You never know when inspiration will hit…
Take this dish, for example…it results from not one, but two sources of inspiration. The first, my blogger friend, Andrea, from Cooking with Mamma C. Did you happen to see her delicious slow cooker recipe for Carolina Pulled Pork? Oh my!! You must check it out!
And my second inspiration? Fabio. No, not Fabio, the romance novel cover model; Fabio, the Top Chef [chef] who might also be a cover model, but I’m not sure. He has a recipe for Dark Beer and Black Pepper Braised Short Ribs that I couldn’t resist once I stumbled upon it. With a few tweaks and the addition of mashed red-skinned potatoes, Valentine’s Day came ten days early.
It’s romantic, don’t you think? Red-skinned potatoes? Get it? Red. For Hearts. Okay. I’ll stop.
Dom and I are sort of crazy for short ribs, any way you slice ’em. But short ribs, in a slow cooker, with garlic and onion, cracked pepper and beer? I’m not sure it gets any better.
And then red-skinned potatoes? Mashed with a bit of warmed milk and melted butter?
Comfort? Yes.
Cozy? Yes.
See…
Romantic.
I learned a few tricks from Fabio that are definitely worth mentioning. For example, reducing the beef broth before adding it to the slow cooker helps to concentrate the flavors. Of course it does. Why didn’t I think of that? And dark beer and cracked black pepper help to bring out the caramels and deep flavors in the short ribs.
All these years I’d been fooled into thinking I was eating the most flavorful short ribs out there… Who knew?
I love this meal.
This will forever be the meal that brought Cupid to our house ten days early. But because Cupid knew it was ten days early, he let us eat in the family room while watching American Idol.
Buon Appetito!
Print
Slow Cooker Dark Beer Braised Short Ribs with Mashed Red-Skinned Potatoes
- Category: Dinner
Ingredients
- 1 quart beef stock
- 2 tsp. kosher salt
- 1 Tbsp. ground black pepper
- 1.5 lbs. boneless beef short ribs
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 Tbsp. olive oil
- 2 onions, sliced
- 5 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed
- 6 fl. oz. stout beer
- 2 lbs. red potatoes, cut in quarters
- 1 cup 1% low-fat milk
- 1/2 stick unsalted butter
- 2 tsp. kosher salt
- Cracked black pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a shallow sauce pan reduce the beef stock to one cup and set aside.
- Season the short ribs with salt and pepper, then dredge in flour until well coated.
- Heat the olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat.
- Cook the dredged ribs until browned on each side, about 5 minutes per side.
- When completely browned, remove the ribs from the skillet and set aside. Reserve pan drippings for later.
- To the slow cooker add the onion as the first layer, then the ribs and the reserved drippings.
- Cover the meat with garlic, salt and pepper.
- Add the stout beer and reduced beef stock.
- Place the lid on slow cooker and set to high.
- Cook for approximately 6 hours or until tender.
- In the meantime, as you’re coming upon your 6th hour, prepare the mashed potatoes.
- In a large saucepan place potatoes and enough cold water to generously cover them.
- Simmer until potatoes are tender, about 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, heat milk and butter in a small saucepan over medium heat until butter is melted.
- Drain potatoes completely in a colander and return to pan.
- Mash with a potato masher, and while hot, stir in the milk mixture.
- Season with salt to taste.
- Serve on a platter with short ribs on top.
- Spoon some of the sauce from the slow cooker atop the meat.
- Season with cracked black pepper to taste.
- Enjoy!
Ciao!
yes yes yes yes yes!!! OMG, aren’t short ribs the BEST??! I made some Mexican style ones the other day, coming up soon on my blog!! 🙂 I don’t have many recipes though so I must try this one! Beer braising is awesome 🙂
Ooooh- I’ll be watching for your short ribs…can’t wait!! 🙂
This looks amazing! A slow cooker is something I see I’m just going to have to get. Love this!
Ahhh….do yourself the favor, my friend…you’ll never look back! Thanks, Tammy!
Hello, Annie! Every time I’ve cooked with beer the result has been outstanding.
I bet this meat ends up melt-in-the-mouth delicious … and yes, those red-skinned potatoes can be romantic. Why not?
It absolutely does end up melt-in-your-mouth delicious! Yes! I knew someone else had to agree with me on those potatoes! Thanks, Helen!
I’ve never tried short ribs before, but you just convinced me that I need to! And I just read the title of your post to my husband, and I think I’ll have to make it now! Totally up his alley – dark beer and ribs, doesn’t get better in his books! 🙂
Oh yes! There’s something about beer and beef that makes hubbies very happy! But short ribs are one of my favorites, too! Enjoy!!
Love any kind of braised meat! This look so tender and delicious! Love the mash to serve alongside!
I am with you! I love it, too! Thanks, Jess! Happy Saturday!
That meal rocks!
Thanks, Trish!! 🙂
Just perfect, Annie! Short ribs in the crock pot are SO happening this winter. I’m a total sucker for mashed potatoes, and these red-skinned ones are no exception. This is my kind of meal!
Thank you so much, Alyssa! Enjoy, my friend!
Haha I love that you got to enjoy this special meal 10 days early while watching American Idol! Too funny my dear! And these ribs are nothing short of amazing! I am seriously drooling over my keyboard! I can’t think of anything better than slow cooked short ribs braised with stout beer! That sounds incredible and the red skinned mashed potatoes sound like the perfect combo!
Hahha! I know…it still feels like we’re getting away with something when we eat in front of the TV! Thank you so much, Kelly! Short ribs and a slow cooker = a match made in heaven!
So excited. I never made short ribs before but always love finding it in a restaurant. And slow cooker recipes are so attractive to me these days. Will be looking forward to trying this one. Cheers!
Oh yes….slow cooker meals are the way to go! Buon Appetito, Robin!
Annie, this meal looks so comforting! My slow cooker make my life so much easier and I always trilled to find new and delicious ways to use it. Pinned!!!
Thank you, Oriana! Isn’t that the truth! Makes life so much easier! Thanks for the pin!
This meal looks extremely delicious Annie! Glad your husband and you got to enjoy it a few days earlier than Valentine’s Day! Pinned of course!
Thanks, Mira! And thanks for the pin! 🙂
Annie, this is what my husband loves most about me being a food blogger. . that he gets to eat “special holiday meals” early!! haha! love that you ate this gorgeous meal in the family room while watching American Idol! that is seriously my kinda night! 🙂 and this is right up my husband’s alley. . he loves meat and potatoes!!! love this! gorgeous and the perfect dinner for two!!!
Hahaha! Very true! Food blogging brings us double the fun!! So glad you guys would like this!! Thanks, dear!
I’m glad it’s not Fabio the cover model. That would be way weird.
This looks SO. GOOD. I’m always jonesing for meals like this in the depths of winter!
Hahaha! Yeah, that would be way weird! Thanks, Mir!
This dish looks fantastic, Annie! I’ve never made short ribs in my slow cooker before, so I definitely need to start! Looks like the perfect Sunday meal to me!
They literally melt before hitting the plate! A perfect Sunday meal, for sure! Thanks, Gayle!
I just want to jump through the screen and eat this meal right now Annie! Serious comfort food here. My mom is the braised short ribs queen so I’m going to have to share this with her. Loving those mashed red skinned potatoes. Just in love with the presentation and everything. You have won my heart with this one! haha.
Serious comfort food! Ooooh- hope your mom loves it! Let me know! Thanks, Laura!!
Annie, this looks and sounds fabulous! What time should I be over? 🙂 You’ve taken a slow cooker meal to a gourmet level. I’d serve this to company in a heart beat. Thank you!
How soon can you be here? Thanks, Andrea! 🙂