Slow Cooked Cider and Herb Braised Beef Ribs

Tender and delicious short ribs are slow cooked in apple cider and beef broth, with herbs, carrots, and chopped onion.  Not only was the aroma inticing but this meal was a sure winner tonight.

Once they had cooked I transfered them to a casserole dish (carefully as they were falling apart) and thickened the sauce a little but that was my choice.  You do not have to do the final steps and the flavour would still be the same.

Served with pasta and crusty bread it was a definite midweek hunger buster.

 Slow Cooked Cider and Herb Braised Beef Ribs

(recipe adapted from Southern Food.com)

Serves: 8

ProPoints per serve: 10

1/2 cup flour

2 teaspoons paprika

salt

pepper

2 kgs beef ribs

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 large onions, cut into wedges

4 medium carrots, peeled and cut into large chunks

2 cups apple cider

2 cups beef stock

2 large sprigs of fresh rosemary still on stalks, roughly cut

1 tablespoon dried thyme

1 tablespoon dried parsley 

2 clove garlic, minced
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons arrowroot 

Mix flour, paprika, salt and pepper in a large bag.  Add ribs and ensuring bag is closed, shake to cover with seasoned flour.

Heat oil in a large frying pan and cook ribs in batches until ribs are browned on all sides.  Once cooked place in slow cooker dish and repeat with remaining ribs.

Place onions and carrots on top of ribs.  Add cider, beef stock, herbs and the garlic. Cook on low heat for 6 - 8 hours or until beef is tender.

Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius.

Remove ribs and vegetables carefully from slow cooker and place in large casserole dish.

Strain remaining juice into a large saucepan.  Disregard herbs.  Heat sauce over medium heat.

Combine water and arrowroot in a small jug.  Add to saucepan, stirring constantly, until sauce thickens.  Pour over ribs and place in oven for 20 minutes or until ribs are warmed through.

(click here for printable version of this recipe)