This Asian-inspired Short Rib Soup with mushrooms and Swiss chard is cozy and hits the spot when you’re craving a comforting soup.
Short Rib Soup
I bought some short ribs recently and wanted to try them in soup. I was craving one with lots of fresh herbs and ginger and was inspired by pho. The beef bones naturally add flavor to canned broth, but the stems from the cilantro, ginger, peppercorns, star anise, and scallions enhance it even more. I love ginger, so I sliced some for a garnish with lime wedges and more scallions and cilantro. So delicious! For more Asian soup recipes, try this Asian Beef Zoodle Soup, Wonton Soup, and Shrimp Pho with Vegetables.
What is the difference between short ribs and beef ribs?
Short ribs are unsurprisingly shorter than regular beef back ribs, which are longer and thinner. They are cut from different parts of the cow, and short ribs tend to be fattier.
Short Rib Soup Ingredients
- Beef Short Ribs: You’ll need five short ribs that weigh about four ounces each with the bone.
- Mushrooms: Remove the stems and slice eight ounces of shiitake mushrooms.
- Scallions and Cilantro: Use some whole scallions and cilantro stems to flavor the broth and chopped scallions and cilantro to garnish the soup.
- Spices: Fresh ginger, star anise, whole black peppercorns
- Beef Broth: Use your favorite store-bought broth. Buy low-sodium if you’re watching your salt.
- Swiss Chard: Cook the stems and leaves separately at the end.
- Garnish: Serve this beef short rib soup with lime wedges, crushed red pepper flakes or sriracha, and fresh ginger cut into thin matchsticks, plus the cilantro leaves and diced scallions.
How Long to Boil Short Ribs for Soup
I like to make this easy beef short rib soup in the Instant Pot because the short ribs come out so tender – They literally fall off the bone. If you don’t have a pressure cooker, I also provided stovetop directions. If you’re making this recipe on the stove, it takes about two hours to boil and simmer the short ribs. You can
do it in half the time in the Instant Pot.
How to Make Beef Short Rib Soup
- Instant Pot – Cook the Ribs: Place the ribs, mushrooms, ginger, three whole scallions, cilantro stems, peppercorns, star anise, and broth in the Instant Pot. Cover and cook on high pressure for an hour, and then do a natural or quick release.
- Stovetop – Cook the Ribs: Put all the ingredients above in a large pot or Dutch oven, but add an extra half cup of broth. Bring it to a boil, cover the pot, and cook on low for about two hours until the meat is tender.
- Strain the Broth: Divide the short ribs and mushrooms into five bowls. Then strain the remaining broth and discard the leftover ingredients.
- Instant Pot – Swiss Chard: Return the soup to the Instant Pot and press the “Sauté” button to bring it to a simmer. As it heats, add the stems of the Swiss chard and simmer for three minutes. Next, add the leaves and cook for a couple of minutes.
- Stovetop – Swiss Chard: Bring the soup to a simmer over high heat, add the chard stems, and after a few minutes, add the leaves.
- Serve: Ladle the remaining soup into the bowls and serve with all the garnishes.
How to Freeze Short Rib Soup
This soup will stay good for up to four days in the refrigerator. To freeze the leftovers, portion it into smaller containers and freeze them for up to three months. To eat, you can microwave the containers straight from the freezer or thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
Variations
- Meat: Use chuck beef instead of short ribs.
- Mushrooms: Shiitakes impart so much flavor to this soup, so I highly encourage you to use them. However, if you can’t find them, swap them with baby bella mushrooms.
- Greens: Swap Swiss chard for bok choy or spinach.
- Cilantro: If you don’t like cilantro, you can leave it out and try it with chives.
- Noodles: Add zucchini noodles or lo mein noodles to make it more filling.
More Soup Recipes You’ll Love
- Turmeric Roasted Sweet Potato and Macadamia Soup
- Chunky Beef, Cabbage, and Tomato Soup
- Red Lentil Soup with Spinach
- Turkey Meatball Vegetable Soup
- Turmeric Chicken Noodle Soup
Short Rib Soup
Ingredients
- 5 short ribs, about 4 oz each with bone, or 3 ounces each without, trimmed of excess fat
- 8 ounces shiitake mushrooms, stems removed and sliced
- 1 1/2 inches ginger, peeled, sliced into disks, and smashed
- 5 scallions, 3 whole, 1 chopped for garnish
- 1/2 bunch cilantro, stems separated and leaves chopped
- 8 cups beef broth
- 1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
- 3 whole star anise
- 1 lb Swiss chard, stems and leaves separated and coarsely chopped
For serving:
- lime wedges
- crushed red pepper flakes or sriracha
- fresh ginger cut into thin matchsticks
Instructions
Instant Pot Method:
- Place the short ribs in the Instant Pot with the mushrooms, ginger, 3 whole scallions, cilantro stems, peppercorns, star anise, and beef broth.
- Cover and cook high pressure, 1 hour then natural or quick release.
- As it cooks, prep your garnishes and set them aside.
- Divide the short ribs and mushrooms into 5 soup bowls, then strain the remaining broth, discard the remaining ingredients.
- Return the soup to the Instant Pot and press the “Saute” button to bring the soup to a simmer – as it heats, add the stems of the Swiss chard and simmer 3 minutes, then add the leaves and cook until bright green, about 2 to 3 minutes.
- Ladle the soup into the soup bowls, about 1 3/4 cups.
- Garnish with lime wedges, crushed red pepper flakes, ginger sticks, cilantro leaves, and scallions.
Stove Top Method: (increase liquid by 1/2 cup):
- Place the short ribs in a large pot or Dutch oven with the mushrooms, ginger, 3 whole scallions, cilantro stems, peppercorns, star anise, and beef broth.
- Bring to a boil, then cover and cook on low heat until the meat is tender, about 2 hours.
- As it cooks, prep your garnishes and set them aside.
- Divide the short ribs and mushrooms into 5 soup bowls, then strain the remaining broth, discard the remaining ingredients.
- Bring the soup to a simmer over high heat – as it heats, add the stems of the Swiss chard and simmer 3 minutes, then add the leaves and cook until bright green, about 2 to 3 minutes.
- Ladle the soup into the soup bowls, about 1 3/4 cups.
- Garnish with lime wedges, crushed red pepper flakes, ginger sticks, cilantro leaves, and scallions.
Delicious base recipe. The broth was a little bland so I added a few spoonfuls of minced garlic, a little bit of sugar, soy sauce, and some grated ginger. After that it was wonderful. I also would recommend putting in a couple more short ribs if you have the liquid.
Could you do in a crockpot? If so how long would you cook this in a slow cooker. Thank you
It is absolutely impossible to separate the mushrooms out once this has all cooked together. Do yourself a favor, sauté the mushrooms separately and add them when you add the Swiss Chard. I can’t believe anyone would be able to do this!
This was amazingly delicious. My kids devoured it. So flavorful. I made some zoodles for myself and ramen for the family topped with the soup. This is my Thursday go to dinner. I feel super light and healthy. I used pork instead of beef and was ble to trim the fat off. Thanks for the amazing recipe.
The recipes started great with really good flavors. I ended up searing the the ginger and toasting the anise seeds to bring more it’s it’s essence out before I added water. Adding chard gave it more earthy taste and changes the trajectory of the flavors. I ended up taking it out and replacing it with Napa cabbage. Chard is not traditionally used in Asian soups. I think it would be better with something mild like Napa cabbage, bok choy and green cabbage. If it wasn’t for the chard, I’d given it a 4.5. Star.
Definitely wasn’t my favorite and I used only organic and high quality broth. 🙁
Really great recipe! I cut the ingredients in half since it was just for my husband and I and it still turned out great!
Awesome!
I made this today and it was delicious! I did add 1 stick of cinnamon to the spices. I can’t wait to eat it every day this week 😋
I made this last night for dinner. My husband loved it. He loved the complexity of it. I can’t eat mushrooms, so I tried popping some eggplant in the air fryer before I made the soup. I don’t think it added much. Maybe next time I will try carrots
Perfect!
A big hit! Flavorful and hearty but not heavy!
Not a fan of mushrooms, any suggested alternatives?
Omg!!!! Love this!!!! Made it tonight!!!!! I used this steamer thing so I didn’t have to strain!!!!!!
GREAT!!
Thanks! I made it and it’s delicious! I think next time I’ll add a bit of salt before cooking but that is the only thing I would change.
I have not made this as of yet, but it looks something like the kufteh my Mother and Grandmother used to make. It is not heavy, as some bahots kufteh have a heavy outer shell and is usually too thick. Most important is a thin outer shell, as is mentioned in this recipe. YAY!!!
Made this last night and it was a big hit! My daughter, who has lived in Korea and China for the better part of a decade, declared the flavour to be quite “authentic”. One minor comment – you call for 5 scallions, but seem to only use 4. Not that it matters much 🙂 This was the first, but will be trying out more of your delicious-looking recipes!
Do you add the orange peel with the short ribs at the beginning?
I am sorry, I meant to take that out, its better without!
You might want to remove reference to the orange in the narration as well after the 2nd picture under “Short Rib Soup Ingredients” to avoid further confusion. I’m looking forward to making this recipe. Thanks
Thank you!
Did you need to skim the fat from the soup?
I trimmed them as much as I could first. But of course, can if you need to.
I have short ribs in the freezer, so will be making this recipe soon. Could you use a crockpot instead of an instant pot?
I have not tested, I am not sure if it will change the taste.
I love short ribs but what do you do about all the fat? I would probably cook them separately with some of the ginger/ orange but then chill overnight and skim the fat before finishing the soup
I trimmed them as best I could but making the broth and chilling will make the fat sit at the top making it easy to remove.