Boring beef dinners — step aside. It’s time to perk up your plate with a hot, slow cooker favorite that’s as bone-healthy as it is seriously delicious. Today I’m spilling the secret sauce on how to nail my braised boneless beef short ribs recipe.
One of the reasons I love this crowd pleaser is that it’s packed with protein. And when it comes to your bones, protein is especially important.
Protein makes up roughly one-third of your bone mass (the amount of protein your bones contain) and half of your bone volume (the amount of space protein takes up).1
Plus, the carrots in this recipe provide a whole host of other nutrients, including manganese, copper, and vitamin E. All essential nutrients for healthy bones!
This flavorful recipe has so much to offer, so let’s dive in.
Braised Boneless Beef Short Ribs Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 lbs boneless beef chuck short ribs (also known as a chuck flat or flap)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tbsp avocado oil
- 1 tbsp chopped rosemary or 3 Tbsp fresh
- 1 tbsp chopped thyme or 3 Tbsp fresh
- 1 medium onion
- 4 cloves garlic
- 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tbsp potato starch, flour or thickener of choice
- 2 cups natural beef broth
- 1 cup quality red wine
- 12 baby potatoes cut in half
- 2 medium carrots, chopped into 1” pieces
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F. Cut 2lb chuck flat into 4 equal portions, trimming excess fat. Season each portion with salt and pepper.
- In a Dutch oven, or cast-iron pot, heat avocado oil over medium high heat. Sear short ribs on each side until you begin to see color in the beef and on the pan.
- Remove the short ribs onto a plate.
- Add balsamic vinegar to deglaze the pan.
- Add onions and garlic cloves. Cook over medium heat, stirring until the onions are translucent.
- Add tomato paste to the pot and continue cooking for one minute.
- Add flour and stir thoroughly.
- Add wine and cook until reduced to half.
- Add the broth and the herbs to the pot and stir to combine. Sauce should nicely coat a spoon but not be overly thick. Add more broth if it appears too thick.
- Return the short ribs to the pot. Cover pot with lid and cook in the oven for 2 hours. If the beef is still firm after two hours, allow more cooking time.
- Remove the pot from the oven and add in carrots and potatoes. Return to the oven for another hour.
Nutrition
Are Short Ribs Good for You?
Lean, protein rich, chuck short ribs from a beef cut called a chuck flat, is an inexpensive and collagen rich alternative to traditional short ribs.
Your extracellular bone matrix is made primarily of collagen, and yes, collagen is a protein.2 This soft collagen matrix is like a flexible framework for bone.
Calcium hardens this framework and adds strength to it. Together, calcium and collagen make your bones strong, yet flexible enough to withstand stress.
So I’m a big fan of beef because the protein is great for your health and your skin. In fact, that’s why I chose the braised, boneless beef, short ribs recipe.
It’s not just good for you, it tastes amazing too. We’re talking pan-braised perfection here.
But don’t take my word for it. Give it a try yourself and let me know how you enjoyed it in the comments section below.
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References
- The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 87, Issue 5, May 2008, Pgs 1567S–1570S.
- https://www.hindawi.com/journals/ bmri/2015/421746/
Adrienne
October 18, 2022 , 3:35 pmMade this yesterday it was insanely delicious. Reminds me of pot roast. The recipe was easy to follow.