Step 1

Cut vegetables and measure out your ingredients before you begin. Once you start cooking, there isn’t much downtime to prep other ingredients.

Step 2

If making in the oven, preheat your oven to 275°F and adjust your baking racks so your Dutch oven will fit.

Step 3

Generously salt and pepper short ribs on all sides.

Step 4

In a large Dutch oven, heat oil over medium-high heat. In batches, if necessary, deeply brown ribs on all sides. This may take 15 minutes or more.

Step 5

Transfer ribs to a plate and pour off all but about 2 tablespoons of the fat (it doesn’t need to be precise).

Step 6

Turn heat down to medium and return pan to heat. Add garlic halves, cut-side down, and cook until deeply golden but not burned (watch garlic closely!), 1 to 2 minutes.

Step 7

Add the onions, carrots, and celery, and stir. Cook, stirring occasionally for 5 minutes, until the very edges of the onions are starting to turn translucent.

Step 8

Add tomato paste and stir to coat the veggies. Cook for about 3 minutes, until the tomato paste begins to caramelize and stick to the bottom of the pot.

Step 9

Pour in red wine and bring to a simmer. Use a wooden spoon to scrape any remaining browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Simmer for 2 minutes.

Step 10

Add the beef broth and thyme, and stir.

Step 11

Return the ribs to the pot, bone-side up, and press them down so they are completely submerged. If any meat is sticking up out of the liquid (bone is fine), add just enough broth to cover.

Step 12

Bring the liquid to a simmer over medium-high heat.

Step 13

If making in the oven, cover pot and transfer it to the oven. If making on the stove, reduce heat so liquid is just barely at a simmer before covering the pot.

Step 14

Cook (in the oven or on stovetop) for 3½ to 4 hours, checking occasionally to make sure meat is completely submerged and braising liquid is just barely simmering. Short ribs are done when meat is very tender and can be easily pulled apart with a fork.

Step 15

If serving immediately, skim fat off the top and skip to step If making in advance, refrigerate overnight or until ready to serve.

Step 16

About 40 minutes before you are ready to eat, take ribs out of the refrigerator and use a large metal spoon to scrape solid fat off as best you can. Don’t worry if you can’t get every single bit.

Step 17

Heat over medium heat and bring to a simmer. If necessary, move meat around so all the meaty bits are submerged. Once at a simmer, cover and cook until meat is heated through, about 5 to 10 minutes.

Step 18

Set water on the stove to boil for egg noodles or begin prepping your mashed potatoes.

Step 19

Transfer meat to a plate and top with foil to keep warm. Remove and discard the majority of the vegetables with a slotted spoon. Strain the liquid through a fine-mesh strainer into a large bowl or measuring cup.

Step 20

Rinse out the pot and return the strained liquid to the pot. Simmer while your pasta/potatoes cook to reduce the liquid slightly.

Step 21

Return meat to the pot for the last minute or two of cooking time to reheat.

Step 22

Serve ribs over egg noodles or mashed potatoes and spoon sauce over the top. Enjoy!