How to Make Coca-Cola Ribs from "The Bear" Series — Meat That Melts

Contents:
Some TV series you can simply watch. But some you want to taste. "The Bear" (started airing in 2022) is exactly that kind of show.

Yes, there's great drama here, witty dialogue, and tension like a kitchen during the dinner rush. But there's something else: food. Hot, steaming, real food.

In the sixth episode of season one, Sydney (a talented but inexperienced chef) makes cola-braised short ribs with risotto. I found that exact recipe (almost), adapted it for home cooking, and now I'm sharing it with you.
Actress Ayo Edebiri in chef's uniform in the kitchen, with braised ribs in sauce and risotto nearby
Sydney from "The Bear" and her short ribs
Source:
I put together this recipe based on recommendations from chef Matty Matheson and "The Bear" consulting chef Courtney Storer from the YouTube channel "MATTY MATHESON", as well as Eatingwell.

What kind of ribs are we talking about?

This isn't a quick dinner. It's slow-braised meat in a wine-cola sauce with vegetables, herbs, and patience. The result? Ribs tender as butter with a flavor that'll make you want to applaud.

Ingredients (for the ribs, serves 4)

  • 3-4 lbs beef short ribs
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp coarse salt
  • 2/3 cup onion (finely chopped)
  • 2/3 cup carrots (finely chopped)
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 2 cups dry red wine
  • 2 cups Coca-Cola (classic only)
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1/4 cup fresh thyme
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley
  • 2 cups beef stock

How to cook it

  • In a well-heated pan with oil, sear the ribs until golden brown on all sides. Remove and set aside.
  • In the same pan, sauté onions and carrots until soft. Add tomato paste and cook for another minute or two.
  • Pour in the wine, stir thoroughly, scraping up all those tasty bits from the bottom. Let it simmer for a couple minutes.
  • Add the cola, bay leaves, herbs, and stock. Transfer everything to an oven-safe dish or heavy-bottomed pot.
  • Nestle the ribs into the sauce, cover with a lid or foil, and braise in the oven for 3-3.5 hours at 300°F. The meat should literally fall off the bone.

What about sides?

In the original, Sydney (Ayo Edebiri) serves the ribs with risotto — you can take a basic recipe and add shallots, garlic, and thyme. Or just serve with mashed potatoes, drizzled with that incredible sauce.

Trust me, when your kitchen starts smelling like meat cooked with this recipe, you'll understand why "The Bear" became such an important show about cooking. And earlier on zoomboola.com, we told you how to make the shepherd's pie from "Friends" — a dish Joey would definitely approve of.