Ingredients
4
lb short ribs or flanken
2
onions, left unpeeled, quartered
2
carrots, 1 quartered and 1 cut into 1/4-inch dice
4
fresh parsley stems (without leaves)
1
Turkish or 1/2 California bay leaf
4
whole black peppercorns
Special equipment: cheesecloth; kitchen string; 12 demitasse or espresso cups
Directions
1.
Put oven rack in lower third of oven and preheat oven to 450°F.
2.
Spread short ribs, shanks, onions, celery, and quartered carrot in a large flameproof roasting pan and roast, turning occasionally, until well browned, about 1 hour.
3.
Wrap parsley, thyme, bay leaf, and peppercorns in cheesecloth and tie into a bundle with string to make a bouquet garni.
4.
Transfer meat (with bones) and roasted vegetables to a 6- to 8-quart pot and add 12 cups water, salt, and bouquet garni. Straddle roasting pan across 2 burners, then add remaining 2 cups water and deglaze pan by boiling, stirring and scraping up brown bits, 1 minute. Add deglazing liquid to pot, then bring to a boil, skimming froth. Reduce heat to low and gently simmer, uncovered, until liquid is reduced to about 5 cups, 7 to 8 hours.
5.
Transfer mixture to a bowl and cool completely, uncovered, about 1 hour, then chill, covered, at least 8 hours.
6.
Remove fat. Reheat mixture in cleaned pot over moderate heat until warm. Discard beef shanks (meat and bone), then transfer short ribs to a platter and, when cool enough to handle, discard bones and fat. Finely chop short ribs and reserve for terrine (recipe follows). If not using meat within 1 hour, chill, covered. Pour broth though a cheesecloth-lined sieve into a 1 1/2-quart saucepan and skim off any remaining fat. Bring broth to a simmer and season with salt.
7.
Cook diced carrot in a small saucepan of boiling salted water until just tender, about 4 minutes. Drain in sieve and divide among demitasse cups, then add broth.
9.
Meat and vegetables can be chilled in broth up to 1 day.
10.
Broth can be strained 4 days ahead and cooled, uncovered, then chilled, covered. Reheat and season before using. (Chill raw diced carrot in a sealed plastic bag until ready to cook.)
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