Oh the Weather Outside is Frightful!
The weather outside may be frightful but this time of year is perfect for comfort foods and they are oh so delightful! While we love a good roast for it’s versatility when comfort is king, the humble short rib is another excellent cut to call on if you are seeking slow-roasted comfort.
Short ribs can be taken from the brisket, chuck, plate or rib areas of the cow and contain a short portion of rib bone surrounded by a layer of fat and meat. This cut is tough without low and slow braising but is full of flavor thanks to that healthy fat layer. If your short ribs are particularly fatty or you just aren’t a fan, you can trim some off but I encourage you to leave a healthy dose of fat to render out during a nice, long braise so you can experience all that flavor this cut has to offer. Don’t worry, by the time they are done braising any remaining fat should be easy to pull away from the meat.
Today, I’m taking roughly 3.5 lbs of short ribs a braising them low and slow in the oven in a tomato ragu and using that to top some simple stuffed shells.
You can find the recipe for the short rib ragu over on the Well Seasoned Studio blog www.wellseasonedstudio.com/short-rib-ragu/
While I used this recipe as my base, I did take a few liberties with it, adding more garlic than was called for and playing with some seasonings. Don’t be afraid to take a recipe and make it your own. If your family hates garlic, leave it out or if your family likes a bit of spice, add some crushed red pepper. While you can’t easily modify baking recipes, cooking is much more forgiving so go with your gut!
I head over to Jessica’s blog, How Sweet Eats, for the stuffed shells recipe www.howsweeteats.com/2022/12/short-rib-stuffed-shells
I chose not to use Jessica’s recipe for the short rib preparation solely because I hadn’t quite planned well enough ahead that I could braise them for 8 hours in a slow cooker but this is a great way to get a really nice slow braise with very little effort on your part. You can get it going right before bed and wake up to the delicious smell of braised short ribs or, even better, throw it in before you head out the door for work and come home to a dinner that’s quite nearly done!
Short ribs are a great, economical cut for a warm and comforting meal the whole family will enjoy. While I chose to go the pasta route, there are countless recipes out there so find your comfort zone and get braising!
