The way to a man's heart is through his stomach

The way to man's heart is through his stomach, so the saying goes and I often express my love through preparing delicious meals for my loved ones. 

For Valentine's Day, why not prepare one of the simplest dishes I learnt last year during the lockdown? It's beef short ribs cooked in the oven for five hours. The preparation is simple but it yields one of the most delicious meals. It's from a book by the French chef Stephane Reynaud. 

Everything is cooked in one pan, so this recipe is also kind to whoever has to do the washing up. Well, you may have other things in mind after this dinner.

The ingredient list is also short:

1.2 kg beef short ribs for 4 people

4 red onions, quartered and included in its skin, or peeled and chopped roughly

8 new potatoes, or King Edwards also fine

3 tablespoons of tomato puree

1 tablespoon honey (or maple syrup)

3 tablespoons soy sauce

80g butter

Pepper

Preheat the oven to 120 degrees Celcius.

Peel and chop the onions and clean the potatoes. Mix the tomato sauce, honey and soy sauce in a small bowl. Take a flameproof casserole dish, melt the butter and brown the ribs all around. Cover the ribs with the sauce and arrange the onions and potatoes around the ribs. Cover and cook in the oven for 5 hours. Check halfway through and add a little water if the ribs stick to the pan. 

You can also add chunks of parsnips and carrots to the mix. They will hold their shape and will be a delicious addition to the dish. 

If you prefer, you can exclude the potatoes from the casserole and serve this dish with some mashed potatoes that can absorb the delicious juice.

Bon appetite!