Italian Short Ribs

4.91 from 11 votes

This Italian Short Ribs recipe is made with beef that is braised with red wine in a Dutch oven and topped with a lemon rosemary gremolata.

Prep Time15

Cook Time3

Total Time3 15

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Italian

Diet: Gluten Free, Low Lactose

Keyword: boneless short ribs, red wine short ribs, braised short ribs, Dutch oven short ribs

Servings:

Calories: 471kcal

Author: Christine Rooney

Equipment

Cast Iron Dutch Oven

Ingredients

For The Short Ribs:

2 ½ lbs. boneless beef short ribs
4 cloves garlic
1 onion any color
4-5 large carrots
2 Tbsp. olive oil split
2 Tbsp. gluten free flour blend or AP flour if not gluten free
2 Tbsp. tomato paste
1 cup red wine
2 cups low sodium beef broth
½ tsp. kosher salt split
½ tsp. pepper split
4-6 sprigs fresh thyme or sub ½ tsp. dried thyme
1 sprig fresh rosemary or sub ½ tsp. dried rosemary

For The Gremolata:

4-5 sprigs fresh rosemary
1 clove garlic
2 lemons zest only

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

For The Short Ribs:

Heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Mince 4 cloves garlic and 1 onion (any color).
Wash and peel (if desired) 4-5 large carrots. Cut the carrots into slices.
Lay 2 ½ lbs. of boneless beef short ribs out onto a plate or platter. Sprinkle the first side with a generous pinch of kosher salt and pepper.
Heat a cast iron Dutch oven to medium-high on the stove top. Add 1 Tbsp. olive oil to the pot. Once heated, add half of the short ribs to the pan, seasoned-side down (they should sizzle as they hit the pan). Sear the first side for 3-4 minutes. Add a generous sprinkling of kosher salt and pepper to the second side.
After the first side is browned, flip the short ribs over and sear for another 3-4 minutes on the second side. Flip and sear for 2 minutes on the third side and then flip again and sear for another 2 minutes on the fourth side.
Remove the seared short ribs and set aside.
Add 1 Tbsp. olive oil to the pan and repeat the process with the second half of the short ribs. Set aside for a few minutes.
Add the minced garlic and onions and sauté on medium-high heat for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the sliced carrots, along with ¼ tsp. each kosher salt and pepper. Sauté for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Sprinkle 2 Tbsp. gluten free flour blend (or AP flour if not gluten free) over the vegetables and stir until incorporated. Add 2 Tbsp. tomato paste to the vegetables and stir until incorporated.
Add 1 cup of red wine to the Dutch oven and stir until incorporated. Sauté for 4-5 minutes, or until the wine has reduced and thickened and the raw alcohol smell has dissipated (the mixture will be thick).
Add 2 cups low sodium beef broth to the Dutch oven and stir until incorporated.
Return the seared meat to the pot and submerge it in the liquid, along with 4-6 sprigs of fresh thyme and 1 sprig fresh rosemary (or dried herbs if using).
Cover and place the Dutch oven in the oven for 1 ½ hours.
After 1 ½ hours, remove the cover and cook for another 45-60 minutes. Cooking times will vary slightly. The short ribs are done when they can be easily cut into with a knife or fork and the sauce has thickened a bit.
If the short ribs are still tough, return the pot to the oven and cook for another 15 minutes. Repeat until the meat is tender.
Remove the rosemary and thyme sprigs from the Dutch oven and discard.

For The Gremolata:

Finely mince 4-5 sprigs of fresh rosemary (discard the stems). Place the minced rosemary into a small bowl.
Grate 1 clove of garlic into the bowl, using a Microplane zester. Using the Microplane zester, zest 2 lemons into the bowl.
Stir all of these ingredients until combined.
To Serve: Serve the cooked short ribs along with carrots on sauce with polenta, potatoes, or some kind of starchy side dish. Top with a spoonful of rosemary gremolata.

Notes

It's important to use a pan that is oven-safe when making short ribs. The pan should not have any kind of plastic handles or be made with any substances that will melt in the oven.

I recommend a dry red wine like Pinot Noir, Cabernet, Merlot, or Shiraz. Do not use a sweeter red wine like port or any dessert wines.

You can substitute the rosemary for any fresh herb you like when making the gremolata. Parsley, basil, or tarragon are all great options.

If sauce dries out when cooking, add a bit more beef broth until it reaches desired consistency.

Nutrition