Costillas de Res en Mole Rojo (Braised Beef Short Ribs in Mole)
Beef short ribs braised until falling off the bone, then glazed in rich red mole and served with warm tortillas.
Made with Easy red mole and Corn tortillas from masa harina. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time3 hr 20
- LevelMedium
- Costabout £4.50 a head
- Oven160°C (140°C fan)
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Heat the oven to 160°C (140°C fan). Season the ribs with the salt. Brown them in the oil in a large ovenproof pan over a high heat for 3 to 4 minutes a side. Pour off the fat.
8 min - 2
Add the onion, garlic, bay leaf and water, bring to a simmer, cover tightly and braise in the oven for 2 hours 30 minutes, until the meat is very tender and pulls from the bone.
150 min - 3
Lift the ribs onto a plate. Strain the liquid, skim off the fat and keep 200 ml.
- 4
Warm your ready made easy red mole (see the base recipe) in a pan with the 200 ml braising liquid for 5 minutes. Return the ribs and turn them in the sauce for 10 minutes over a low heat.
10 min - 5
Warm the tortillas in a dry pan for 20 seconds a side. Serve the ribs with plenty of sauce, tortillas, coriander and lime wedges.
Tips
- Buy ribs with plenty of meat on the bone, not thin flanken cut, so they stay in neat pieces.
- Skim the fat well. Mole is rich already, and too much fat makes it greasy.
- Braise a day ahead and chill. The fat sets on top and lifts off easily.
Storing and freezing
Keeps 3 days in the fridge, covered. Cool within 2 hours, then reheat in the sauce until steaming hot all through. Freeze for up to 3 months.
Questions
Can I use a slow cooker?
Yes. Brown the ribs, then cook on low for 8 hours with the onion, garlic and bay leaf. Finish in the mole on the hob.
Can I use beef shin or brisket?
Yes. Beef shin takes about 2 hours 30 minutes, brisket needs about 3 hours. Both shred well.
How do I serve it?
Eat it with tortillas as soft tacos, or with rice and beans. Pull the meat off the bone first if serving children.
More made with easy red mole
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.