Short Rib Ragu Pasta

Love is in the air! And I can passionately argue for food to be made the sixth love language. So many aspects of life revolve around food: birthday cakes, Christmas cookies, a first date at a nice restaurant. Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to express your love with delicious and elegant food. What’s more elegant than a flavorful ragu? This will be the perfect dinner for someone special!

This is the type of meal that takes a couple hours, but you can taste the love in every single bite. The type of meal that folks don’t make very often, which makes it a Valentine’s Day specialty.

Short Rib Ragu is packed with flavor on every single level; the seared short ribs create the savory base, red wine, lots of garlic and herbs, pull together to set off fireworks in your mouth! Enjoy atop fresh pasta with a decent amount of Parm and you have yourself a fabulous dinner!

I made this on a cold and snowy Sunday. I began it earlier in the day, allowing it to simmer all afternoon. Let me tell you, the smell floating throughout the house was absolutely incredible! It gave us all the comfort food vibes.

Additionally, this dish makes more than enough for two people. We packaged up a couple freezer safe containers of the Ragu and froze it. Then, we were easily able to reheat it on a weeknight for a quick yet flavorful meal.

Ina Garter swears by her Engagement Roast Chicken, and while I cannot deny how magnificent that dish is, this Short Rib Ragu might just score you a Valentine!

Short Rib Ragu

Another Sunday dinner favorite around here: slow cooked, braised short rib ragu. John’s toes curl each time I make this fabulous dish. While it takes awhile to make, if you practice mis en place and get everything prepped – it’s super easy to do!

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Prep Time 25 minutes mins

Cook Time 2 hours hrs

Total Time 2 hours hrs 25 minutes mins

Ingredients

  

• 2 lbs short ribs cut into even pieces
• 1 tbsp salt and pepper
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 onion diced yellow or white
• 1/2 cup carrot finely diced
• 3 cloves garlic minced
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 cup red wine
• 1 large can crushed tomatoes 28 oz
• 1 cup beef stock
• 1 tbsp dijon
• 1/2 tsp oregano thyme, basil
• 2 bay leaves
• 1/2 cup water as needed
• fresh pasta try pappardelle
• freshly grated parm
• fresh basil or parsley chopped for garnish

Instructions

 

• Sit short ribs out for about 15 minutes before you’re ready to cook. Season liberally with salt and pepper.
• Heat olive oil in large cast iron pot or dutch oven on high. Sear short ribs on each side to get a nice crust. Remove from pan. Cook in batches if needed to get a really good crust on each side.
• Drain most of the fat, keeping a bit on the bottom. Add onion and carrot. Cook over medium high until softened.
• Add garlic and sauté an additional 30 seconds or so until fragrant.
• Add tomato paste and sauté until thick and begins to brown – 2 minutes or so.
• Deglaze with wine, scraping up all the goodies at the bottom of the pan. Simmer to reduce, about 10 minutes.
• Add remaining ingredients: tomatoes, stock, mustard, and herbs. Stir well.
• Add meat back in, ensuring they are completely covered in sauce. Simmer on high heat for about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 80-90 minutes until meat falls apart easily.
• Remove meat once cooked and shred on cutting board. Clean up sauce by removing any bones that were in short ribs, as well as herb stems and bay leaves. Add shredded meat back to pot and continue simmering sauce about 20 minutes.
• Serve with fresh pasta, a heaping scoop of gravy, and garnish with cheese and parsley or basil.