We’ve been in Queensland visiting Maureen on the Sunshine Coast and Liz on the Gold Coast but now we’re down in the Australian Capital Territory where we have our capital city, Canberra. For many reasons a lot of people in Sydney like to think Sydney is the capital, especially as some of our Prime Ministers have chosen to reside in Sydney’s Kirribilli House rather than Canberra’s, The Lodge. But it still doesn’t make us the capital.
Comfort food
Moving on…
This is all you need to make something very yummy
My friend, Rebecca is the Intolerant Chef and she lives with her husband and two daughters in the nation’s capital. Rebecca is a qualified chef who has had a long career working in many different restaurants and kitchens. However, while in her career and having cooked all things edible, she is in fact lactose and gluten intolerant. While not being able to enjoy Australian staples like a bread roll washed down with a milkshake, Rebecca has cleverly created recipes and a diet that is user-friendly and without those things she can’t tolerate. For anyone else dining with her, the food and recipes are so varied and interesting you would not feel that anything is missing.
Ribs have been browned
Rebecca’s blog was one of the first blogs I subscribed to and started reading. I was drawn in by not only the good recipes that were written in an easy to follow and easy to understand style, but also because of her good sense of humour and witty remarks. With her background as a chef, her recipes are tried, true and reliable and I have made quite a few including Balinese duck, beef cheeks and a Christmas treat, Reindeer Poo. All have been successful and well loved.
Sweating down the vegetables
I said in my last post that next we would be making something sticky and one of Rebecca’s recipes that I haven’t made before is her Bundy and Coke Braised Beef Ribs. I know I’m behind the times but I actually haven’t made anything with Coca Cola before and I thought it was time I corrected that oversight.
Is this the world’s most ugly vegetable?
This is a very simple dish to make and there’s surprisingly few ingredients. It’s great comfort food and perfect on a chilly night when you just want something warming. Rebecca served her dish with steamed green beans and mashed sweet potato but I’ve served it with steamed asparagus and mashed celeriac.
Sticky and sweet
The cooking process causes the beef to become meltingly soft and with just a nudge it falls from the bone. I’m not at all shy about cooking with alcohol and found the distinctive flavour of the rum gave the beef a wonderful kick with the cola adding some stickiness and sweetness.
Served on celeriac mash with gremolata
If the weather in your part of the world is cooling, this is a beautifully warming dish for you to try.
- 2 tbspns olive oil
- 8 beef ribs, about 2kgs (4.5lbs)
- 2 onions, chopped
- 2 carrots, chopped
- 2 celery sticks, chopped
- 2 cans of 375ml Bundy (rum) & Coke or similar
- For the Gremolata:
- 2 cloves garlic, crushed
- rind of 1 lemon
- large handful of flat-leaf parsley finely chopped
- For the Celeriac Mash:
- 1kg celeriac (2.25lbs)
- 4 waxy potatoes, peeled
- 30gms butter, chopped
- 2 tspns Dijon mustard
- 14 cup cream
- Pre-heat oven to 180C (375F).
- Place a large oven-proof dish over high heat and add olive oil.
- When oil is hot add beef ribs a few at a time and brown, then remove with tongs. Repeat until all ribs are browned.
- Turn down the heat and add onions, carrots and celery and allow to sweat.
- Increase the heat then return ribs to dish.
- Pour over 1 x can of Bundy & Coke and bring to the boil, allowing the alcohol to evaporate.
- Cover with a tight-fitting lid and place in the oven for 90 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and remove ribs and keep warm. If the remaining sauce is oily, drain off some of the oil. Place over medium heat, add remaining can of Bundy & Coke and simmer until sauce is reduced and thickened. If not thick enough, you can add a little arrowroot. (I didn't because I don't mind a runny sauce).
- Serve on a bed of celeriac mash and top with sauce then gremolata.
- For the Gremolata:
- Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix.
- For the Celeriac Mash:
- Cut celeriac and potatoes into similar sized pieces and place in a saucepan of cold, salted water. Bring to the boil and simmer until tender. Drain well then return to the saucepan adding butter, mustard and cream.
If you’d like to visit Rebecca you can find her at The Intolerant Chef.
Bundy and Coke Braised Beef Ribs
Tomorrow, we’ll be getting into a pickle.
I used one of Rebecca’s recipes recently too-the gluten free dumplings! They were great! 😀
G’day These looks delicious Charlie and I can almost smell them from here!
FANG’s hungry! I have never cooked or baked with Coke, so your post intrigued me today!
Cheers! Joanne
Charlie, that is so awesome that you were able to see both Maureen and Liz. I must say that I must give Rebecca’s blog a visit. These ribs sound and look so delicious and your photos especially that 2nd one with your pretty blue dishes are stunning..
EXCUSE ME WHY ARE WE NOT MEETING UP FOR LUNCH OR DINNER IF YOU’RE IN CANBERRA RIGHT NOW?!?!?!
Are you in Canberra? Are you back home? I had no idea. Unfortunately, this is a virtual tour. Would love to be there in person and be able to catch up. Enjoy your time back home. Is it permanent or just a holiday?
Yummy they look fantastic… I have a friend who cooks pork belly in coke… and it taxes fantastic, so I think this would be delicious! Thanks for sharing! Liz x
Awww visiting mates is the best way to enjoy dinner 😀
Lovely looking beef ribs, I bet everyone loved them!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
How cool that Hannah is visiting! Too bad it’s not up here. I’d even buy her some chocolate. 🙂
I’ve only cooked with Coke once but I’d do it again. These beef ribs look great. I agree that Rebecca faces her dietary challenges with enormous good will. She might complain in private but in public, she just gets down to creating good food. Food she can eat. Lovely post.
I have never cooked with coke, your short ribs sure looks delicious and tender the kind of dish for our cool weather. Going to check the celeriac in my garden to see if they have sized up. Also going to check out Rebecca’s blog.
I’ve made BBQ pulled pork using root beer, but coke when cooking…hmmmm.
Rum and coke flavored meat??? I am so so fascinated!!! Thanks for the recipe – so when will you be visiting the east coast (of the USA) ? 🙂
This looks like a hearty warming meal for cool weather.
I keep meaning to give beef ribs a try cause I love dishes you throw in the oven and let take care of themselves especially during this cold weather. I was amazed how tasty celeriac was the first time I tried it. And not any more difficult to cook than potatoes which I paired it with for a great mash.
Oh, this looks like one amazing entree. And, you’ll love this…Bill ate celery root mash out for dinner on Saturday night. I was shocked he didn’t just eat around it. Another first!!
These ribs look so delicious and comforting!! I have to make this dish especially since the weather is getting cooler and cooler around here. Thank you for a great recipe 🙂
What a cool tour you are doing Charlie, great looking dish!
What a complimentary post Charlie, and thanks for stopping by on your virtual tour! I wish it really was in person though, any excuse for a cuppa 🙂
My original post for the ribs has to contain the worst photos I’ve ever taken though- it’s hard to make brown/orange food look pretty under lights and flash photography. I’m jealous of your lovely photos! Xox
Not to worry about your images, Rebecca. I know the challenges of photographing meat – it’s the worst! I nearly didn’t get any decent images myself as right at the critical moment we had the worst thunderstorm and the sky blackened and we were plunged into darkness. The challenges! Loved this dish – it’s so full of flavour and so easy to do – love one-pot meals!
These look delicious – I’ve never cooked with Coke before so that will be a new experience when I try these!
I am a sucker for meltingly-soft meat Charlie! The weather is definitely not cooling here but I’m sure I could turn on the AC.
Charlie…. putting my hand up for a cuppa when you are next in the Berra too. 🙂 Rebecca got me through a good 2 years when I was having major eating allergy issues. She is so clever and creative and proves there really is no excuse for using a dietary requirement as an excuse to eat poorly. Keen to whip this recipe up, I haven’t actually cooked with coke before. Hope you are well love! xo
I am loving this virtual tour of yours and Bec is such a lovely gal, not to mention that she’s a great cook! Have a great week, my friend… happy cooking xo
I’ve missed a few posts this last week while Pete has been home.
The beef ribs looks fabulous. Can’t beat comfort meals.
Have a super day Charlie.
🙂 Mandy xo
It’s interesting that at my age I also haven’t used coca-cola in recipes, because that was certain the rage when I was first married (1970s) and I’ve had recipes on-hand for years. At this point I’ve forgotten all about them. The addition of rum definitely “kicks it up a notch” and I’d love to try these. The evening temperatures are finally dropping a little bit. I think it’s time for something hearty like this! 🙂 Loving this series, Charlie.
I love comfort food! This looks delicious 🙂
I adore Becca! And no, celeriac isn’t ugly, it’s absolutely beautiful I so wish I could grow it! Beautiful meal Charlie, I’m catching up on blog reading and you’re making me starving! 🙂
My husband smoked a pork shoulder marinated, then smoked over bourbon and coke. Just smelling it, made my mouth water. Your ribs are doing the same thing just looking at them. Thanks for sharing the recipe and for introducing Rebecca.