I want you to take a tasty adventure with an easy dish to elevate your overall taste – try the smoked beef short ribs.
In this blog post, we will discuss the complete process of preparing smoked beef short ribs.
Later, we will also look at variations, pro tips to level up the taste, storage and freezing tips and much more.
What are Smoked Beef Short Ribs?
Smoked beef shorts are a delicious cut of meat from the lower portion of the ribcage of a cow. They are famous for their tenderness and rich fat.
They are generally seasoned with spices and slowly cooked in a smoker, which offers a smoky and deep flavour to the meat.
The process of cooking breaks down the collagen, making the meat easy to chew and juicy. You can serve it with BBQ sauce or enjoy it on its own.
The comforting texture and strong flavour of the ribs make them a perfect choice for a meat lover.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Incredible Flavor: The smoking process provides the beef with a smoky and strong flavour.
You can add woods such as mesquite, or hickory for a bold flavour, while fruit woods such as cherry or apple provide a sweet flavour.
Versatile Seasoning: There are a lot of seasoning options, which allow you to make the flavour based on your preference.
You can improve the basic mix of garlic, salt and pepper with more spices such as cayenne, paprika, or BBQ rub.
Perfect for Any Occasion: These BBQ ribs are perfect for any special event, such as a family get-together or a backyard BBQ.
You can try them with sides such as macaroni salad, coleslaw, or baked beans.
Satisfying Cooking Experience: Smoking the beef short ribs provides a comforting process that makes you feel proud while transforming the meat into a delicious dish.
Great for Leftovers: In case of any leftovers, you can try them in tacos, sandwiches or in stews and soups, offering a flexible option.
Tips
- Choose Quality Meat: Ensure to choose the beef short ribs containing a lot of fat to ensure tenderness and better flavour. The fat will melt while cooking and make the meat juicy.
- Use a Dry Rub: You can prepare a delicious dry rub using garlic powder, salt, pepper and smoked paprika. A good rub adds depth of flavour to the meat and offers a nice crust while smoking.
- Let the Ribs Rest: Before smoking, let the seasoned ribs sit at room temperature for around an hour. It ensures the rub sticks better and cooks the meat evenly.
- Use the Right Wood: You can go for hardwoods such as oak, hickory, or mesquite for smoking. Each kind of wood has its flavour, so go for that which complements the beef.
- Rest Before Serving: After taking out the ribs from the smoker, allow it to sit for a minimum of half an hour. It helps the juice spread evenly, making each bite tender and flavourful.
Variations
Classic BBQ Style: You can season the ribs with a BBQ rub prepared with paprika, brown sugar, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper.
Gently smoke them, and then brush them with your favourite BBQ sauce during the last moment.
Asian-Inspired Short Ribs: Before smoking, you can marinate the ribs with a mix of garlic, ginger, soy sauce and sesame oil.
This provides a delicious flavour, and you can add sesame seeds or hoisin sauce as a topping.
Spicy Chipotle Short Ribs: For a smoky, spicy kick, you can add adobo sauce or chipotle powder to the dry rub.
It adds spiciness and depth of flavour, making it suitable for those who prefer a bit of spiciness.
Sweet and Tangy Mustard Glaze: You can brush the ribs with a mix of honey, mustard, and apple cider vinegar during the last moment of smoking.
It adds a zesty and sweet flavour which balances the richness of the meat.
Mediterranean Style: You can use a rub prepared of garlic, cumin, oregano and lemon zest for a Mediterranean flavour.
Try serving the smoked ribs with pita bread and tzatziki sauce for a unique flavour.
Serving Suggestions
- Coleslaw: You can try coleslaw as a classic BBQ side which provides a refreshing contrast and crunchy texture to the rich, smoky flavours of ribs.
- Cornbread: You can serve a bit of sweet and moist cornbread that goes well with the smoked meats. Cornbread also helps to absorb the sauces or juices better.
- Grilled Vegetables: You can try grilled vegetables such as bell peppers, zucchini, and asparagus with a bit of seasoning for a bright and healthy touch.
- Potato Salad: You can try creamy potato salad, prepared with mayonnaise, boiled potatoes, herbs and mustard which provides a zesty contrast to the smoky ribs.
- Corn on the Cob: You can serve boiled or grilled corn on the cob, brushed with butter and sprinkled with salt, for a delicious and sweet side dish that complements the smoky ribs.
Storing and Freezing
Storing
- Before storing, let the smoked beef ribs cool at room temperature.
- You can wrap the short ribs tightly in a plastic bag or an aluminium foil.
- You can store the ribs in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
Freezing
- Before freezing, let the ribs cool completely.
- In the case of large batches, you can portion the ribs into little servings to make them tasty and reheat easily.
- Wrap each portion in plastic wrap, making sure there are no air pockets.
- Follow this with a layer of aluminium foil for an extra level of protection against freezer burn.
- You can use a vacuum sealer to eliminate air and seal the ribs. It extends their shelf life.
- Label each package with date and content to keep track of freshness.
- You can freeze the short ribs in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Thawing and Reheating
Thawing
- For thawing, transfer the ribs from the freezer to the refrigerator and allow them to overnight for desired results.
- You can use the microwave’s defrost setting to allow them to thaw quickly, and avoid overcooking the meat.
Reheating
- Set the temperature of the oven to 120 C (250 F).
- Put the ribs in a baking sheet, covering with foil and heat until thoroughly warmed, it may take around 30 minutes.
- You can reheat on a smoker or grill for more flavour.
- Heating the ribs over low flame offers a splash of water or beef broth which helps them keep moist.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the smoked beef short ribs offer a delightful meal that provides texture and rich flavour.
Whether you are organizing a family dinner, backyard BBQ, or a satisfying meal, these ribs are sure to impress everyone’s taste buds.
So why don’t you give these smoked beef short ribs a try?
Grab your ingredients and start enjoying the cooking process. Don’t forget to share your experience in the comments below.
Read More:- Best Leftover Ribs Recipe
Smoked Beef Short Ribs
Ingredients
- 4-5 pounds beef short ribs
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper optional, for heat
- 1 cup beef broth for spritzing
- Your favorite barbecue sauce optional, for serving
Instructions
- Remove the thin layer on the back of the short ribs if it is not already done. It allows the seasoning soak into the meat better. Then, pat the ribs using paper towels.
- In a little bowl, mix the black pepper, kosher salt, garlic powder, smoked paprika, onion powder, and cayenne pepper.
- Spread the olive oil over the short ribs, then add the spice mix, ensuring everything is well coated.
- Heat the smoker at a temperature 107 C (225 F). You can try using wood chips such as oak, hickory, mesquite for a great smoky flavour.
- Put the seasoned short ribs in the smoker with the bone-side down.
- Smoke the ribs until the internal temperature reaches 93 C (200 F), it may take around 4-5 hours. The slow cooking ensures tender meat by breaking down the tough parts.
- Every ribs, spray the ribs with beef broth to let them wet and provide more taste.
- For the soft texture of the ribs, you can wrap them in aluminum foil or butcher paper after 3 hours of smoking. It keeps them moist.
- One the ribs are done, remove them form the smoker and allow them rest for a minimum of half an hour. It allows the juices distribute evenly in the meat.
- It's time to serve the beef short ribs. You can slice the ribs between the bones and serve them with your preferred BBQ sauce.
- You can also try them with coleslaw, baked beans or cornbread.
