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+ servings

Beef Short Rib Ragu

If you're looking for a rich, hearty dish to impress your guests, this Beef Short Rib Ragu recipe is the perfect choice. Featuring tender, fall-off-the-bone beef, slow-cooked in a flavourful tomato-based sauce. Whether served over pasta or polenta, this recipe will quickly become a family favourite.
Servings: 6 serves
Author: Andrea Love

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 kg beef short ribs
  • 1 brown onion finely diced
  • 1 medium carrot finely diced
  • 2 stalks celery finely diced
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 6 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 3 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 200 mL port
  • 800 g crushed tomatoes
  • 400 mL beef stock
  • 1 parmesan rind
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 450 g pappardelle pasta
  • Freshly grated parmigiano reggiano to serve

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 140ºC (fan-forced). Heat olive oil in a large, heavy set cast-iron pot over a medium to high heat.
  • Place short ribs into the pot in a single layer and cook until one side is golden brown. Flip the ribs over and cook on the other side. Once browned, remove from the oil and set aside.
  • Add onion, carrot and celery and sauté until soft and translucent. Add garlic, thyme, bay leaves and oregano. Sauté for a further two minutes.
  • Add tomato paste and stir through vegetables. Cook until tomato paste deepens in colour - approximately two minutes.
  • Pour in the port and scrape any stuck on bits at the bottom of your pot.
  • Add the crushed tomatoes, beef stock, parmesan rind and salt and pepper. Stir well before adding back in the beef short ribs. Push them down until they are covered in the sauce.
  • Place the lid on your pot and place it in the oven for 3-3 ½ hours until the meat is falling off the bones.
  • Once cooked, remove pot from oven and discard the bones of the short ribs, as well as bay leaves. Using a ladle, scoop away excess fat sitting on top of the sauce.
  • Take out beef and shred with a fork. Place back into the sauce and stir through.
  • Cook pasta according to packet instructions. Drain and place into a bowl. Scoop in a ladleful of ragu on to the pasta and toss to coat well. Serve pasta on to a plate with another half ladle of ragu on top. Cover generously with grated parmigiano reggiano. Serve immediately.

Notes

Substitute port with a good quality dry red wine if you prefer.