Braised Short Ribs

Braised short ribs are a favorite cool-weather comfort food. Beef short ribs are braised until tender in a sauce made from carrots, celery, onion, and herbs and are perfect served over mashed potatoes, polenta, or rice.

There are few things that smell better than, or as good as, short ribs braising in the oven. 

Braised short ribs are one of those meals that are both simple and decadent all in one. 

The ingredients are simple, as is the preparation, but the outcome is just so special.

We love to serve braised short ribs with garlic mashed potatoes, creamy polenta, or egg noodles.  And if you're looking for a noodle and short rib dish there is nothing better than our short rib ragu with pappardelle!

And since the flavors used here are so similar to that of osso buco (white wine instead of red, etc), these ribs would also be perfect with risotto Milanese, the traditional osso buco accompaniment.

Our recipe includes instructions for a gremolata, but this condiment is entirely optional.  More on that below.

How to make braised short ribs

Each number corresponds to the numbered written steps below.

1. Dice 3 medium onions, 4 medium carrots, and 3 celery ribs.  Smash 10 cloves of garlic and trim the excess fat and silverskin from 4 ½ pounds of English-cut short ribs.  Note: Short ribs are very fatty, so it is recommended to well trim the exterior before searing.
2. Preheat the oven to 300f and set the rack to the middle level.  Heat a large stainless steel pan to medium heat.  Dry the trimmed short ribs with paper towels and season them with salt and pepper on all sides.  Dredge the ribs in flour and shake to remove the excess.  Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to the pan and sear the short ribs on all sides until well browned working in batches to avoid crowding the pan.  Once the ribs are seared, remove and set them aside.  Note: This recipe can be also prepared completely in a Dutch oven.

3. Remove all but approximately 3 tablespoons worth of fat from the pan and turn the heat down to a touch less than medium.  Add the onions, carrots, and celery and saute for about 10-12 minutes or until very soft.  Then add the garlic cloves and cook for about 2 more minutes, or until lightly golden.
4. Add 2 tablespoons of tomato paste and frequently stir for 3-5 minutes.  
5. Add 2 cups of dry white wine and turn the heat up to high, scraping the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon to dislodge the brown bits.  Bring the sauce to a boil for 5 minutes.
6. Reduce the heat to a simmer and add 14 ounces of crushed plum tomatoes, 2 medium bay leaves, 3 sprigs of thyme, and 2 sprigs of rosemary.  Taste test and season with plenty of black pepper and a touch of salt, but not too much as the sauce will reduce and concentrate. 

7. Pour the sauce into a roasting pan or baking dish and place the short ribs on top.  Pour enough low-sodium chicken stock to almost submerge the short ribs (about 2-3 cups worth).
8. Cover the pan tightly with foil and place in the oven for 3 hours turning the ribs over at the halfway point.  After 3 hours, remove the foil and continue to cook until the ribs are fork-tender but not yet falling apart (approximately 30-60 minutes).  Once tender remove the short ribs from the oven and place them on a platter tented with foil.  Degrease the sauce with a fat separator, paper towels, bulb baster, or just skim with a spoon.  Remove and discard the herbs.  To thicken the sauce, transfer to a pot and turn the heat to high, or serve as is.  Taste test the sauce and make any final salt and pepper adjustments.  Serve the short ribs over mashed potatoes, polenta, egg noodles, rice, or with crusty bread and top with the optional gremolata if desired.  Enjoy!  

Making the gremolata

Since these braised short ribs are made in a style similar to that of osso buco, you may wish to serve them with a gremolata.

A gremolata is a condiment that's made with fresh chopped parsley, garlic, orange zest, olive oil, and salt and typically accompanies rich meat dishes with high-fat contents.  The fresh parsley and citrus combo cut the fat so to speak.

To make the gremolata, simply combine ½ cup of minced Italian flat-leaf parsley with 1 minced clove of garlic, 1-2 teaspoons of orange zest, ¼ teaspoon of kosher salt, and 1-2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil.  

Top tips for stand-out braised short ribs

• The ribs. We used English-cut short ribs for this recipe but you can definitely use flanken if that's what is available to you.  One 3-4 inch long English-cut short rib is a great portion size.  If the ribs are smaller, you may wish to serve 2 per person.  
• The fat. Short ribs are very fatty and for that reason, we recommend trimming a good deal of the fat prior to searing.  Depending on the size and fat content of your ribs, they may need more or less than 3 ½-4 hours of braising time since you'll want to cook them until the fat has mostly rendered and the ribs become very tender.
• Making ahead. If you can swing it, it's even better to prepare the ribs a day ahead of time.  This will allow the flavors to concentrate and will make removing the fat from the sauce even easier.  To make ahead, once cooked, separate the ribs and the sauce and store in the refrigerator. The next day, the fat will have risen to the top of the sauce and can easily be spooned off.  Reheat the ribs and the sauce together over medium-low heat prior to serving.

More comforting recipes

We've got you covered if you're looking for hearty comfort food.  Here are a few of our favorites.

• Brasato al Barolo - Italian-style braised brisket in the most delicious sauce.
• Peposo - beef braised in a Tuscan red wine and black pepper sauce.
• Italian beef stew - chuck beef braised with vegetables, wine, and herbs.

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