Beef ribs, beef ribs! Beef ribs for you and beef ribs for me! Errbody be ribbin'. What? I don't know. Just go with it.
One of the last deliveries I got from Walden Local Meat before I put my account on hold (the downside of funemployment - gotta watch those expenses!) included a three and a half pound package of glorious, local, grass fed beef ribs. I kept them in the freezer until I was feeling a treat-yo-self day coming along and thus came the idea to write this blog post for roasted Greek-style beef ribs. Because I care to share awesome things with you.
For this recipe, I wanted to incorporate some of my favorite flavors in Greek and Mediterranean cuisines. We've got olive oil, lemons, Greek oregano (shocker), thyme, rosemary, and honey! And we've got tasty sweet onion and garlic to add to that too! To be honest, the rosemary was a last minute thought and I only added a little because it can be a pretty overpowering herb, so I'll leave that as an optional ingredient for you. Either way, it will taste good. Finger-lickin' good. Unless you're using a fork, then fork-lickin' good? Anyway.
To get maximum flavor, you'll be using both the juice and zest from one large lemon, you'll crush the garlic, and you'll grate or mince the onion. I prefer grating for this recipe because that onion will coat the beef real nicely and don't you dare forget to include any water left behind from the onion too! Maximum. Flavor.
The next step is preparing the beef ribs! If you've never cooked with ribs before, it's easy peasy. Trim off any excess fat if necessary (your butcher may have done that for you) and be sure to remove the membrane. You can do that by taking a knife and inserting it between the bone and membrane in a corner to separate them a little, then use a paper towel to grasp onto the membrane and peel it all off. You may need to use the knife throughout the process, but usually it will peel back easily. This step is important because the membrane would prevent your tasty seasonings from coating the ribs! At this point, you can leave the rack whole or cut them into individual ribs. I thought I didn't have a baking pan large enough to hold the whole rack until I remembered I got a set of these for my birthday! By that point, I had already cut them up.
Mix everything together in a large bowl, cover it, and let it sit on the counter for an hour to come to room temperature. This will also allow the meat to marinate for a little while. Score!
When you're ready to roast, set the oven to 275 degrees Fahrenheit. Loosely line a sheet of foil large enough to hold the ribs that can be folded over slightly. Place the ribs in a single layer, meat-side down and fold in each side of the foil. Then top with another piece of foil to completely cover the ribs and create a pouch. Place the ribs on the center rack of the oven and let cook for three and a half hours. When they're about ready to come out, you'll make a tasty glaze of honey and lemon juice and brush it all over the ribs! The last optional, but encouraged, step is to then broil the ribs on high for three minutes.
After that? You dig in!
Kitchen Tools Used:
- Pyrex 4-quart bowl
- Citrus squeezer
- Microplane zester/grater
- Baking sheet
- Whisk
- Basting brush
📖 Recipe
Ingredients
For The Ribs
- 3 ½ pounds beef back ribs
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons honey
- zest and juice from 1 large lemon
- ⅓ cup sweet onion, minced or grated
- 5-6 garlic cloves, crushed
- 2 tablespoons fresh thyme, chopped
- ½ tablespoon dried Greek oregano
- 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary, chopped (optional)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- freshly ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon Hungarian hot paprika, optional
Honey Glaze
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, honey, lemon zest, lemon juice, onion, cloves, thyme, oregano, rosemary, salt, and pepper. Set aside.
- Trim off any excess fat from the ribs.
- Take a pairing knife and insert it in the corner of the ribs, between the membrane and the bone. Use your fingers to separate the membrane slightly, then use a paper towel to grasp onto the membrane and peel it off.
- Slice the rack into individual ribs and place in a large bowl. Cover with dressing and massage into the meat. Cover and let sit on the counter for one hour to come to room temperature.
- When the hour is up, preheat oven to 275 degrees.
- Place the ribs on a foil-lined baking sheet in a single layer. Fold the sides of the foil up.
- Cover with another sheet of foil and fold over to create a pouch.
- Place pan on the center rack of the oven for three and a half hours.
- When the ribs are almost done, make the honey glaze by combining the honey and lemon juice in a small bowl and whisk together.
- Remove ribs from oven.
- Brush ribs with honey glaze.
- Optional step: Broil the ribs on high for three minutes after glazing.
Disclaimer: This post may contain Amazon affiliate links, which means I make a small commission if you make a purchase through them. By purchasing through these links, you are helping support this site! I only recommend items I personally own and love.
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OMG this looks amazing!! I've never tried to make anything like this at home before but I really want to try. Definitely pinning this recipe for later! Thanks
Thanks, lady! I hope you love it. <3
OMG is right --- I don't think I've ever seen sexier meat!
Thanks Sue! I agree, beef ribs are pretty sexy. 😀
This looks stunning! Such fabulous flavours. One to try & luckily my local farm shop has started selling beef ribs too.
Thanks Georgina! Yesssss, local is the best!
Wow! this looks fantastic! Wonderful photographs too!
Thank you so much, Beth! <3
Wow! These look amazing! My husband would absolutely love this dish! These flavors are incredible! Love it! 🙂
Thanks Sherri!
This looks delishhh. I love the combination of honey and lemon on ribs. I am pinning this for later!
Thanks, Mica! It's one of my favorite combinations too. 😀
Hi Marissa! I happen to have a nice package of beef ribs in the freezer. Cooking them in foil is how I do pork ribs - after they are tender I either broil or grill them for a few minutes. I would make smashed potatoes with cabbage (colcannon) to go with these! And I would not be using a fork (except on the potatoes)! 🙂
Smashed potatoes with cabbage!? I've never had colcannon, but after doing some googling, I am very intrigued. I can't believe I've never heard of that before. Potatoes and cabbage are two of my favorites!
And yeah, forks do not belong with ribs. 😀
These were amazing! I made them for the first time for guests I have never met before and so glad I risked it. Everyone loved them. When making a new recipe I also follow the recipe exactly and then I may tweak it to my taste the second time. This one needs no adjustments, it is full of flavour. I doubled the marinade and reserved about 2/3c for roasted baby potatoes (I added a little more lemon juice for the potatoes). I cut the little potatoes in half and tossed them with the marinade.. I baked them in the same oven with the ribs on a baking sheet for 2 hours and just before serving I turned up the heat to 375 for about 15 min.
This recipe is also fabulous with baby back pork ribs. I just adjusted the time, about 2 1/2 hrs cooking time, then broiled for 3 minutes.
Great recipe for ribs if you are on a low carb lifestyle.
Hi Marissa it is 2/2/2022 and i just found you!!just loved "reading" your recipes. you are a woman/writer after my own heart! simple exciting efharisto!! (can't cook can't spell in Greek but i am on my way thanks to you) please say you are still out there!!
love, Victoria in Naperville, IL
Hi Victoria! Thank you for the kind words. I'm still out here, I swear! I just took an extended break due to moving and having a baby. Hoping to get back to sharing recipes more consistently soon <3