These Moroccan shortribs are smothered in tasty spices and tomato sauce, and are paired with Israeli couscous and a fresh cilantro and parsley herb sauce.

I am so pumped for the holidays: I absolutely love cooking this time of the year! I think it’s because one of the best things about cooking at home is that I get to make and share that food with the people I love. And this time of the year is even better for sharing home-cooked meals because of all the comfort food!

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• Short Rib Bolognese with Ricotta Ravioli
• Whiskey Parmesan Soup
• Goat Cheese Ravioli with Roasted Carrot Soup

Today’s comfort food recipe would be the perfect entree for your holiday party, Christmas dinner, or New Years Eve meal. It’s easy to put together early on in the day and let roast away, while you can prepare other your other courses and spend time with your loved ones and guests!

It starts with browning the short ribs. I like to use a large Dutch oven, but you could use any type of large heavy bottomed pan that you prefer. This is a really important step; it gives your dish extra flavor by allowing the outside to develop a lovely, caramelized crust.

After browning the meat and removing it from the pan, it’s time to start the sauce! Into the same pot go onions, tomato paste, and a handful of delicious spices, including turmeric, cayenne and cumin. Then you add in beef stock and tomato sauce before transferring the shortribs back to the pot and simmering for several hours.

The best part of this stew? The accompaniments! They can make or break a dish, and I absolutely love Israeli couscous so I had to pair it with this stew! To keep things a bit fresh, I also whipped up a quick herb sauce with parsley and cilantro to top the stew with. You can also serve it with some naan bread for soaking up all that delicious sauce!

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Moroccan Shortribs with Couscous and Herb Sauce

These Moroccan shortribs are smothered in tasty spices and tomato sauce, and are paired with Israeli couscous and a fresh cilantro and parsley herb sauce.

Prep Time 30 minutes

Cook Time 3 hours 30 minutes

Total Time 4 hours

Ingredients

For short ribs:

• 2.5 pounds bone-in short ribs
• Kosher salt
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 yellow onion diced
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 4 cups beef stock
• 1 28-ounce can tomato sauce

For couscous:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 cup Isareli pearl couscous
• 1 1/4 cup beef stock
• 1 pinch kosher salt

For herb sauce:

• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 1/2 cup parsley
• 1/2 cup cilantro
• 1 cup olive oil
• 1/2 lemon juiced
• Kosher salt to taste
• Naan bread for serving

Instructions

1. Generously season the beef short ribs on all sides with kosher salt. Heat olive oil over medium-high heat in a dutch oven or heavy bottomed pan until glistening. Add short ribs and brown on all sides, about 2-4 minutes per side. Remove to a plate. Turn heat to medium and add more olive oil if pan is dry. Add onion and saute, stirring occasionally, for about 5-6 minutes. Add tomato paste and spices and stir until everything is coated, about 30 seconds. Add about 1/2 to 1 cup of the beef stock and use a wooden spoon to scrape up the browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Add the rest of the stock, tomato sauce, and the browned short ribs and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 2 to 2 1/2 hours, until meat is falling off the bones.
2. When meat is cooked, remove short ribs from stew. Shred meat, discarding bones and cartilage, and return meat to the pot, stirring to combine. Allow to cook for 30 minutes while you prepare the Israeli couscous and herb sauce.
3. For couscous, heat olive oil over medium heat in a medium-sized saucepan. Add couscous and toast, stirring frequently to prevent burning, until most of the couscous is starting to brown. Add beef stock and salt and stir to combine. Cover pot with lid and cook over medium-low heat for 8-10 minutes. Remove from heat, stir, and keep warm.
4. For herb sauce, mince garlic on a cutting board. Add herbs and chop everything together until very finely minced and combined. Transfer garlic and herb mixture to a small mixing bowl. Add olive oil and whisk until well combined. Stir in lemon juice and salt.
5. To serve, ladle stew over couscous and top with herb sauce. Serve with naan bread and enjoy!

Now it’s your turn: what is your favorite way to stew beef this time of year? Share with me in the comments below!

beef shortribs couscous moroccan shortribs stew