Beef Short Ribs

Dad Joke Alert: 

What do skeletons order at restaurants?

Spare Ribs!

Now that you've finished laughing...

My Latest Addiction - Short Ribs

Short ribs are a type of beef cut containing the ends of ribs near the breastbone. They have delicious marbling found in expensive beef cuts and are absolutely addictive. 

I have successfully cooked them on the braai (BBQ), with a variety of rubs. Yummy every time. But, it is time to try something new. I have been playing with the idea of braising them in a sauce over the fire. Sounds good, right? 

The first hurdle is to find some decent short rib. Although considered a cheaper cut of meat, general supermarkets have minimal meat on the ribs. A visit to my favourite butcher yielded some tasty-looking results. (happily at a good price too)

What you need:

1.5 - 2.5kg beef short ribs

Salt and pepper to taste

Olive oil - enough to brown meat and to start the sauce

60g Tomato paste

Half a 750ml bottle of red wine (not necc. expensive, but at least drinkable)

Beef stock - I used 2 chilli beef stock cubes) dissolved in 500ml water

2 whole heads of garlic, cut in half widthways

What to do:

Heat oil in an oven tray

Chop ribs into chunks, and season with salt and pepper

Place in hot oil and brown on all sides

Remove from heat

Add the tomato paste and red wine to the oil, and mix

When the sauce is hot, return meat to pan

Toss your chunks to coat in your awesome juices

(sorry, couldn't resist)

Place the garlic cut side down between the meat

Pour stock over and cover tightly with tinfoil

Cook at 120*C for three hours

(on your gas braai, middle burners off, side burners only)

Remove from heat, place on a platter for professional looking deliciousness

Press the cooked garlic through a sieve into a bowl

Strain the remaining cooking juices into the bowl, and mix

(If you prefer, you can heat this in a pot with a little cornflour slurry to thicken)

Drizzle the sauce all over the waiting meat, and scatter with freshly chopped parsley

Enjoy!

Score: 9/10 golden spatulas - will definitely do this again

Puppy paw of approval:  ✅ 

Teen nod of acknowledgment:✅ 

Family verdict: ✅ Burp

Check out the video!