Serve Short Ribs alongside Creamy Polenta, Roasted Carrots, Sauteed Brussel Sprouts, Spaghetti, and Mashed Potatoes.
Polenta is made from cornmeal and is equally as delicious as it looks appetizing.
For a lighter option, try Mashed Potatoes. Mashed Potatoes
Mashed Potatoes go well with almost everything.
Do you love ribs? If you do, then there is no doubt that you would love Short Ribs.
Short Ribs are, as the name suggests- a shortened version of ribs.
These are just a portion of the long beef ribs and are generally taken from the beef chuck of an animal.
These ribs are not great for making steaks or such, but they are great in terms of the flavor.
Also, short ribs are not tender enough like regular steaks.
If you haven't tried short ribs yet, make sure you get to try them at least once because these exciting flavors are hard to miss.
7 Flavorful Sides to Serve with Short Ribs
1 - Creamy Polenta
Polenta is an Italian dish that you can eat like a porridge or let it solidify until it forms a loaf that you can bake, fry, or grill.
Polenta is made from cornmeal and is equally as delicious as it looks appetizing.
It has a nice buttery corn flavor and is incredibly healthy as well.
You can have this porridge any time you want, though making it a side with short ribs would definitely make a meal out of it - try creamy polenta side ideas for dinners.
Add some flavoring or sauce to make it more pleasant.
You can add some veggies to the mix to make it more appealing.
2 - Roasted Carrots
How can anyone not love carrots? Carrots being incredibly nutritious, are excellent for eye health.
You can make carrots in different ways to keep it fun.
For pairing with short ribs, choose to make roasted carrots - see roasted carrots serving suggestions for seasoning ideas.
This process helps to bring out the best of the flavors and ensures that you still get a crunch in your carrots.
It is fairly easy to make roasted carrots; all you need to do is toss them in olive oil and season them evenly, then oven-roast them to perfection.
Chop or cube the carrots if you prefer them, and serve them with short ribs for a colorful addition.
3 - Sauteed Brussel Sprouts
Brussel Sprouts are a great company with meat.
They are pretty easy to make as well.
Sauteed well, the aroma alone is enough to make brussels sprouts seem tempting - explore brussels sprouts side recipes and tips to perfect them.
The crunch of Brussel sprouts paired with its delicate flavors makes for an excellent side dish with short ribs.
The sweetened caramel-like flavor of the Brussels does a great job balancing out the compact flavors of the short ribs.
4 - Spaghetti
This side dish needs no introduction.
Spaghetti is one of the most loved dishes out there, and it goes well with almost everything.
The best part about having spaghetti as a side dish is that you can make it in your own way.
You can make spaghetti with meat sauce or tomato sauce; and you can also keep it strictly vegetarian or add some meatballs.
With short ribs, this side dish of spaghetti will surely win your heart - check spaghetti side pairings for comfort meals for inspiration.
Add generous amounts of garlic and top it off with basil leaves to get that beautiful aroma.
5 - Mashed Potatoes
Mashed Potatoes go well with almost everything.
They are like the heroes of the side dish world.
So unless you need to cut down on calories, you can add mashed potatoes to accompany your short ribs - or consider mashed cauliflower low-calorie swaps if trimming calories is a goal.
Add some sour cream and hot milk to the potatoes for a creamier version.
Oh, and butter- generous amounts of butter.
The garlic in the potatoes imparts an amazing aroma; you can top it off with some chopped parsley for added color.
Short ribs being extremely flavorful, the mashed potatoes are like the perfect canvas to explore those flavors.
6 - Macaroni Salad
A form of macaroni different from the usual Mac n' Cheese, this one can be equally addictive.
You might argue that this salad is yummier than any other kind of salad, and you could be right, too.
Macaroni salad has various flavors all in one bowl.
This dish uses mayonnaise to coat the pasta and is usually served cold.
So if you need to serve it at lunch, you need to make this salad earlier.
You can add in some veggies like red and yellow bell pepper, celery, onions, etc.
This beautiful macaroni salad is sure to win everyone's heart when paired with short ribs - find variations in macaroni salad side recipes for gatherings.
7 - Broccolini
Broccolini is slightly different from our regular broccoli.
Still, it does not lack in flavors in any way.
It is an easy recipe that you can cook in under 20 minutes.
You just need to toss the broccolini in a pan that has olive oil and garlic.
The garlic aroma makes the broccolini extremely tempting.
At the same time, this colorful dish can be a healthy side to your short ribs.
So if you were not sure if broccolini is a good choice for a side dish, here's your cue to get some broccolini asap.
Frequently Asked Questions
Polenta is made from cornmeal and is equally as delicious as it looks appetizing. Roasted Carrots How can anyone not love carrots?
Most home cooks pick this because it adds contrast and rounds out the meal.
A leafy green or fiber-rich vegetable balances the meal best. Polenta is made from cornmeal and is a good pick for adding color and nutrients.
Pairing a protein-heavy main with a lighter vegetable side keeps the meal from feeling too heavy.
Not always. A vegetable-only pairing works when the main course already includes starch.
Add rice, bread, or potatoes only if the meal needs more substance.
Roasted frozen vegetables, pre-cooked grains, or a quick pan sauté all come together in under 15 minutes with minimal prep and no special equipment needed.
Need protein swaps or heat alternatives for similar menus? short ribs substitute suggestions for recipes covers good protein replacements. short pepper substitute choices for flavor lists pepper options when spice elements need changing.