French Onion Short Ribs. (2024)

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French Onion Short Ribs. Best for when you’re craving steaming hot french onion soup but want something a little heartier too. Easy homemade french onion soup made with tender, fall-apart short ribs and a small touch of soy for a salty, delicious twist. This is a wonderful family dinner to make any night of the week, especially during these cold winter months. So warming, cozy, and delicious. Especially with all that cheesy bread on top. Yummmy.

I don’t know if you feel like you need this recipe this week, just days before the holidays, but I felt like you NEED this recipe. It’s the perfect cozy bowl for these bitter-cold December nights. And personally, I love it because it’s easy, serves my family, and is wildly delicious.

This is by no means a traditional french onion soup. And the short ribs are not cooked the usual way most of us cook short ribs. There’s also some unexpected flavors, but I promise you, it’s so warming and so delish.

Do any of you remember these French Onion Dumplings I made last November? I adore that recipe and have made it many times since first sharing it. It’s the perfect marriage of rich flavors. It’s the oniony soy broth that I love so much about the recipe.

I know it sounds odd, but the salt in the soy really pairs so wonderfully with a rich onion broth.

When I was in New York, I was describing the recipe to one of the producers at Kelly and Ryan. He had asked why I didn’t include any cheesy toast with the dumplings. And I too wondered, well, “why didn’t I”?

And that’s when I came up with this. It’s nothing crazy new. I’m sure someone has put short ribs in french onion soup before, but I did so in a very special way.

Here are details

Like a lot of recipes I’m sharing right now, you can use the stove or crockpot. I love both options but stuck with the stove this time.

The key to this is to caramelize the onions with a touch of wine just like I do in myfrench onion soup. They add so much flavor and make the broth feel rich and indulgent. When the onions have caramelized, add the broth, a splash of tamari (or you can use soy sauce), and then a bay leaf and star anise. The soy sauce, bay leaf, and star anise really create a flavorful broth that sounds different, but works really well with the rich onion broth and braised short ribs.

Please trust me, the tamari/soy is the secret.

Add the short ribs right to the broth, then transfer the pot to the oven to let the ribs cook. Keep the top on so the broth does not evaporate over time.

After 2-3 hours the ribs should easily fall off the bone.

You need to remove and discard the bones, then shred the meat. It should easily shred right into the broth mess-free.

Ingredients

▢ 6 tablespoons salted butter
▢ 4 medium yellow onions, thinly sliced thinly sliced
▢ 1/2 cup dry white wine, such as Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc
▢ black pepper
▢ 2 shallots, sliced
▢ 4 cloves garlic, chopped
▢ 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
▢ 2 tablespoons chopped fresh sage
▢ chili flakes
▢ 6-8 cups low sodium chicken broth
▢ 1/2 cup tamari or soy sauce (low sodium is best)
▢ 4 pounds bone-in beef short ribs
▢ 2 bay leaves
▢ 1 star anise (optional)
▢ 2 cups baby carrots
▢ 6 slices french bread
▢ 2 cups shredded Gruyère cheese

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

Stove/Oven

1. Preheat the oven to 325° F.
2. In a large oven-safe Dutch Oven over high heat, melt together the butter and onions. Cook 5 minutes, until softened. Add the wine, season with pepper, and continue cooking another 5-8 minutes, until the wine has evaporated and the onions are lightly golden. Add the shallots, garlic, thyme, sage, and chili flakes. Then add the short ribs. Pour over 6 cups of broth. Add the tamari, bay leaf, and star anise (if using). Cover and roast in the oven for 2 1/2 to 3 hours or until the short ribs are tender and falling off the bone. Add the carrots during the last 1-2 hours of cooking.
3. Remove the bay leaves and star anise. Discard any bones and extra fatty pieces. Lightly shred the meat. Taste and season with salt, if needed. Place over LOW heat on the stove.
4. Switch the oven to 425°. Arrange the bread on a baking sheet and toast for 10 minutes, until very dry. Switch the oven to broil. Top the toast with cheese, then broil until bubbly, 2 to 3 minutes.
5. Ladle the soup into bowls. Top with cheesy toast, black pepper, and fresh thyme. Eat!

Crockpot

1. In a large Dutch Oven over high heat, melt together the butter and onions. Cook 5 minutes, until softened. Add the wine, season with pepper, and continue cooking another 5-8 minutes, until the wine has evaporated and the onions are lightly golden. Add the shallots, garlic, thyme, sage, and chili flakes. Then transfer everything to the bowl of the crockpot.
2. To the crockpot, add the short ribs. Pour over 6 cups of broth. Add the tamari, bay leaf, and star anise (if using). Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours or on high for 5-6 hours. Add the carrots during the last 1-2 hours of cooking.
3. Remove the bay leaves and star anise. Discard any bones and extra fatty pieces. Lightly shred the meat. Keep on warm.
4. Switch the oven to 425°. Arrange the bread on a baking sheet and toast for 10 minutes, until very dry. Switch the oven to broil. Top the toast with cheese, then broil until bubbly, 2 to 3 minutes.
5. Ladle the soup into bowls. Top with cheesy toast, black pepper, and fresh thyme. Eat!

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