ET Recipe Of The Month: Braised Short Rib French Onion Soup

By
Gianna Kostulas
-
249

THIS IS WHAT YOU NEED

For the Braised Short Ribs

  • 1 ½ lbs boneless beef short ribs
  • 1 tbsp avocado oil
  • Salt & black pepper, to taste
  • 1 small yellow onion, roughly chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, smashed
  • ½ cup dry red wine (or beef broth)
  • 1 ½ cups beef bone broth
  • 1 sprig fresh thyme
  • 1 bay leaf

For the French Onion Base

    • 3 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
    • 1 tbsp unsalted butter
      (or avocado oil for dairy-free)
    • 1 tsp olive oil
    • 1 tsp balsamic vinegar
    • 1 tsp coconut aminos
      (or Worcestershire sauce)
    • 1 tbsp dry sherry (optional, adds depth)
    • 3 cups beef bone broth
    • 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves
    • Salt & pepper, to taste

For Serving

  • 2 slices toasted sourdough or high-fiber
    bread (optional)
  • ½ cup shredded Gruyère or mozzarella
  • Fresh thyme leaves, for garnish

 

 

THIS IS WHAT YOU DO

Braise the Short Ribs

  1. Preheat oven to 325°F (163°C).
  2. Pat ribs dry and season generously with salt and pepper.
  3. Heat avocado oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high. Sear ribs 3–4 minutes per side, until browned. Remove and set aside.
  4. Add chopped onion and garlic; sauté 2–3 minutes until fragrant.
  5. Deglaze with red wine (or broth), scraping up browned bits. Simmer 2 minutes.
  6. Add bone broth, thyme, and bay leaf. Return ribs to pot.
  7. Cover and braise in the oven 2½–3 hours, until tender and shreddable.
  8. Shred meat and strain braising liquid—reserve for soup base.

Caramelize the Onions

  1. In a clean pot, melt butter and olive oil over medium-low heat.
  2. Add sliced onions with a pinch of salt.
  3. Slowly cook 30–40 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden, soft, and jammy.
  4. Deglaze with balsamic vinegar and sherry, then stir in coconut aminos.

Build the Soup

  1. Add shredded short rib and reserved braising liquid to the caramelized onions.
  2. Pour in bone broth and fresh thyme.
  3. Simmer 15–20 minutes, uncovered, to let flavors meld.
  4. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Serve

  • Classic style: Ladle into oven-safe bowls, top with toasted bread and cheese, then broil until bubbly.

  • Lighter option: Skip the bread, sprinkle with cheese and fresh thyme, and enjoy as-is.

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Gianna Kostulas
Gianna Kostulas is a content creator, entrepreneur, and storyteller helping others achieve their health goals through high-protein cooking and mindset shifts. With a background in fitness and nutrition, she shares sustainable weight loss tips, calorie-conscious recipes, and wellness insights with over 137,000 followers on TikTok (@gnk.fit). Whether sharing high-volume meals or reflections on discipline and self-worth, Gianna empowers others to make healthy living feel realistic and rewarding.

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