When comfort is calling, look no further than a pasta buffet menu for serving guests. These two meat toppings work as part of our menu of options you can choose to serve guests, covering all the bases of dietary prefernces. Along with the meat toppings, I thought to include steamed shrimp for those who are not into carnivore pleasures. Because I’m a really considerate host.

As part of the Comfort Pasta Party Buffet, I included these meat toppings to go along with veggie toppings, recipes for three sauces, and some special finishing touches. See the whole plan.

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recipe

Melty Short Ribs

Make this a day ahead: the flavors meld, plus skimming off the fat day 2 gives you more pure meaty joy without the artery clog.

MAKES TEN 1/2-INCH SLICES

PREHEAT OVEN TO 350°F… SEAR THE MEAT

2 LB boneless beef short ribs
3 TB canola oil
s + p
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Let meat come to room temp, pat with paper towels. Heat oil in a Dutch Oven over medium-high heat. Sear meat on all sides, about 2 min each side. Remove from the Dutch Oven and season generously with s + p. Set aside.

ADD FLAVOR… COOK

1 large onion, chopped
3 carrots, sliced thinly
10 cloves garlic, peeled
15 Castelvetrano olives
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3 TB Arrowhead Mills organic spelt flour
1 TB tomato paste
make a bouquet garni with thyme, oregano, rosemary
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1 1/2 CUPS Brandy
seared meat
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2 cups beef stock
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Add onions, carrots, garlic, and olives to Dutch Oven, saute over medium-high heat, about 5 min. Add flour and tomato paste and herbs, stirring constantly, 2 min. Add brandy, scrape the bottom of the pan, and add meat back to the pot, fat side up. Reduce liquid to half, about 10 minutes.

Stir in stock, scrape bottom, and bring to a boil. Cover and transfer to oven, middle shelf. Cook about 2.5 hours, till the meat is falling apart, remove Dutch Oven and let the meat cool in the pot. When ready to serve, cut into 1/2-inch slices and set in a small bowl.

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recipe

Chorizo Crumble

A sprinkle of this works with all three sauces, for those who enjoy a touch of heat and meat.

MAKES ABOUT 1.5 CUPS

BROWN THE MEAT

1 TB canola oil
1 LB chorizo meat
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Heat a frying pan, add oil. When oil is hot, add the sausage meat and break into pieces with a wooden spoon. Cook for 12 min, stirring occasionally, for extra crispy bits. Remove from pan with a slotted spoon.

This recipe is part of our pasta buffet. See more recipes for throwing a laid-back affair in 11 Comfort Pasta