Filipino Beef Short Ribs Adobo: High-Protein, Melt-in-Your-Mouth Comfort

Get ready to experience a culinary masterpiece that brings together rich, savory flavors with incredible tenderness: Filipino Beef Short Ribs Adobo. This trending recipe takes the beloved Filipino national dish, Adobo, and elevates it with succulent beef short ribs, resulting in a high-protein, melt-in-your-mouth comfort food experience that will have you coming back for more.

Adobo is a cooking process and a dish in Filipino cuisine that involves meat, seafood, or vegetables marinated and stewed in vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, and black peppercorns. While chicken and pork adobo are perhaps the most common variations, using beef short ribs introduces a depth of flavor and a luxurious texture that is simply irresistible. The long, slow braising process breaks down the connective tissues in the short ribs, making them incredibly tender and allowing them to soak up every ounce of the tangy, salty, and garlicky sauce.

This dish is not only a feast for the senses but also a fantastic source of protein, making it a hearty and satisfying meal. It’s perfect for a comforting family dinner, a special occasion, or simply when you want to treat yourself to something truly extraordinary.

Filipino Beef Short Ribs Adobo: The Recipe

This recipe is designed to bring out the best in the beef short ribs, ensuring they are fork-tender and bursting with classic adobo flavor.

Yields: 4-6 servings

Prep time: 20 minutes (plus optional marinating time)

Cook time: 2.5 - 3 hours

Ingredients:

3 lbs beef short ribs, bone-in or boneless, cut into 2-3 inch pieces
1/2 cup soy sauce (preferably Filipino soy sauce like Datu Puti or Silver Swan)
1/2 cup white vinegar (cane vinegar or apple cider vinegar works well)
1 head garlic, peeled and smashed (about 8-10 cloves)
1 tablespoon whole black peppercorns
3-4 bay leaves
1 tablespoon cooking oil
1 large onion, sliced
1-2 cups beef broth or water (as needed)
2 tablespoons brown sugar (optional, to balance acidity)
Salt to taste
Cooked white rice, for serving
Steamed bok choy or other green vegetables, for serving (optional)
Sliced green onions and fried garlic bits, for garnish

Instructions:

Sear the Short Ribs: Pat the beef short ribs dry with paper towels. Heat the cooking oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Sear the short ribs on all sides until nicely browned. This step adds a crucial layer of flavor. Remove the browned short ribs from the pot and set aside.
Sauté Aromatics: In the same pot, add the sliced onion and cook until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the smashed garlic cloves and cook for another 1-2 minutes until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
Combine Adobo Ingredients: Return the seared short ribs to the pot. Pour in the soy sauce and vinegar. Add the whole black peppercorns and bay leaves. Stir everything to combine.
Braise the Short Ribs: Bring the mixture to a boil, then immediately reduce the heat to low, cover the pot tightly, and simmer for at least 2 to 2.5 hours, or until the short ribs are incredibly tender and easily pull apart with a fork. Check occasionally and add beef broth or water if the liquid level gets too low. The goal is for the short ribs to braise in the flavorful liquid.
Thicken and Season (Optional): Once the short ribs are tender, you can remove them from the pot and reduce the sauce over medium-high heat until it thickens slightly to your desired consistency. This can take 5-10 minutes. Stir in the brown sugar if you prefer a slightly sweeter adobo, and taste for seasoning, adding salt if necessary.
Serve: Return the short ribs to the thickened sauce and coat them well. Serve the Filipino Beef Short Ribs Adobo hot, alongside fluffy white rice to soak up all the delicious sauce. Steamed bok choy or other greens make an excellent addition. Garnish with fresh green onions and crispy fried garlic bits for extra flavor and texture.

This Filipino Beef Short Ribs Adobo is a testament to the power of simple ingredients transformed into something extraordinary through time and traditional techniques. Enjoy the incredibly tender meat and the irresistible depth of flavor that defines this beloved Filipino dish.