Coffee and Bourbon Braised Short Ribs are a fusion of rich flavors of beef slow-cooked with notes of espresso coffee and bourbon.
Check out of few other recipes that would pair well with these short ribs like this Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan-Crusted Topping as well as my Crispy Oven Okra with a Lemon-Dill Garlic Aioli recipe. Truly food made for the soul!
A Culinary Exploration through the Past, Present, and Future
Growing up in the deep South, I wanted to celebrate our heritage—and what better way, than with food? This recipe is a beautiful fusion of our parents, grandparents, and our ancestors.
Coffee was birthed out of the continent of Africa and has without a doubt become a staple worldwide. This recipe is a savory fusion of rich flavors of beef slow-cooked with notes of espresso coffee and bourbon joined by stewed greens and golden grit cakes.
This dish is a culinary collage of traditional soul food with modern ingenuity and social flair. An array of textures, colors, seasonings, and flavors. Simple, yet distinctively plated with warm tones to showcase the everlasting physical and spiritual harmony of melanin strength, green lands, and royalty. It invites us all to dig deep and explore more ways to expand our culinary voyage and food traditions that liberate.
The heartiness is a reminder of perseverance. For this reason, we must reflect on how far we’ve come as well as appreciate the sacrifices made in the kitchen, the gardens, and the fields that came before us. It feels like home.
Check out these 9 Black-Owned Coffee Brands to Support!
What to Serve with Coffee and Bourbon Short Ribs
Coffee and Bourbon Braised Short Rib serve exceptionally well with stewed greens and yellow grits or grit cakes. When it comes to cuisine, greens are widely popular in African culture. Collard greens will always undeniably be a staple and a celebration of our beautiful culture.
Exploring Africa
For this dish, we paired it with Ethiopian Collard Greens. In Ethiopia, they are also called gomen. In addition, we used a Niter Kibbeh (an Ethiopian Spiced Butter) made with garlic, ginger, cayenne pepper, cumin, cardamom, and paprika then sautéed the greens over medium heat to bring together this beautiful fusion of flavors.
What Brand of Whiskey Do I Use?
A great way to celebrate Black History Month is by supporting black-owned businesses and products. Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey is the first African-American “master” distiller on record in the United States, Nearest Green. In addition, you can find Uncle Nearest Whiskey in all 50 states, and 12 countries, as well as in more than 25,000 stores around the world. You can read more here.
Other Recipes to Enjoy!
Kale Celebration Vegetable Salad with Walnuts
Southern Baked Beans (Made from Plants)
BBQ Ribs with Blue Cheese Infused Hickory BBQ Sauce
This recipe is a beautiful celebration of black food and black culture. If you make this recipe, be sure to leave a star rating as well as a comment. For more food and recipes, you can find me at @myprettybrowneats on Instagram and TikTok, as well as, “My Pretty Brown Eats” on Facebook and Pinterest! You can also tag me and follow the #myprettybrowneats hashtag. I hope to see you soon!
Coffee and Bourbon Braised Short Ribs
Equipment
- 1 Cast Iron Skillet
Ingredients
- 2 pounds Beef Short Ribs
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, high quality (or vegetable oil – see notes)
- 3 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons Bourbon Uncle Nearest
- 1 clove Elephant Garlic, peeled and diced
- 1 tablespoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ stick unsalted butter (4 ounces)
- 2 teaspoons cracked black pepper
- 1/3 cup coffee beans, dark roast, ground to brew cold brew coffee (for short ribs rub)
- 1½ cups cold brew coffee, dark roast to braise short ribs in the oven
Instructions
Pre-Prep for Short Ribs
- Add ground coffee, brown sugar, sea salt, onion powder, garlic powder and black pepper to food processor and pulse until all dry seasoning has blended together. Feel free to adjust seasonings to your taste palate.
- Season short ribs with coffee seasoning blend, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 6 hours. Remove from refrigeration 30 min before preparing.
Instructions for Cooking
- Preheat oven to 375 F degrees.
- Preheat cast iron skillet to medium-high heat on stove-top.
- Lightly oil skillet with vegetable oil, and place ribs, bone side up. Get a good and quick sear and turn to next side until all sides have locked in the internal flavoring.
- Next add ½ stick of unsalted butter, Bourbon, elephant garlic, ½ cup of cold brewed coffee into skillet.
- Cover skillet with aluminum foil then place into preheated oven and braise for 30 minutes.
- Next, reduce oven temperature to 350°F degrees.
- Use a spoon or ladle to braise beef with juices and continue cooking for another 30 minutes. Use a meat thermometer (inserted at the thickest section) until internal temperature reaches 130° for medium-rare (cook additional 1 hour longer if you're seeking more doneness).
- Once ribs are cooked to your likeness, remove from skillet and allow the meat to rest. Do not cut, poke or prod for 10 minutes. This gives the meat time to settle and you'll enjoy the flavors that settle.
- While the ribs are resting, deglaze skillet with butter and 1 (one) cup of cold brew coffee. When you're ready to plate, drizzle over short ribs.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
I’m proud to collaborate with more than 30 Black recipe developers as we celebrate Black History Month 2022. This Virtual Potluck explores Black food through the lens of Afrofuturism. Our collaboration of recipes explores the intersection of the Black diaspora via culture, future, geopolitics, imagination, liberation, culture, and technology.
2022 BLACK HISTORY MONTH VIRTUAL POTLUCK
I am beyond thrilled to be sharing this recipe as part of Eat The Culture‘s Black History Month Virtual Potluck with over 30+ food bloggers and recipe developers.
Cook and share the inspiring recipes by checking out the list of participants below. Follow each participant and continue the discussion with us on social media using the hashtag #BHMVP2022!
FULL LIST OF PARTICIPANTS
Fonio Bundt Cake with Hibiscus Glaze by A Classic Twist
Collard Green Hand Pies by A Girl Called Adri
Sweet Potato Wedges with Peanut Dipping Sauce by Big Delicious Life
Sweet Potato Biscuits by Black Girls Who Brunch
Chicken Plantains and Vegetables by Black Peoples Recipes
Bobo de Camarao (Brazilian Shrimp Stew) by Brazilian Kitchen Abroad
Salted Caramel Chocolate Tart with Candied Peanuts by Britney Breaks Bread
Vegan Coconut Cake with Lime Glaze by Chenée Today
Fried Green Tomato BLT by Coined Cuisine
Shrimp Po’ Boy Salad by Collards Are The Old Kale
Warm Brewed Zobo Drink by Dash of Jazz
Sorrel Martini Popsicles by Dish It With Tisha
Fish Patties with Pontchartrain Sauce by Dude That Cookz
Stuffed Shrimp & Grit Collard Green Rolls by Fior
Spicy Berbere Lentil Chili by Flights and Foods
Sankofa Bowl w/ Suya Duck Breast by Food Fidelity
Brown Stew Pineapple Chicken with Roasted Groundnuts by Geo’s Table
Champurrado Custard by Global Kitchen Travels
Caribbean Fish and Chips with Tamarind Sauce by Heal Me Delicious
Curry crab stuffed dumplings by Home Made Zagat
Nigerian Chapman Cocktail by Immaculate Ruému
Dragon Fruit Pineapple Rum Punch by Jamieson Diaries
Smothered Okra & Tomatoes by Kenneth Temple
Brown Butter Sombi – Coconut Rice Pudding Brulee by Meiko And The Dish
Coffee and Bourbon Braised Short Ribs by My Pretty Brown Fit + Eats
Fig Cake with Tamarind Glaze by My Sweet Precision
Coconut-Lime Cornmeal Tres Leches Cake by Savor and Sage
Salmorejo (Stewed Crab) over Garlic Grits by Sense & Edibility®
Mango Cake and Coconut Cream by Sims Home Kitchen
Sous Vide Ox Tail with Coconut Rice by Sweet Tea + Thyme
Fonio Bundt Cake with Hibiscus Glaze by The Food Disciple
Brown Butter Brulé Bean Pie by The Queen of Yum
Black Eyed Pea And Cornbread by The Vgn Way
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We thoroughly enjoyed these short ribs. I love the infusion of the coffee. It was the perfect amount and you could taste the flavors. I am looking forward to trying more recipes of the African origin. Thank you sharing and what a great collaboration of recipes!