Description
Hearty Classic Beef Short Ribs meld rich flavors from Italian culinary traditions. Tender meat falls from bones while red wine and herbs create an unforgettable dining experience you’ll savor with pure comfort.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 lbs (1.36 kg) beef short ribs, bone-in
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 2 carrots, peeled and chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- 1 cup (240 ml) beef broth
- 1 cup (240 ml) red wine (or extra beef broth if preferred)
- 2 tbsps tomato paste
- 2 tbsps Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 3 sprigs fresh thyme (or ½ tsp dried thyme)
- 2 sprigs fresh rosemary (or ½ tsp dried rosemary)
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Seasoning Preparation: Generously coat short ribs with salt and pepper, ensuring comprehensive coverage for maximum flavor development.
- Searing Foundation: Ignite a heavy skillet over medium-high heat with olive oil, creating a caramelized exterior by searing ribs for 3 minutes per side, locking in rich, intense flavors.
- Aromatic Base: In the same skillet, sauté onions, garlic, and carrots until they become translucent, releasing their natural sweetness and building a robust flavor profile for the dish.
- Liquid Harmony: Whisk together beef broth, red wine, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, and soy sauce to create a complex, deeply flavored braising liquid that will tenderize and enhance the meat.
- Herbal Infusion: Introduce whole sprigs of thyme, rosemary, and a bay leaf into the slow cooker, allowing these aromatic herbs to permeate the dish with earthy, nuanced undertones.
- Slow Transformation: Cover and cook on low temperature for 7-8 hours, allowing the tough meat fibers to break down into meltingly tender, fall-off-the-bone short ribs that are rich and succulent.
- Serving Finale: Remove herb stems and bay leaf, plate the ribs with their luxurious cooking liquid, and pair with creamy mashed potatoes, fluffy rice, or soft polenta for a complete, comforting culinary experience.
Notes
- Sear Strategically: Achieve a perfect golden-brown crust by ensuring the skillet is scorching hot before adding short ribs, which locks in flavors and creates a delicious caramelized exterior.
- Balance Liquid Levels: Use just enough braising liquid to cover about two-thirds of the meat, preventing dryness while ensuring rich, concentrated flavor development.
- Choose Meat Wisely: Select well-marbled short ribs with good fat content, as this guarantees maximum tenderness and rich, succulent results during the slow cooking process.
- Herb Infusion Technique: Remove woody herb stems before serving to prevent stringy textures, allowing only the deep, aromatic essence to permeate the final dish.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 430
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg