Slow Cooker Short Ribs
It’s still winter in Montana, and I’m cooking up more comfort foods. You can pour the short ribs over pasta or rice, both are delicious!
Ingredients
2 lbs. bone in short ribs
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup finely diced carrot 1 large carrot
1/2 cup finely diced celery 1 stalk of celery
1/2 cup finely diced yellow onion 1/2 onion
1/4 lb. hunk of pancetta cut into small cubes
1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper i like to use 1/2 tsp. for a little more heat
2 cloves garlic finely chopped
1 tbsp. flour
1/4 cup red wine cabernet preferably
1/2 cup beef broth
1 tsp. anchovy paste
28 oz. can of whole peeled tomatoes (preferably San Marzano Tomatoes)
1/2 tsp. dried thyme
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1 bay leaf
2 tbsp. freshly chopped parsley
2 tbsp. freshly chopped basil
Pasta: good pasta or rice
Method
Season all sides of the short ribs generously with salt and pepper.
Heat a pot or dutch oven over medium-high heat with 2 tbsp. olive oil. Brown all sides of the short ribs (about 2 minutes per side). Remove and set in the bottom of the crockpot.
In the same pot, add the pancetta and let it fry up for about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Now add diced celery, onion, carrot, crushed red pepper, and garlic. Be sure to season it well with salt and pepper, you want to make sure every layer is properly seasoned to ensure it isn't bland! Saute until veggies are tender and the pancetta is cooked through, about 5-7 minutes.
Turn heat down to low, add the anchovy paste and stir it in and saute for 1 more minute.
Now sprinkle in the flour and stir until it coats the veggies.
Pour in the red wine and beef broth, stir and scrape up all the brown bits off the bottom of the pot.
Add the can of tomatoes and using the back of your spoon, try and break them up a bit.
Add the fresh and dried herbs. Stir in. Taste the sauce and add any more salt and pepper if you think it needs it.
Pour sauce over the short ribs in the slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours, or when short ribs are fork tender.
When ribs are fork tender, discard the bay leaf and remove short ribs from slow cooker and onto a cutting board, with two forks, shred the meat and discard the bones and any unwanted fat/tendons. Place shredded meat back into the crockpot to let them soak back up the sauce (I like to turn my crockpot off or switch to warm during this time while I prep my pasta).
Meanwhile, bring a pot of water to boil. Cook pasta according to package instructions.
Drain pasta in a colander. Divide amongst bowls and top with the ragu (NOTE: depending on how meaty your short ribs are, your sauce might be too saucy, if this is the case, use a slotted spoon to serve your sauce for best results!)
Enjoy with a nice glass of red wine, i prefer it with an Italian brunello.