Grilled Cheese with Pulled Short Ribs and Pickled Red Onions

Ingredients for Grilled Cheese with Pulled Short Ribs and Pickled Red Onions

• 4 sprigs flat-leaf parsley

• 6 sprigs thyme

• 2 bay leaves

• 1 teaspoon peppercorns

• 1 tablespoon grapeseed or canola oil

• 900g boneless beef short ribs

• Salt and pepper to taste

• 1/2 carrot, cut into large dice

• 1/2 celery, cut into large dice

• 1/2 onion cut into large dice

• 6 medium cloves garlic, cracked

• 240ml red wine (such as cabernet sauvignon)

• Sachet (see above)

• 725ml beef broth

• 450g loaf sourdough bread , cut into 16 slices

• 350g Bel Paese cheese , sliced thin

• 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons Pickled Red Onions

• 4 teaspoons unsalted butter, room temperature

• 20ml grapeseed oil

How to make Grilled Cheese with Pulled Short Ribs and Pickled Red Onions

For the sachet, wrap the parsley, thyme, bay leaves, and peppercorns in a small amount of cheesecloth and tie with butcher's twine.

Preheat the oven to 163°C.

Beginning with a large saucepan or braising pan with a lid, heat the tablespoon of grapeseed oil over medium-high heat. Season the short ribs with salt and pepper. Sear the short ribs on either side until caramelized and golden brown, about 5 minutes. Remove the meat from the pan. Add the carrot and celery to the pan and cook for 5 minutes over the same heat. Add the onion and garlic. Cook together until caramelized, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally as needed. Add the short ribs back to the pan and deglaze with the red wine. Add the sachet and, stirring from time to time, allow the wine to reduce until almost evaporated, about 6 minutes. Pour in the beef broth and bring the braise up to a boil. Put the lid on and place in the oven for 2 hours. Stir occasionally.

After the first 2 hours of cooking time, remove the lid. For the next hour, baste the short ribs every 15 minutes, leaving the lid off. Cook for an additional hour, until very tender, for a total of 4 hours cooking time.

Pull the short ribs from the oven and allow them to cool in the braising juices for at least a few hours. Carefully transfer the meat to a plate and strain the juices through a fine sieve, then allow the fat to rise. Remove the fat. Using a dinner fork in each hand, lightly shred the meat along the natural grains in a pulling motion from the centre outward, and set aside.

To prepare each sandwich, begin by preheating the oven to 177°C.

Take 2 slices of bread. On the bottom slice, place a layer of cheese (you'll want approximately 45g for each sandwich, just enough to cover the bread to the edges), then top with 1 teaspoon of pickled red onion, spread to the sides. Place 60ml the pulled short ribs on top, add another layer of cheese, and top with the second slice of bread. Brush each completed sandwich on top and bottom with 1/2 teaspoons butter.

In a cast-iron pan over medium-high heat, add 1 teaspoon of the grapeseed oil and allow it to get nice and hot. Place 2 sandwiches in at a time and flip so they will absorb the oil on both sides. Weight them down with a small sauté pan. After 1 minute, flip the sandwiches, return the weight, and place directly in the oven.

After 2 minutes, remove the weight. Flip the sandwich one final time, and cook for 1 final minute. Pull from the oven, slice diagonally, and serve immediately. Repeat with the remaining sandwiches.

Disclaimer

While every effort has been made to ensure the information is accurate and up to date, individual needs may vary and dietary requirements can differ based on personal health conditions. Always check food labels and allergen information before preparing or consuming any recipe. If you have specific health concerns, allergies, intolerances, or are following a medically prescribed diet, seek advice from your GP, pharmacist, or a registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet or lifestyle.