups water + blended)
• Juice of 1 lime
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• ¼ tsp cardamom
• 1 tsp cumin
• 6 sprigs cilantro
• ⅛ tsp ground clove
• Pepper
• Salt to taste

Simmer ingredients, then blend.

Middle Eastern-inspired Oven Roasted Short Ribs

Dry Rub

For 10 pounds, or 8 short ribs, 6” in length

• ½ cup brown sugar
• ¼ cup salt
• 2 Tbsp sumac
• 1 Tbsp black pepper
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp cayenne
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp cardamom

To Roast

• 300 oven
• 1 cup water
• Bone down
• 3.5 hours
• Then, uncover, increase to 400. Roast for 25 to 30 mins.

Polenta

• 5 cups water
• 1 cup cornmeal
• Salt
• 2 Tbsp butter

Blitz cornmeal in the blender. On high heat, sprinkle cornmeal in water while whisking. Bring to “boil” (sputter) then reduce heat, stirring frequently for 1 hour. Stir in butter in small amounts prior to serving.

Cucumber & Tomato Relish

• Persian cucumbers
• Roma tomatoes
• Red onion
• Red wine vinegar
• Olive oil
• Parsley
• Dill
• Salt pepper

Seed cucumbers and tomatoes. Combine ingredients and let sit and room temperature while preparing other dishes.

Baba Ganoush

• 1 large eggplant
• 2 cloves raw garlic
• 3 Tbsp olive oil
• 3 Tbsp tahini
• Juice of one lemon
• Salt
• Garnish with parsley & pomegranate perils

Char eggplant. Drain water. Process eggplant. Drizzle tahini + olive oil while food processor is running.