Short Rib Beef Bourguignon

1. Heat about 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Season the short ribs with salt and pepper. Sear the short ribs on all sides, in batches so you don’t overcrowd the pan, until they’re crusty and deep caramel brown all over. Using tongs, remove short ribs to a bowl.
2. Pour off all but about 3 tablespoons of fat; lower heat to medium. Add the lengthwise-cut carrot, onion, and garlic. Sauté until carrot and onion are lightly browned. Raise heat to high. Add tomato and anchovy pastes, stirring to coat; continue to cook for about 2 minutes. Deglaze with cognac, if using. Cook until the raw alcohol burns off, stirring up browned bits and tomato paste from the bottom of the pan, about 3-5 minutes. Stir in demi-glace; add wine. Add short ribs back to the pot, along with any cooking juices that accumulated in the bowl. Add enough beef stock to almost cover the short ribs and bouquet garni. Bring mixture to a simmer, cover, and lower flame to medium-low. Check pot occasionally to make sure liquid is still lightly simmering.
3. Continue to cook until short ribs are easily pierced with a fork, about 2.5 – 3.5 hours. During the last hour of cooking, stir in the sliced carrots.
4. Remove the large pieces of carrot and bouquet garni, discard. Taste liquid for seasoning, add salt and pepper if needed. In a small bowl, using your fingers or a wooden spoon, knead together softened butter and flour until smooth and evenly combined. Add one teaspoon-sized piece at a time to the Dutch oven, stirring to combine, until sauce is thickened to your liking. Continue to simmer, uncovered, while you prepare the garnish.
5. In a skillet over medium-high flame, add ventrèche. Cook until lardons are nicely browned and fat has rendered. Remove lardons with a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving the fat in the pan. If there is less than 3 tablespoons of rendered fat, add enough olive to equal about 3 tablespoons. Add mushrooms; season with salt and pepper. Sauté until mushrooms are tender and lightly browned. Add lardons, mushrooms, and parsley to the short ribs. Remove from heat, allow to cool slightly before serving with crusty bread.

Recipe tips: Make this a day ahead for even better flavor. After adding beurre manié in step 4, continue to cook until sauce thickens, then remove from heat and allow to cool before refrigerating overnight. When ready to eat, remove from refrigerator and bring pot back to a simmer over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. Continue with step 5.