Dust half the ribs with about 1 tablespoon flour and then, when the oil is hot, slip the ribs into the pot and sear for 4 to 5 minutes on a side, until will browned.
If I close my eyes, I can see my mom's kitchen windows steaming up from the simmering gravy, hear her banging her wooden spoon on the rim of the gravy pot, and smell the meatballs sizzling in olive oil.
Iran took a smaller-than-usual share of the pot as US and European sanctions crippled its energy industry, pushing down its oil production to a 32-year low.