Crockpot Beef Short Ribs with Rich Gravy
A hearty and flavorful dish featuring tender beef short ribs simmered in a rich gravy, perfect for family dinners.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 tbsp oil For browning the short ribs
- 4 pieces meaty beef short ribs Well-marbled for best flavor
- 1 onion (peeled and chopped)
- 3 cloves garlic (peeled and minced)
- 240 ml red wine For flavor
- 640 ml beef stock (water + 3 beef stock cubes can be used)
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tbsp tomato puree Paste for US
- 1 tsp sugar
- 2 pieces bay leaves
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp pepper
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tbsp cornstarch/cornflour For thickening the gravy
- 5 tbsp cold water To mix with cornstarch
For Serving
- 2 cups Creamy mashed potatoes To serve with short ribs
- 2 cups Green vegetables Steamed, to accompany the meal
Instructions
Preparation
- Heat the oil on high in a large frying pan (or use the searing function of your slow cooker if it has one).
- Place the short ribs in the pan and brown them on all sides, which should take about 10 minutes.
- Add the chopped onion and cook for 2 more minutes, stirring often.
- Add the minced garlic and cook for about a minute, then pour in the red wine.
- Bring the wine to a bubble and let it simmer for 3-4 minutes.
- Add the remaining short rib ingredients to the pan, stir well, and bring to a simmer, then transfer everything to the crockpot.
Cooking
- Place the lid on the crockpot and cook on low for 6-8 hours.
Making the Gravy
- Ladle most of the cooking liquid from the slow cooker into a saucepan.
- Heat the sauce over high heat until it starts bubbling.
- Mix the cornstarch with cold water, then slowly pour this mixture into the cooking liquid while whisking, until the gravy thickens to a medium-thick consistency.
Serving
- Turn off the slow cooker and place one short rib on a pile of creamy mashed potatoes and pour some gravy on top. Repeat for the other short ribs and serve with steamed green vegetables.
Notes
For more flavor, marinate the beef short ribs in red wine for a few hours before cooking. You can add other vegetables like carrots or potatoes into the crockpot for a complete meal. If the gravy is too thin, just add a little more cornstarch mixed with water to thicken it. This recipe can be made a day in advance and reheated before serving.