Wine and Coffee Braised Ribs in a Crock Pot

by Racheal
(Arizona)

Wine and Coffee Braised Ribs in a Crock Pot NOTE: The combination of wine and coffee doesn't sound particularly appealing, but it is wonderfully rich and tasty! Ingredients: 3 pounds beef ribs, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 cup red wine, 1 cup strong brewed coffee 1 large yellow onion, chopped 3 cloves garlic, chopped Salt and pepper 1/2 cup frozen pearl onions 1 cup frozen potato gnocchi Directions Season the short ribs with salt and pepper. Warm the oil in a skillet over high heat. Add the ribs and brown on all sides until golden, about 6-8 minutes. Transfer the ribs to a paper towel-lined plate. Pour the wine and the coffee into the skillet, cooking over high heat and scraping up all the brown bits on the bottom. Let the liquid reduce by about one-fourth (about 2-3 minutes). Put the ribs, onion, garlic, 2 teaspoons of salt and frozen gnocchi in a slow cooker. Pour in the coffee-wine sauce and cook covered on high heat for 3 and 1/2 hours. Uncover, throw in the frozen pearl onions and cook until the ribs are falling apart, about 45 minutes more. Use a little cornstarch or Wondra flour to thicken the sauce if desired. This makes a very yummy and rich entree. It is also versatile in that you can add other veggie combinations to suit your personal taste. one of my favorite side dishes with this is mash potatoes, i love the sauce on the taters....yuuuumm!!