Sichuan Short Rib Beef and Noodle Soup

Short ribs are braised and added to an aromatic Sichuan infused beef broth with Japanese noodles, fresh greens and scallions.  A flavorful spicy soup for a cold winters day.

Ingredients:

2.5 lb Beef Chuck Short Ribs
2 Tbsp Wozz! Sichuan Chili Garlic Dan Dan Sauce (marinade the ribs)

Broth Ingredients:

2 Quarts Beef stock
1/2 Cup Wozz! Sichuan Chili Garlic Dan Dan Sauce
1 Cinnamon Quill
2 Star Anise
2 Garlic Cloves sliced

Accompaniments:

Japanese wheat noodles (the brand we used is called Tomoshiraga Somen)

Fresh watercress leaves
Green onions sliced
Lime Wedges

Method:

Marinade beef ribs in Wozz! Sichuan Garlic Dan Dan Sauce for 2 to 4 hours.

Add the two quarts of beef stock and 1/2 cup Wozz! Sichuan Chili Garlic Dan Dan Sauce to a crock pot along with spices and garlic and turn on high.

In a large skillet, on medium high heat, brown all sides of the beef ribs, starting with the ends.  (As the ribs brown they will shrink and make the ends difficult to sear so do them first)

Get a really good sear on your beef ribs 2-3 minutes on each side.  Transfer to a baking tray and roast the ribs in a  450 F oven (bone side down) for 20 minutes.  Perhaps an unnecessary step, but this helps render out some of the fat and I want to get a good roasting on those bones for more flavor.

After 20 minutes of roasting, transfer beef ribs to crockpot with stock and cook on low for 4 hours.   Season broth with salt until seasoned per your liking.  

Cook your noodles according to package directions (they only take about 3 minutes to cook).

Serve.  Place short rib in bowl or you can slice short ribs into pieces and place into bowl (or do both).  Ladle in your broth.  Add noodles, watercress and green onions.  Add squeeze of fresh lime and serve.

You can also serve with fresh mint leaves, cilantro, Thai basil leaves, extra fresh chili, if desired.  I always serve with lime wedges on the side, the lime adds such a nice fresh finish to the soup.

Enjoy!! 

*Additional note:  If you do not want to use Japanese wheat noodles, you can substitute vermicelli rice noodles, thin rice Thai spaghetti noodles or ramen noodles (just don't use seasoning packet).