Osso Buco Style Beef Short Ribs and Mashed Cauliflower
Succulent beef short ribs and tender vegetables gently braised in Marsala is worth every minute of oven time. Osso Buco Style Beef Short Ribs served over a low-carb side of Mashed Cauliflower is amazing guest-worthy comfort food.
Oh, and if you happen to have leftovers, you’ve got a delicious head start in making Beef and Vegetable Soup.
Want to make it look just like the photos? Check out this Roasted Asparagus Recipe for an additional side dish.
Restaurant magic at home.
We first tried beef short ribs, osso buco style, at one of our favorite restaurants, Paravicini’s Italian Bistro. It was one of the best Italian dinners we have had.
We asked how it was prepared because my husband suggested I try to make it at home (no pressure, right?!). Owner, Franco Pisani, shared that time was the secret—it must be cooked low and slow 4-6 hours, he said.
Unfortunately, the exact recipe was not forthcoming and most osso buco recipes suggest only 2 to 2 1/2 hours, so I had to wing-it.
The classic recipe is made with veal shank, but I took a more economical approach with a mix of bone-in and boneless beef short ribs to recreate the magic we experienced at the restaurant.
As it turned out, Mr. Pisani was right—low and slow delivers braised beef perfection, so don’t get in a hurry.
Do you love hearing Italian? Listen how to pronounce osso buco here.
Osso Buco Style Beef Short Ribs
Ingredients
- 8 pieces beef short ribs bone-in and boneless mix
- 3 tablespoons flour use sweet rice flour for gluten-free
- Salt & freshly ground pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil plus more, as needed
- 1 large onion diced
- 3 ribs celery diced
- 3 large carrots cut into 1/2" discs
- 1 pound crimini mushrooms thick sliced
- 1 medium red pepper chopped
- 6 cloves garlic minced
- 2 whole bay leaves
- 3 tablespoons fresh Italian parsley finely chopped
- 6 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
- 1 cup dry Marsala wine
- 2 cups organic beef stock (homemade is ideal)
- 14 ounces San Marzano style tomatoes crushed with juices
- 1/2 cup Israeli couscous (optional) -- uncooked -- for gluten-free use Streit's GF Israeli Couscous
Instructions
- Position oven rack low in the oven, heat oven to 325°(see Instant-Pot instructions in NOTES). Trim beef ribs of excess outer fat, careful to leave meat attached to the bone. Dry meat with paper towels; sprinkle with salt and pepper, and dust lightly with flour on all sides.
- In a large Dutch oven or oven safe pot with a secure lid, heat the oil over med heat. Sear the ribs on all sides, adding more olive oil as needed. Reserve browned ribs on a platter.
- Add onion, celery, carrots, mushrooms, red pepper, and garlic to the pot and cook until softened. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in the bay leaves, thyme, and parsley. Raise the heat and add the wine to deglaze the pan.
- Return the ribs to the pot and add the stock, and tomatoes. Stir to incorporate and make sure the meat is mostly covered. Bring it to a simmer, and drizzle with a little olive oil. Secure a lid on the pot and place in the preheated oven; cook for 4-41/2 hours.
- Optional: Once ribs are fall-apart tender, remove from the oven and turn oven off. If desired, carefully skim any pools of fat on the top with a spoon and discard.
- Taste and add more salt and pepper, as needed. Stir-in couscous, replace lid and return to the oven (still off), for 10-15 minutes.
- Serve over Mashed Cauliflower (as shown) with a side of skillet-seared asparagus.
Notes
Instant Pot Instructions:
STEP 1—Trim beef ribs of excess outer fat, careful to leave meat attached to the bone. Dry meat with paper towels; sprinkle with salt and pepper, and dust lightly with flour on all sides. STEP 2—Set Instant Pot to saute (high) and heat the oil to brown the ribs on all sides, adding more olive oil as needed. Work in batches to not overcrowd the pot so the meat will brown and not steam. Reserve browned ribs on a platter. STEP 3—Add onion, celery, carrots, mushrooms, red pepper, and garlic to the pot and saute until softened. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in the bay leaves, thyme, and parsley. Add 1/2 cup of wine to deglaze the pan. NOTE: Less liquid is needed when pressure cooking, so the amount of wine and stock is reduced by half from what is indicated in the original recipe card. STEP 4—Return the ribs to the pot and add 1 cup beef stock, and tomatoes. Stir to incorporate and make sure the meat is mostly covered. Set Instant Pot to High Pressure for 45 minutes. (It will take 15-20 minutes for it to come to pressure.) STEP 5—Allow the pot to naturally (slowly) release pressure for 10 minutes, then turn the steam release handle on the top of the lid from the “sealed” position to the “venting” position to complete the release. STEP 6—Remove the lid and stir in the Israeli couscous. Return the lid to seal in the steam (do not turn the pot on again) and let the pot sit for 10 minutes to allow the couscous to absorb the liquid and cook. When the couscous is softened, taste the stew and add salt or pepper, as needed before serving.Equipment
Nutrition
Mashed Cauliflower
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- 1 head cauliflower -- (about 2 pounds) chopped into small 1/4-inch slices
- 1 clove garlic -- sliced thin
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese -- grated
- 2 ounces cream cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons warmed milk -- if needed , to thin
- Butter -- for garnish
Instructions
- Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat, add cauliflower and cook, stirring occassionally for 10-12 minutes. Add the garlic, cover the pan and continue to cook 2-3 more minutes, or until cauliflower is completely tender.
- Transfer the cauliflower to a food processor and blend until smooth. Scrape down the sides and add the Parmesan, cream cheese, salt, and black pepper. Continue to blend until smooth, adding the warm milk to thin, if needed. Transfer to a serving bowl, garnish with butter and serve.
Nutrition
Just in case you have a few morsels left over, follow-up with a pot of Roast Beef & Vegetable Soup!
More beef and side dish recipes we think you’ll like:
Beef Pot Roast
Beef Stroganoff with Jovial Gluten-Free Egg Pasta
Scampi-Style Steak & Scallops with Roasted Asparagus: Romantic Dinner Recipe for Two
Beef Curry: Massaman Style
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Roasted Garlic Aioli
Roasted Asparagus with Caramelized Onions & Blue Cheese
Vegetable Tian: Classic Gratin Comfort
Tuscan Roasted Broccoli
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