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Short Rib Ragu

Short Rib Ragu

Short Rib Ragu is a restaurant-quality homemade dish with fall-off-the-bone braised beef simmered in a rich tomato sauce, perfect with pasta.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 45 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American, Italian
Servings 6 servings
Calories 634 kcal

Equipment

  • Dutch oven
  • tongs

Ingredients
  

  • 2.5 lbs bone-in beef short ribs
  • salt and pepper
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 small onion, finely diced
  • 1 large carrot, finely diced
  • 1 rib celery, finely diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 0.5 cup dry red wine (chianti, cabernet sauvignon, merlot)
  • 1.75 cups low-sodium beef broth
  • 2 teaspoons beef bouillon paste
  • 28 oz canned peeled whole tomatoes (San Marzano recommended)
  • 2 Tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 parmesan cheese rind (optional)
  • 0.5 teaspoon kosher salt or more, to taste
  • 0.5 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 3 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 0.5 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 0.5 teaspoon dried basil leaves
  • 2 bay leaves
  • pinch crushed red pepper flakes optional
  • 1 lb pappardelle or tagliatelle pasta

Instructions
 

  • Season short ribs all over with salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a Dutch oven over medium high heat. Sear the short ribs, rotating every minute or so, until browned and seared on all sides. Remove from pot and set aside.
  • Reduce heat to medium. Add onion, carrots, celery, and garlic and sauté for 3-5 minutes. Add red wine to deglaze the pan and cook for 3 minutes, scraping up browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
  • Add beef broth, bouillon, tomatoes (crush them with your hands or a potato masher), tomato paste, cheese rind, salt, pepper, oregano, basil, bay leaves, and crushed red pepper. Nestle short ribs on top and top with fresh thyme sprigs.
  • Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover pot and simmer for 2 hours.
  • Remove bay leaves, thyme sticks, and cheese rind. Remove short ribs and shred meat (discard bones).
  • Return meat to the pot and continue to simmer for 30 minutes, to reduce some of the sauce.
  • Cook pasta according to package instructions in salted water. Once pasta is almost al dente, use tongs to remove it from the hot pasta water and add it to the ragu sauce. Toss to combine and cook for 5 more minutes.
  • Spoon ragu and noodles into shallow bowls and garnish with fresh shredded parmesan cheese, or top each bowl with a pinch of fresh burrata, a sprinkle of flake sea salt, and fresh chopped basil.

Notes

Short ribs could also use boneless short ribs or beef chuck roast. Other noodle options include fusilli, cavatappi, cooked polenta, zoodles, or spaghetti squash. Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Freezing instructions available.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 634kcalCarbohydrates: 64gProtein: 40gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0.05gCholesterol: 145mgSodium: 829mgPotassium: 1197mgFiber: 5gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 2321IUVitamin C: 17mgCalcium: 99mgIron: 6mg
Keyword braised beef, Comfort Food, homemade ragu, pasta, restaurant-quality, Short Rib Ragu
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