Braising is the best way to cook short ribs, and this simple recipe teaches you how to get flavorful, fall-off-the-bone meat with ease.

Ingredients

• 5 – 6 beef short ribs , 300-400g/10-14oz each (Note 1)
• 1.5 tsp each salt and pepper
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 3 garlic cloves , crushed
• 1 large onion , chopped (brown, yellow or white)
• 2 celery ribs , chopped
• 2 carrots , chopped
• 2 tbsp tomato paste.
• 2 cups (500ml) dry red wine (Note 2).
• 2 cups (500ml) beef stock/broth, low sodium.
• 2 sprigs thyme (optional).

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 160C/325F.
2. Sprinkle beef all over with salt and pepper.
3. Heat oil in a large ovenproof pot over high heat. Add half the ribs and brown aggressively all over (~5 – 7 min in total). Remove and repeat with remaining ribs, then remove.
4. Turn heat down to medium. Add onion and garlic into the same pot and cook for 2 minutes.
5. Add carrot and celery, cook for 5 minutes until carrot is softened and sweet.
6. Add tomato paste and cook for 1 minute.
7. Add wine, broth, thyme and bay leaves. Stir until tomato paste is dissolved.
8. Return beef into liquid, arranging them so they are submerged (Note 3).
9. Cover with lid and transfer to oven for 3 hours, or until the meat can easily be pried apart with forks. (Note 4 Other cook methods)
10. Remove beef carefully, keeping the meat on the bone. (Note 4) Cover to keep warm.
11. Strain all liquid in the pot, pressing juices out of the onion, carrot etc. Return sauce into pot, bring to simmer and stir. Adjust as necessary – simmer to reduce/thicken, add water to thin, season with salt and pepper if needed.
12. Place beef on serving plate, spoon over sauce. Serve!

Other cook methods:

1. Stove – 2.5 hours on low simmer, lid on
2. Slow cooker – 8 hours on low, 5 hours on high. Sear beef and sauté vegetables in a skillet, add the liquid, bring to simmer then tip it all into a slow cooker. When beef is fork tender, strain liquid into a large skillet and simmer liquid rapidly for 10 minutes or until it reduces down to a syrup consistency. Optional: spray beef lightly with oil and grill/broil on high for 5 minutes to brown.
3. Pressure cooker – 1 hour on high, follow slow cooker directions above. Depressurise naturally for 10 minutes, then release valve.
4. Instant Pot – Follow slow cooker directions above but do the searing in your Instant Pot. Cook using slow cooker or pressure cooker function using above times.

Enjoy!!