Braised Short Ribs (Flanken) To Die For

Succulent, soft, and out of this world delicious are all good descriptions of these braised short ribs. Some of you might be familiar with the word "Flanken" (a Yiddish word), a cut of short ribs from the beef chuck. If you had a grandma that cooked then you may have memories of 'fall off the bone' meat that she cooked for hours on the stove and that filled the house with that amazing aroma.

There are many variations on sauces and broths for preparing this cut of meat and you can certainly add anything you like to make it your own. However, even if you only follow these simple instructions you will end up with a meal fit for a king!

Ingredients...

• 1 1/2 pounds beef short ribs (flanken)
  
• 1 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes
• 1 large onion
• 4-5 cloves minced garlic
• 1 teaspoons salt
• 1 tablespoon parsley
• 1 1/2 teaspoons thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 tablespoon Splenda Brown Sugar Blend (or brown sugar)
• 1 1/2 Tablespoons Lemon Juice
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire Sauce
• olive oil for browning the onion and garlic

Here's how you do it...

1. Preheat your oven to 450F.
2. Line a baking pan with foil.
3. Sprinkle your short ribs with salt & pepper and roast, bone side down, for 45 minutes.
4. While the ribs are roasting...
5. Brown the onion in a small amount of olive oil for 4-5 min.
6. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute.
7. Add the parsley, thyme, and pepper flakes, stir.
8. Add the can of crushed tomatoes (with juice), the lemon juice and the Worcestershire Sauce.
9. Sprinkle on and stir in the Brown Sugar.
10. Bring to a slow simmer.
11. When the short ribs have finished 45 minutes of roasting, remove the pan from the oven. Reduce the oven temperature to 325F.
12. Using tongs, transfer the ribs into your simmering sauce.
13. Drain the fat from the roasting pan.
14. Replace the ribs into the roasting pan.
15. Pour the sauce on top.
16. Toss on the bay leaf.
17. Cover tightly with foil and return to the now 325F oven for 2-3 hours.

Serve with my Israeli Couscous , Bulgar Wheat Pilaf, or Garlic Mashed Potatoes (sinful).