I made this Chinese five-spice short ribs indulgent treat for Valentine’s Day. It is tender, rich, and packed with flavor. I served it over Gingered Zucchini and Carrot Noodles. It was so delish!

This Chinese five-spice short ribs recipe is easy to make, and you probably have many of the ingredients already in your pantry. It does cook for a few hours, but the prep time is simple and easy to prepare.

The ingredients you’ll need to gather

• 1 tablespoon Chinese five-spice powder
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
• 2 Tablespoons of ginger spread
• 2 Tablespoons of minced garlic
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 Tablespoons of sesame oil
• 2 Tablespoons of sesame seeds
• beef short ribs, I used about 2 pounds
• olive oil for the pan

What you do:

Combine the first 8 ingredients in a zip-lock bag large enough to hold the ribs. Add the ribs and marinate for an hour. After an hour, set out the ribs to come to room temp.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Add enough olive oil to a large Dutch oven to coat the bottom. Heat the pan over medium-high heat. Once the pan is hot, carefully add the ribs to the pan (let the marinade drip off them as you remove them from the bag). Sear the ribs on all sides; once seared, add two cups of water to the bag with the marinade. Pour the water/marinade mixture over the ribs.

Cover the pot and place in the oven for 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 hours or until fork-tender. The sauce should be thick and sticky but still pourable. You may need to add additional water during cooking if too much evaporates or the sauce will start to burn. Serve hot with a little of the sauce on top.