Amazing Beef Short Ribs with Baby Bella Mushrooms Recipe

8 ounces Baby Bella (Crimini) mushrooms

3 pounds of meaty lean beef short ribs (see photo below) 

salt and freshly ground black pepper 

2 tbsp olive oil (not virgin) 

1 onion, sliced

4 cloves garlic, minced

2 cups beef broth

1 cup tomato sauce

1/2 tsp salt

pinch of cayenne

1 bay leaf

1 tsp dried thyme or rosemary 

1 cup Merlot 

Salt and pepper the ribs, then brown on all sides in a steel frying pan with 2 Tbsp veggie oil. Place the browned ribs in a Dutch oven.

Slice one medium onion, peel the garlic, and trim and quarter the mushrooms. Put the onion into the frying pan and cook for a few minutes. Then, toss in the garlic for 30 seconds before adding the mushrooms. Cook for about 2-3 minutes, stirring often, and then add the wine. 

Reduce the wine by 50 percent, then add the tomato sauce, beef broth, Thyme, and bay leaf. Pour the mixture over the ribs in the Dutch oven and cover.

Cook in a preheated 325-degree oven for 2 hours. Remove the pot from the oven and test the rib meat for doneness. If the bones have separated from the meat, then it's more than likely that the ribs are incredibly tender. If not, use a sharp knife to pierce one of the ribs. If the knife passes through with little to no resistance, they're done. If not, return the pot to the oven and cook a bit longer.

When finished cooking, transfer the ribs to a bowl or plate. Skim off grease accumulating on top of the gravy and check for flavor. Add salt, pepper or a bit more Thyme or Rosemary to suit your taste. 

If the gravy is too thin for your liking, mix a couple of tablespoons of cornstarch in about the same amount of cold water. Add the mixture a little at a time, stirring the gravy until it reaches the desired thickness. You can also add a few pieces of beurre manie (my choice). 

Note: The cornstarch and water mixture does not have to be tempered with the hot gravy, nor does the Beurre Manie.  

Serve over mashed potatoes or wide egg noodles. 

Enjoy! 

If you can find short ribs that look like these, you're in business. Accept nothing less.