I am slowly but surely coming out of winter hibernation mode. After another snowstorm hit last week, the sun returned this weekend and the temperatures are supposed to climb into the 50s this week (!!!). Thank goodness for that.
Given that it has been absolutely freezing for the past month, and any desire or motivation to step outside had all but evaporated, we bunkered down with movies, House of Cards marathons, cozy fires, obnoxious piles of blankets, and good ol’ comfort food. Our weekends have consistently involved some (or all) of these things. And while I’m rejoicing in the fact that the clocks sprung forward this past weekend, and that actual spring is hopefully right around the corner, I’ll be missing the hibernation days just a bit. These short ribs are partly to blame.
Short ribs have been one of my all-time, go-to comfort meals for years now. Whether they’re sandwiched between gooey cheese and bread or braised until falling apart and used to coat long strands of pasta, they are a staple in my kitchen during the winter. They are not only comforting to eat but comforting to make as well. I don’t know about you, but I adore the process of slow braising something for hours at a time. There’s something just so…comforting (I need a thesaurus) about it. The house fills with a glorious aroma and the warmth of the oven, and you know that you’re going to eat something really awesome and delicious when all is said and done. The anticipation is wonderful.
These short ribs are no exception. I braised them in nutty, sweet stout beer, soy sauce, honey, and brown sugar until they are tender and moist and practically falling off the bone. And then I take the braising liquid and cook it down into this intensely sticky, sweet, and savory glaze. The ribs only need to be dunked in the glaze to get all the incredible flavor. And then, because short ribs always need a carb vehicle of some kind, I plop them on top of some insanely creamy, punch-in-your-nose wasabi mashed potatoes. Because…well…mashed potatoes. And wasabi. YUM.
The sweetness of the glaze, the earthiness of the ribs, and the heat of the potatoes all work fabulously together.
So, yeah, bring it on, Spring. I’m ready for you. Just let me get a few more forkfuls of this meal into my face first.
Honeyed Stout-Braised Short Ribs with Wasabi Mashed Potatoes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Ingredients
For the Ribs:
- 2 lbs bone-in beef short ribs
- 1 cup of flour, for dredging
- Salt and pepper
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ cup dry red wine
- 12 oz stout beer (I used Guinness)
- 1½ cups low-sodium beef broth
- ¼ cup honey
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 5 sprigs of fresh thyme
- 1 dried bay leaf
- 2 teaspoons corn starch, dissolved in 2 tablespoons cold water
For the Potatoes:
- 1 lb Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and diced
- 4 tablespoons butter
- ½ cup milk, warmed
- Drizzle of heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons wasabi paste (or to taste)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Chopped chives, for garnish
Instructions
For the Ribs:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large Dutch or pot with a tight fitting lid over high heat. Season the short ribs with salt and pepper and then dredge through the flour to coat, shaking off the excess. Brown the short ribs in batches, about 2 minutes per side. Set the short ribs aside and drain off all but a tablespoon of the drippings.
- Reduce the heat to medium and add the onions. Sauté until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for another 2 minutes.
- Stir in the wine, stout, stock, honey, soy, sugar, thyme, and bay leaf. Bring to a simmer, and add the short ribs back into the pot. Cover and cook in the oven for 2-2½ hours, until the meat is very tender and about to fall off the bone.
- Remove the ribs from the sauce and place the pot on the stove over medium heat. Simmer the sauce until thickened, skimming off any fat. After 10 minutes or so, whisk in the dissolved corn starch until smooth. The sauce should be thick and glossy like a glaze. Return the ribs to the pot and toss to coat in the reduced sauce. Keep warm until ready to serve.
For the Potatoes:
- Place the diced potatoes in a large pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil and cook until the potatoes are tender (cooking time will depend on how small you chop your potatoes). Drain the potatoes well and return to the pot. Turn the heat on low and stir in the butter and milk, mashing the potatoes as you go. Mash the potatoes to desired consistency (using a hand blender is also an option for super smooth potatoes). Stir in the heavy cream and wasabi paste just before serving. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper.
To Serve:
- Place a heaping pile of mashed potatoes on each plate and then top with the short ribs. Drizzle any extra the sauce over the top and garnish with fresh chives. Serve immediately.
Hi There. I'm Molly. I'm a food-obsessed, self-taught cook and I can't wait to share my passion for all things culinary with you. My love for egg yolks is just the tip of the iceberg!
This looks amazing! I am obsessed with short ribs AND wasabi! This is the perfect comfort food. I am making this FOR REALS!!! And can not wait. Your pictures are gorgeous too btw :)))
Thanks so much, Desi! Hope you enjoy!
Hello!
This looks fantastic! I am definitely going try love to try to cook this!
Can I use chuck, sirloin tip, or top-blade, cubed (Any other part of the beef) in order to make this recipe?
Thank you!
Hi Natalie. The only other cut of beef that I think would work well with this might be a chuck roast. You’d have to cut it into smaller pieces (2-3 inch cubes?), though, to get the same textural effect. Not sure how much you’d have to adjust the cooking time, either. If you try it out with a different cut, please let me know how it turns out!
Thank you! I’ll try it out!
I’ll let you know if it worked out 😉
Hi!
So I tried it out with Beef Chuck cut into large cubes.
Was in the oven for about 2.5 hours and it turned out great!
Thank you for the wonderful recipe! And thank you for replying back so fast!
Cheers!
Yay! So glad it worked for you!
Delicious! I made mine doubled with 4 pounds of lamb ribs, otherwise just as written, and it turned out beautifully. I think this would work really well in a slow cooker, too.
So glad to hear this! Makes my heart happy. Thanks for the comment! 🙂
Made this for Valentine’s Day with my new Dutch oven I received! Amazing and super easy! I added a little more brown sugar! It was perfect for the cold night. Thanks for sharing!
So glad to hear this! Thanks for the comment, Karen 🙂
Looks amazing. Can ginger and chilli be added to this recepie as well?
Absolutely! I think a little chili flake and ginger would work beautifully in the sauce.
Hello ~
Any suggestions on a good vegetable side dish to go along with this?
Thanks!
Hi Keri! I think any dark green veggie would be delicious with this. Sautéed greens or roasted broccoli or brussels sprouts would all work well with these flavors!
I’ve made this in the oven before and it was delicious. Could I partly cook then maybe do the last 2 hours in a slow cooker? Need to take it to a party and trying to figure out if that would work.