Try these beef short-rib tacos with plums for a delicious meal! They are braised until fork tender and then topped with chopped plums and a spicy plum sauce.
How to Choose Beef Short Ribs
Beef short ribs can be difficult to find at a grocery store. Sometimes, they are small with little lean meat on them or a lot of fat. A butcher shop is a great place to buy them if you can’t find them at the grocery store.
Two Cutting Methods of Beef Short Ribs
Beef short ribs are most commonly cut in English style or flanken style. English style is cut parallel to one long bone, and the meat runs nearly the length of it. Flanken-style short ribs are cut across the ribs and have several short bones. For this recipe, use English-style short ribs. Make sure there is ample lean meat around the bones for each rib.
Quality of Beef Short Ribs
Short ribs can be cut from the chuck, brisket, plate, or ribs. This is not usually identified on the package when you buy them; however, in the U.S., less expensive ribs are cut from the plate. The most costly ribs are cut from the rib area. Moderately priced ribs are from the chuck or brisket. When purchasing short ribs, ask the butcher for help choosing the best ones for tacos.
How to Prepare Beef Short-Rib Tacos with Plums
Follow these steps for making short ribs for beef short-rib tacos.
Braising Short Ribs for Beef Short-Rib Tacos
Braising is a 2-step process. First, brown the meat. Then, bake it in an oven in a tightly covered pan. Braising is a slow cooking method at a lower oven temperature. Fatty, tough meats braise well because the long cooking time tenderizes the meat, and the fat helps keep the meat from drying out.
Toppings for Beef Short-Rib Tacos
These beef short-rib tacos have chopped fresh plums and a spicy plum sauce. Ideas for other toppings include:
- lettuce
- fresh jalapeno peppers
- fresh corn
- tomatoes
- green onions
- cilantro
- lime juice
- cabbage
Plum Sauce for Beef Short-Rib Tacos
The spicy plum sauce has plum jam and lime juice. The hot chili sauce can be adjusted for your taste preference.
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Beef Short-Rib Tacos with Plums
Equipment
- large Dutch oven with a lid
- small food processor
Ingredients
Short Ribs
- 4 pounds bone-in beef short ribs (English Style cut)
- salt and pepper
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 large plum, chopped
- 6 cloves garlic
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 2 teaspoons Mexican oregano
- 4 sprigs fresh thyme
- ¼ cup pickled jalapenos
- ½ cup orange juice (about 2 medium oranges)
- 14 ounces dark beer
- 2 cups beef broth
Plum Sauce
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 4 teaspoons plum jam
- 2 tablespoons hot chili sauce like sriracha
- 2 limes, juiced
- ⅛ teaspoon onion powder
- ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder
Toppings
- (8) 6-inch flour tortillas
- 1 plum, chopped
- 1 medium corn on the cob, cut and lightly sauteed
- ½ cup red cabbage, chopped
- ⅓ cup cilantro, chopped
- 12 grape tomatoes, chopped
- 1 medium jalapeno, minced
- 1 lime, sliced
Instructions
Short Ribs
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
- Heat a large nonstick skillet on medium heat. Generously salt and pepper the short ribs all over and add them to the pan, browning them on all sides. Be careful not to overcrowd the pan. Move each browned rib to a large Dutch oven.
- Add the onions and plums to the skillet and cook until wilted. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant. Add the onions and garlic to the Dutch oven.
- Stir in the cumin, oregano, and thyme. Add the jalapenos, orange juice, beer, and beef stock. Heat until the beer is hot.
- Cover with the lid and bake for 3-4 hours, stirring once during baking. Add extra stock if needed. The short ribs are done when they can be pulled easily from the bone.
- Pull the lean meat from the bones and fat. Rehydrate with some of the cooking broth. Cover the meat so it doesn't dry out.
Plum Sauce
- Place all the ingredients into a mini food processor. Blend until smooth.
Toppings
- Prepare the toppings while the short ribs cook.
- Divide the beef between the tortillas. Divide the toppings and add to each taco. Finish by adding the sauce. Garnish with a lime slice. Squeeze the lime onto the taco just before eating.