Short Rib Substitute - What Are Best & Cheaper Alternatives To Short Ribs

Short Rib Substitute: Run out of short ribs all of a sudden and discover ways to make the recipe with other alternatives of short ribs. Then this guide is the right one for you.

Here we have come up with many alternatives to replace the short ribs in the recipe. You can find short rib substitutes in both meat and vegan variants.

If you prepare the marination sauce and process as same as short ribs, no one can guess the substitute that you have used in this delicious dish.

Before heading to the best substitute for short ribs, just learn the basic details like what are short ribs and their nutrition facts. Jump into this guide with no delay and make the best recipes with short ribs alternatives.  

What Is Meant By Short Ribs?

Short Rib is a healthy meat that goes great with diet food. It benefits dietary people in many ways so check the nutritional values from the below table and add to your diet food.

One of the minor portions or cuts of cattle ribs is called short ribs. The meat of short rib is included with crucial meat nutrients and fat. You will find short ribs very flavorful and tender after cooking.

It can be easy and simple to chew and enjoy all the flavors in a single bite. When you prepare the short ribs in the slow-cooking method they taste really delicious & so moist too.

This can be possible due to the fats that got released while cooking. Also, it keeps away the bone and holds a buttery, deep beefy taste. If you take the chunk or short rib portion of cattle, then your recipe will blow your guest's tastebuds. 

Types Of Short Ribs Cuts

However, Short ribs are delivered in two different manners like English Cut and Flanken. English Cut is a 4-6 inch long sliced piece often used for BBQs. It is also called a 'short plate' and includes 2-3 ribs.

Flanken Cut is a short rib cut over various rib bones. It comes with both bone and meat in a piece. You can also call this cut ‘Jewish ribs, Hawai’ian style, or Korean style.

List Of 10+ Best Substitutes for Short Rib

  1. Beef Back Ribs
  2. Beef Plate Short Ribs
  3. Lamb Legs And Shanks
  4. Beef Shank
  5. Beef Chuck Roast
  6. Pork
  7. Beef Flanken Ribs
  8. Beef Brisket
  9. Veal
  10. Chuck Shoulder
  11. Smoked Ham
  12. Pork Top Sirloin Steak
  13. Smoking Your Short Ribs

Wanted short ribs in your dinner recipes but you don't have them handy? Check out these above-provided short rib replacements and prepare several recipes with ease. 

Beef Plate Short Ribs

Beef plate short ribs cut is taken from the rib bones in the lower part of the cow. It is the most flavorful and juicy meat substitute for short ribs. It comes full of fats so avoiding the oil while preparing the recipe is suggestable to overcome the fat content in the pan. 

The taste and marbling effect of beef plate short ribs are more effective than short ribs. You will find this substitute perfect to replace short ribs. You can substitute less amount of this meat with short ribs. 

Pork

If you can't afford beef ribs or don't like to have it then the next best alternative for short ribs is Pork. This meat can fill the hunger pangs of a vast number of people.

To replace short ribs with pork, you can use a 1:1 ratio. The recipes made with pork ribs instead of short ribs don't match in taste but you will love its original flavor. 

Beef Shank

Beef shank comes from the portion of the leg which is done with cross-section cuts. It matches steak and is available in both bone-in and boneless. Once you cook the short ribs then they become soft and tender.

The cook time for beef shank is longer like 4-6 hours so you need a lot of patience and time to prepare the deep and rich meaty flavored dish.

Some of the best moist heat cooking techniques, we should try are poaching, simmering, braising, stewing, pot roasting, steaming, etc. for making the meat recipes. Use the same ratio like 1:1 to use beef shank in place of short ribs. 

Do Check: 

Great Collection of Short Rib Substitutes for Vegan Recipes

Missing out favorite short ribs meaty on the spiritual days or for any other reasons? Don't be! As we have come up with some unique vegan substitutes for short ribs.

Do check out each alternative and include anyone as a replacement for short rib in the recipes. Also, vegetarian people can enjoy meaty flavor foods by using these below-mentioned vegan short ribs substitutes. 

  1. Tempeh
  2. Firm Tofu
  3. Seitan

Tempeh

The First Vegan Substitute for Short Ribs is Tempeh. It is one of the best protein-based alternatives for short ribs as it got made from fremented soybeans.

It doesn't contain any unwanted fats or protein, so you can happily enjoy the tempeh as a short rib substitute in many recipes with the same meaty taste and dense texture.

You can straight away eat them plain or cut a slice of tempeh and pan-fried with veggies. For vegan people, it is the best option to substitute for short ribs in veg dishes, side dishes, and salads.

The texture of tempeh matches various types of meat like beef, chicken, pork, etc. If you decide to substitute the tempeh instead of short ribs then marinate the tempeh in soy sauce, maple syrup, and liquid smoke. 

Firm Tofu

One of the most popular dietary vegan ingredients is Tofu. Firm tofu can be a good substitute for short ribs in meaty recipes. People who left the non-vegetarian foods or meats can try this rich protein-based and delicious meaty textured firm tofu in the recipes.

To substitute the short ribs with tofu, add enough amount of sauce with firm tofu to get that perfect meaty taste and texture.  

Seitan

Seitan is made from wheat gluten and it is famous and worked great as a meat substitute. You can use this in both vegetarian and vegan recipes because of its meaty flavor and chewy texture.

Seitan is gluten-free and rich in protein & iron. You can use any type of seitan as a substitute for short ribs like chunks, strips, patties, or many others.

For substituting the seitan in place of short ribs, do take 1/4 cup of seitan along with some amounts of ingredients like soy sauce and vegetable broth.

Add them all together into a skillet and make it half and golden brown. Don't miss to stir occasionally for getting that perfect texture and color at the end. 

What Are The Nutrition Facts About Short Ribs?

The short rib is a healthy meat food that goes great in a diet plan and it has nutritional content. It benefits dietary people in many ways so check the nutritional values from the below table and add to your diet food.

Name of the Nutrient Amount Unit
Thiamin [Vitamin B1] 0.08 mg
Riboflavin [Vitamin B2] 0.133 mg
Niacin [Vitamin B3] 2.888 mg
Pantothenic acid [Vitamin B5] 0.272 mg
Vitamin B6 0.339 mg
Vitamin B12 [Cobalamin] 2.89 mcg
Folate, DFE [Vitamin B9] 5.65 mcg
Folate, food 5.65 mcg
Copper, Cu 0.06 mg
Magnesium, Mg 15.82 mg
Manganese, Mn 0.012 mg
Phosphorus, P 154.81 mg
Selenium, Se 16.05 mcg
Zinc, Zn 3.57 mg
Protein 16.27 g
Alanine 0.981 g
Arginine 1.028 g
Aspartic acid 1.486 g
Cystine 0.182 g
Glutamic acid 2.444 g
Glycine 0.887 g
Histidine 0.557 g
Isoleucine 0.731 g
Leucine 1.286 g
Lysine 1.354 g
Methionine 0.416 g
Phenylalanine 0.635 g
Proline 0.719 g
Serine 0.622 g
Threonine 0.711 g
Tryptophan 0.182 g
Tyrosine 0.547 g
Valine 0.791 g
Phenylalanine + Tyrosine 1.182 g
Methionine + Cysteine 0.416 g
Net carbs 0.45 g
Saturated fatty acids 17.809 g
Decanoic acid 0.158 g
Dodecanoic acid 0.102 g
Hexadecanoic acid 10.17 g
Octadecanoic acid 5.13 g
Tetradecanoic acid 1.356 g
Monounsaturated fatty acids 18.521 g
Eicosenoic acid 0.057 g
Hexadecenoic acid 2.124 g
Octadecenoic acid 15.515 g
Polyunsaturated fatty acids 1.492 g
Eicosatetraenoic acid 0.023 g
Octadecadienoic acid 0.915 g
Octadecatrienoic acid 0.542 g
Cholesterol 85.88 mg
Ash 0.77 g
Water 54.57 g

FAQs On Best Non-Veg & Vegan Alternatives For Short Ribs

Final Words

Now, we have come to the end of the Short Rib Substitute Guide. The provided alternatives of short ribs can be used in any recipe. Check the texture and taste of these short ribs substitutes before choosing and enjoy the same flavored recipes.

If you think this guide is helpful at any point, make sure to consider any alternative and share your experience in the below comment box.

Our team will check on it and update the content soon. Meanwhile, visit our website and have a look at other ingredient substitutions.

The Best Short Ribs Alternatives With Substitution Ratio

By Dr. Steven Smith MS, RDN, CNSC

Looking for the quick & handy Substitutes for Short Ribs? Here are the amazing non-veg and vegan short rib substitute collection in boneless & bone-in

The Best Short Ribs Alternatives With Substitution Ratio
Prep Time
15 minutes
Cook Time
15 minutes
Total Time
30 minutes
Servings
2
Category
Substitute

Ingredients

  • Beef Chuck Roast
  • Beef Plate Short Ribs
  • Veal Shoulder Cut With Round Form
  • Lamb Legs And Shank
  • Tofu
  • Soy Curls

Instructions

  • 1 Cheaper Alternative To Short Ribs: Beef Plate Short Ribs & Beef Chuck Roast
    • 1 To Substitute Short Ribs: Add an equal amount of Beef Chuck Roast or Beef Plate Short Ribs in the recipe. It means the substitution ratio is 1:1.
  • 2 Non-Beef Short Rib Substitutes: Veal Shoulder Cut With Round Form & Lamb Legs And Shank
    • 1 To Replace Short Ribs: The substitution of veal shoulder for short ribs can be done easily with the same substitution ratio. Also, it is a cost-effective and flavorful substitute too.
    • 2 In various recipes, you can surrogate Lamb Legs And Shank for boneless short ribs in the equal quantities and enjoy great flavors and nutrients
  • 3 Vegan Short Rib Alternatives: Tofu, Soy Curls
    • 1 For Substituting Short Ribs: Take a firm tofu or medium-sized soy curls in the same quantity and add them to the required sauces for getting that perfect meaty taste and consistency.

Nutrition

Calories : 441 cal
Protein : 16.27 g
Potassium : 262.16 mg
Sodium : 55.37 mg
Fat : 40.94 g
Carbohydrates : 0.45 g
Calcium : 10.17 mg
Iron : 1.75 mg