Braised Beef Short Ribs with With Carrots




Monica

Ingredients
Beef
1-1/2 to 2 lbs boneless short ribs
Coarse Kosher salt
Olive oil
1 or 2 garlic heads, halved crosswise
2 tablespoons tomato purée
2 cups red wine, such as cabernet sauvignon or shiraz (see notes)
2 teaspoons Knorr beef bouillon dissolved in 2 cups hot water
1 large bay leaf 
1 sprig fresh rosemary
1 sprigfreshly ground black pepper fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon dry thyme
Black pepper, freshly ground

Carrots
5 large carrots, peeled and obliquely cut into evenly sized pieces

To Serve
Mashed potatoes
Fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
or
Chives, cut into small slices

Instructions

1. Prepare the Ribs:

  • Pat the boneless short ribs dry, then season generously with salt and let rest in the fridge for 45 minutes or overnight.

  • In a large oven-safe pot or skillet set over medium-high heat, heat a splash of olive oil. 

  • Sear the short ribs on all sides until deep golden brown to develop deep flavor. Cook in batches to prevent boiling the beef. Remove from the skillet and set aside. 

2. Add Flavor Base:

  • Add the halved garlic bulbs, cut side down, directly into the now-empty skillet.

  • Stir in 2 tablespoons of tomato purée, scraping the bottom to lift up all the browned bits.

  • Let the purée cook for about a minute to develop sweetness and remove any raw taste.

3. Deglaze and Build the Braise:

  • Pour in the wine red wine and bring to a boil, reducing by half to concentrate the flavor.

  • Add the meat to the skillet and any juices in the resting plate. 

  • Stir in enough of the dissolved beef broth to cover the meat halfway. 

  • Add the bay leaf, rosemary sprig, and thyme.

4. Braise the Short Ribs:

  • Preheat oven to 350°F.

  • Cover tightly with a lid or foil and transfer to the oven.

  • Braise for 3 to 3½ hours, until the short ribs are fork-tender and deeply flavored.

5. Cook the Carrots Separately:

  • While the ribs finish braising, place the carrots in a pot of lightly salted water.

  • Simmer for 10–15 minutes, until just tender but not soft. Place the carrot in ice water to stop the cooking process. Set aside. 

6. Finish the Sauce:

  • Remove the short ribs from the pot and set aside, covered.

  • Strain the braising liquid, if desired,  and simmer on the stovetop to reduce into a rich, glossy sauce.

  • For deeper flavor, squeeze out the roasted garlic from the halved bulbs into the sauce and whisk to combine.

7. Assemble and Serve:

  • Return the glazed carrots to the pot with the reduced sauce, gently folding to coat.

  • Plate the mashed potatoes first, then nestle the braised short ribs on top.

  • Spoon over the carrots and red wine sauce.

  • Finish with a generous sprinkle of chopped flat-leaf parsley


Notes from ChatGPT

For braised short ribs, the best type of wine is a dry, full-bodied red wine with good acidity and tannins. These qualities help break down the meat while adding depth to the sauce.

Best Red Wine Types for Braised Short Ribs:

  1. Cabernet Sauvignon

    • Classic choice (used in Wolfgang Puck’s version)

    • Bold, tannic, and complex—stands up well to rich beef

  2. Syrah / Shiraz

    • Deep, peppery, and often smoky

    • Great for adding earthiness and intensity to the braise

  3. Zinfandel

    • Fruity and spicy with a good balance of acidity

    • Adds a round, rich flavor without overpowering

  4. Malbec

    • Smooth with dark fruit notes

    • Great middle ground between Cab and Zin—plush and flavorful

  5. Red Bordeaux Blend (Left Bank)

    • If you want something French, go for a Left Bank Bordeaux blend with more Cabernet Sauvignon

    • Elegant, dry, and aromatic

Avoid:

  • Sweet wines (e.g., Port, Lambrusco): too sugary

  • Very light reds (e.g., Pinot Noir): too delicate for the richness of short ribs

  • Heavily oaked wines: can turn bitter after long cooking

Budget Tip:

Use a $10–$15 bottle you'd enjoy drinking. No need for premium wine, but avoid "cooking wine" or anything you'd never sip. 


Inspiration

1. Gordon Ramsey

Ingredients
For the Beef:
5–6 bone-in beef short ribs
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Olive oil
1–2 garlic bulbs, halved crosswise
1 heaped tsp tomato purée
1 bottle red wine (not expensive)
Chicken stock (enough to almost cover the ribs)
Optional: 1 bay leaf and a few strands of saffron (mentioned at the end of the transcript)
For the Garnish:
Thick-cut pancetta or lardons (bacon), cut into sticks
Chestnut mushrooms, halved
Fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped

Instructions
1. Prepare and Sear the Short Ribs:
Preheat oven to 170–180°C (340–355°F).
Season beef ribs generously with salt and pepper.
In a hot roasting tray or oven-safe pan, drizzle in olive oil and sear the short ribs on all sides until deeply browned. This is key for flavor.
2. Add Flavor Base:
Tuck the halved garlic bulbs cut side down around the ribs.
Add a heaped teaspoon of tomato purée and stir it into the pan to "cook it out" – this removes raw acidity.
3. Deglaze and Braise:
Pour in red wine, enough to surround the ribs. Bring to a boil and reduce by half to intensify flavor.
Add chicken stock until it reaches about an inch below the top of the ribs.
Optional: Add bay leaf and saffron for deeper aroma.
Cover the pan with foil tightly.
4. Slow Roast:
Place in the oven for 3½ hours, allowing the meat to slowly braise and become fall-apart tender.

While Beef Cooks – Prepare the Garnish:
5. Cook the Bacon and Mushrooms:
In a separate pan, fry the lardons/pancetta until golden and the fat renders off.
Add the chestnut mushrooms, season lightly, and cook until browned and tender.
Set aside.
6. Finish the Sauce:
After removing the ribs from the oven, strain the pan juices.
Push the roasted garlic through a sieve into the juices to enrich the sauce.
Simmer and reduce the liquid slightly for a rich glaze.
7. Serve:
Glaze each short rib individually with the sauce.
Top generously with the crispy bacon and mushrooms.
Sprinkle over chopped flat-leaf parsley for freshness.



Ingredients
For the Ribs:
6 large beef short ribs (14–16 oz each), trimmed of excess fat
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
2 tbsp all-purpose flour
2 tbsp olive oil

Marinade
2 celery stalks, cut into 1-inch pieces
2 medium carrots, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 leek (white and light green only), cleaned and coarsely chopped
6 garlic cloves, peeled
1 bay leaf
4 sprigs fresh thyme
Whole black pepper, to taste
1 bottle (750 ml) Cabernet Sauvignon

For Braising:
2 tbsp tomato paste
2 quarts unsalted beef or chicken broth

For Garnish:
Mashed potatoes

Chopped Italian parsley

Instructions
1. Marinate the Short Ribs:
In a large bowl, combine the short ribs with celery, carrots, leek, garlic, bay leaf, thyme, and black pepper.

Pour over the Cabernet Sauvignon to fully submerge the meat.

Cover and marinate for at least 6 hours in the refrigerator.

2. Prep for Braising:
Remove short ribs from marinade and pat dry thoroughly.

Strain the vegetables from the marinade and reserve both the wine and vegetables.

Season the ribs generously with salt and pepper, then dust all sides with flour.

3. Sear the Ribs:
In a large ovenproof pot, heat olive oil over medium-high until shimmering.

Carefully sear the short ribs 4–5 minutes per side, until well browned. Remove and set aside.

4. Cook the Vegetables & Build the Braise:
In the same pot, sauté the reserved marinade vegetables for 5–7 minutes, until lightly browned and caramelized.

Pour in the reserved wine, scraping the bottom of the pot to deglaze.

Stir in tomato paste, and bring to a boil to burn off the alcohol.

Add broth, return to a boil, then nestle the ribs back in, spooning liquid over the top.

5. Braise in the Oven:
Preheat oven to 350°F / 180°C.

Cover the pot with a lid and place on the middle oven rack.

Braise for 2½ hours, checking every 30 minutes to skim fat from the surface.

6. Serve:
Serve hot over mashed potatoes or your preferred side.

Spoon over the rich braising sauce.

Garnish generously with chopped Italian parsley.

Enjoy!
A beautifully tender, wine-infused short rib dish worthy of any special occasion – hearty, elegant, and deeply flavorful.


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