Slow Cooker Beef Short Ribs with Rich Gravy by Nickys Kitchen Sanctuary

Ingredients

• 2.5 lbs (1.1 kg) bone-in beef short ribs
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 large yellow onion, chopped
• 2 carrots, chopped
• 2 celery stalks, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup dry red wine (such as cabernet sauvignon or merlot)
• 3 cup beef broth
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tbsp worcestershire sauce
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp all-purpose flour (for gravy)

Instructions

1. Pat the beef short ribs dry with paper towels and season generously with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
2. Sear the short ribs on all sides until deeply browned, about 3-4 minutes per side. Remove the ribs from the skillet and set aside.
3. Add chopped onion, carrots, and celery to the skillet. Sauté for 5-7 minutes until softened, then add minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
4. Pour in the red wine, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Bring to a simmer and cook for 2-3 minutes until slightly reduced.
5. Stir in the beef broth, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, bay leaves, and dried thyme. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer
6. Transfer the seared short ribs and the liquid mixture to a slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours, or on high for 4-5 hours, until the ribs are fall-apart tender.
7. Carefully remove the short ribs from the slow cooker and transfer them to a platter, tent with foil to keep warm. Discard the bay leaves.
8. For the gravy: Skim any excess fat from the cooking liquid. In a small bowl, whisk together 2 tablespoons of the cooking liquid with 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour to create a slurry. Gradually whisk the slurry into the hot liquid in the slow cooker
9. Cook the gravy on high for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it thickens to your desired consistency. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
10. Serve the tender beef short ribs immediately, topped with the rich red wine gravy.