Braised Sticky Bourbon & Plum Short Ribs

Short ribs are my absolute favourite mid-week meal.
They’re great because you can prep them, pop them in the slow cooker, and then forget about them until they’re ready to grill!

This is quite a simple recipe, all it takes is time. Throw the ingredients together and into the slow cooker before work and come home to a house smellin’ like heaven.
All it takes:

• Season meat
• Brown ribs in a pan on all 6 sides
• Slow cook until meat is sliding off the bone
• Blend sauce ingredient together
• Baste ribs with sauce
• Grill ribs under oven’s grill for 5 mins
• Enjoy!

You’ll need

Ingredients

Equipment

• Frypan
• Slow cooker
• Blender/food processor

What to serve short ribs with

Some of my suggestions:

• Macaroni and cheese
• Potato salad
• Colelaw
• Green beans
• A simply, leafy salad

Short ribs can either come pre-cut or still intact in a rack of ribs (did you know: short ribs aren’t actually ribs *gasp*).
I usually purchase them as a rack and cut them myself, slicing between the ribs. Dividing the ribs before cooking makes the whole process a lot easier, ensuring a uniform cooking time.

,

What kind of plums should I use for this recipe?

There are many types of plums and each type has a slightly different flavour.
I prefer to use red plums for this specific recipe as they have a hint of sour, whereas a black plum is mostly sweet in flavour. I find that the sweet but sour flavour of red plums is a nice contrast to the spices and bourbon which will accompany the plums in the sauce.
Feel free to experiment with your favourite plum variety or what is in season and readily available to you at the time. A plum is a plum at the end of the day!

Bourbon substitute?

Bourbon is a great aide for cooking meat and a great tool to add great depth and flavour to a dish. When added to the marinating/cooking process, the alcohol helps to tenderise the meat in a way, as it helps to break down the proteins.
Although I have not experimented with other liquors for this sauce/dish, I can suggest a couple of substitutes. Brown spirits pair nicely with red meat. Consider trying a whiskey, rye, or scotch. These spirits should all deliver a similar flavour as they are all from the same family.
Try:

• Whisky
• Rye
• Scotch

Alcohol-free substitutes?

This recipe can be made without alcohol, of course, swap out the bourbon for equal amounts of apple cider vinegar or water
Try:

The rundown

• Season meat with paprika, salt & pepper.
• Brown ribs in a pan on all 6 sides
• Add onion, garlic, plums, and bourbon to the slow cooker.
• Lay ribs on plums, bone side down and cook on low heat for 4-6 hours
  (meat should be falling off the bone)

• Scoop onions and plums from the cooker and add to blender along with ketchup (scoop as little liquid as possible) blend until a smooth sauce is created
• Carefully transport ribs to an oven tray (bone side down) brush a thick layer of sauce onto ribs and place under the grill for 3-5 mins or until sides are crispy and caramelised (don’t overdo it!)

LIKED THIS RECIPE? TRIED IT?
MAKE SURE TO TAG ME ON INSTAGRAM OR PINTEREST

• Instagram
• Pinterest

cottageontheleft.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a way for websites to earn advertising revenues by advertising and linking to
[Amazon.com or .ca, .co.uk, etc.]