Braised Beef Short Ribs (Dutch Oven)

Fall is one of my favorite seasons. There is something really special about the fresh, crisp morning air, and the leaves turning auburn. Along with the changes outside, I notice changes to the foods I crave. I gravitate toward warm and hearty, comfort foods: soups, stews, braised meats, and roasted vegetables.  Braised beef short ribs are the quintessential fall dish.

Tender, hearty, falling off the bone; first seared on the stovetop, creating a rich, multidimensional base/sauce, and finished in the oven over low heat for several hours. It is not a difficult dish to prepare, but you do need time. Time for the flavors to come together, and for the magic to happen. This dish is perfect for a Sunday meal, although some could argue that it tastes even better the next day.

Before we dive into how to braise beef short ribs in the oven, let's define braising and take a look at some of the kitchen tools we will need. 

What is Braising?

Braising is simply a two-part cooking method.  First, it begins with browning or searing at high temperatures, followed by slow cooking the ingredients in liquid, covered, on low heat, usually in a heavy pan, a dutch oven or a slow cooker. Braising is particularly great for tougher cuts of meat. Because the low and slow cooking process helps break down the connective tissue, which greatly increases the flavor.

Essential Kitchen Tools for Braising Beef Short Ribs

Dutch Oven - a heavy, enameled cast iron cooking pot that is really great at conducting and retaining heat. With the tight-fitted lid, this pot truly earns its oven moniker. Dutch ovens perform flawlessly both on the stovetop and inside the oven, making them the perfect tool for braising. 

My dutch oven of choice is the Le Creuset oval dutch oven. I have been using this one for over a decade, it's a workhorse.

A more affordable option would be the Lodge enameled cast iron Dutch oven, consistently scoring great reviews among home cooks. 

Wooden Spoon / Silicone Spatula -  A spoon or a spatula that is safe (from scratching) for the enameled surface of the dutch oven and also resistant to high heat.

Tongs - the perfect accessory to handle meat in and out of pots without getting burned. 

Now that we got the tools out of the way, let’s dive in and make braised short ribs in the dutch oven. 

How to Prepare Braised Beef Short Ribs in the Dutch Oven?

Braised beef short ribs can be prepared on the stovetop, in the oven, in a pressure cooker or a slow cooker. This recipe will take you step-by-step on how to braise beef short ribs, starting on the stovetop in a large Dutch oven and ultimately, completing the cooking process in the oven. As a side note, this recipe is easily adapted to a slow cooker.

Ingredients for braising

First, let’s discuss the meat that is used in this recipe. I highly recommend using bone-in beef short ribs, as the bones will add more richness and flavor. But if you must use boneless, simply decrease the cooking time.

In addition, when possible, I prefer to use meat from grass-fed or pasture-raised animals, although this is a matter of personal preference, the end results are not greatly affected. 

Aside from the meat, here are other ingredients that will be used: 

• carrots
• celery
• onion
• garlic cloves
• fresh parsley
• dijon mustard
• dry red or white wine (red preferred - use the wine you would actually drink)
• butter & oil (for browning meat)
• potatoes (optional)
• lemon zest (optional)

The Process for braising

To begin, generously season the short ribs with salt and pepper. For added flavor, also season with fresh thyme and or rosemary.

Preheat the oven to 275 degrees.

On the stovetop, allow the Dutch oven to heat up, over medium-high heat. After the pot is hot (you can do a little test, by flicking drops of water from your fingers to the pot. If the water bounces off and evaporates quickly, it is ready to go - here is a quick video demo), add the oil followed by the butter.

Next, add the short ribs to the pan, one at a time, using tongs. The meat should sizzle when it touches the pot. In order to achieve a nice sear on the meat, don't overcrowd the pan. You might need to work in batches. When one side is nicely browned, turn the meat over and brown the other sides.

After the meat is browned, use tongs to move it to a plate or dish. If necessary, follow with the next batch.

Meanwhile, prep all the vegetables. Wash and scrub the carrots. No need to peel them.

Slice up the carrots. In general, when cutting up the vegetables, keep them equal in size so everything cooks together evenly.

Wash and dry the celery. Trim about 2 inches off the ends and discard. Dice the remaining celery.

Peel and mince garlic.

Also, peel and dice an onion. I would like to point out that the combination of carrots, onions, and celery is called mirepoix. Mirepoix comes from French cuisine, and in simplest terms, is a trio of carrots, onions, and celery and is used as a base in many dishes like stews, soups, and sauces. Along with the mirepoix, I like to add garlic to the mix.

After the short ribs have been browned and moved to a plate, add mirepoix (carrots, onion, celery) and garlic to the hot dutch oven. Use a spatula or a wooden spoon to scrape all the brown pieces from the bottom (flavor bombs, also known as ‘fond’) and combine with the vegetables. Go ahead, savor the delicious aroma!

Cook for a few minutes so the flavors blend and the vegetables soften. Season with thyme and or rosemary for added flavor.

Add a splash of dry wine, mix with a spatula or spoon, cook for 3 to 4 minutes, to burn off the alcohol and reduce the liquid.

Add dijon mustard and stir to combine. Use tongs to return the meat to the pot, including any of the juices that gathered on the plate.

Add stock, or water or a mix of both, just enough to cover the meat ⅔ of the way. Season with salt (if using store-bought stock that has salt in it, adjust as necessary or don't add the extra seasoning).

Add fresh parsley for extra flavor. Bring to a simmer, close with a lid and put the entire Dutch oven pot into the oven, on the middle rack. 

Cooking Options

Option 1 - Just the braised beef short ribs

To braise just the beef short ribs, cook them for about 3.5 hours and skip to the Finishing Options section.

Option 2 - One-pot meal

However, if you want to make a one-pot meal by adding potatoes and carrots, or other root vegetables, cook for about 2 to 2.5 hours and follow the next steps.

Use oven mitts to remove the pot from the oven. Be careful and don't burn yourself. Learn from my mistakes and don't reach for the pot or lid with bare hands. Don't ask! I am still puzzled about how I could forget that I just took it out of the oven.

Add potatoes and carrots. Just to point out, these carrots are different than the ones used for the mirepoix and making of the sauce. Since these carrots are part of the meal, I like to cut them chunkier. Make sure the potatoes and carrots are submerged in liquid. Close the lid, and return the pot to the oven for about another hour.

Finishing Options

Option 1: It smells so good I'm ready to dive in

Remove from the oven and you could plate and serve, sprinkle some fresh herbs and enjoy!

OR….

Option 2: Go the extra step

Go even fancier by removing the extra fat, reducing the sauce, and elevating the dish to the next level. We can call this step, going all out! 

Let the dutch oven cool off and refrigerate it all. This will help the fat rise for easy removal. When ready to serve, use a spoon to remove the top layer of fat and discard it. Place the dutch oven back on the stovetop and reheat, over medium heat. Use tongs or spoon to remove the potatoes, chunky carrots, and short ribs onto a plate or dish. Turn heat to medium-high and cook down the sauce until it is reduced and thickened, about 7 minutes. 

Lastly, make gremolata - an Italian garnish a mixture of lemon zest, fresh garlic, and chopped parsley.

Plate and serve potatoes, carrots, and braised beef short ribs with sauce and garnish with gremolata.  

See that wasn't so bad!

What's your favorite way of serving braised short ribs?