Fall Apart Instant Pot Short Ribs with no Wine

These Instant Pot beef short ribs are fall apart tender ribs braised in a rich West African inspired maafe sauce made with peanut butter, tomatoes, and beef stock. The pressure cooker transforms a traditionally long simmered dish into a deeply flavorful meal in about 90 minutes, delivering silky sauce, succulent beef, and the soulful comfort that makes peanut based stews a beloved staple across West Africa.

If you like tender beefy recipes, then also try this cajun rice and gravy with shredded beef. Also for leveled up sous vide cooking try these wine braised short ribs. For a hearty beef soup go with authentic Hungarian goulash.

What is Maafe Sauce

Maafe sauce (pronounced mah-fay) is a rich, savory West African peanut butter stew sauce that’s both comforting and deeply flavorful. It's built around peanuts, tomatoes, and aromatic spices. Though not a traditional use, I like to cook short ribs with it.

By using this sauce you can easily make short ribs without wine.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Flavor Profile: This braised short ribs recipe delivers big, complex flavor, as it's nutty, savory, and spicy all at once. The maafe sauce creates a layered and earthy richness that clings to every bite of tender beef.

Texture Profile: The ribs are melt-in-your-mouth soft but still meaty enough to satisfy; they are juicy and velvety from pressure cooking, with the sauce coating them in a silky finish that tastes like pure comfort.

Cooking Technique & Time: Using the Instant Pot, you’ll build deep flavor fast from sautéing aromatics and browning the ribs to pressure cooking them in maafe sauce for about 45 minutes. This method locks in moisture and intensifies every layer of spice and richness in a fraction of traditional braising time so you can enjoy weeknight short ribs.

Ingredient Highlight - Maafe Sauce:

The maafe sauce transforms the instant pot ribs from everyday short ribs to something soulful and global. The peanut butter gives creamy depth, the tomato paste brings tang, the beef broth and fish sauce delivers umami punch, and the Scotch bonnet adds that unforgettable heat and island swagger.

How To Make Pressure Cooker Short Ribs

Step 1: Season and Sear the Short Ribs

Pat the beef short ribs dry and season generously with salt, pepper, and your preferred spice blend. Set the Instant Pot to Sauté mode and brown the ribs on all sides until a deep crust forms. Remove and set aside.

Step 2: Build the Flavor Base

Lower saute settings to medium and cook the onions, garlic, chili pepper with some of the spice mix.

Step 3: Create the Maafe Sauce

Stir in peanut butter and tomato paste. Whisk until the sauce is smooth and well combined.

Step 4: Pressure cook the ribs

Add stock, fish sauce, bay leaves, fresh thyme, and remaining seasoning then stir. Add ribs back to the pot, cover with the lid and pressure cook 45 minutes. Let pressure release naturally.

Step 5: Reduce and Finish the Sauce

Remove the ribs carefully and switch back to Sauté mode if needed. Simmer the sauce for a few minutes until thickened and silky. Adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, and a squeeze of lime juice for brightness.

Beats and Eats (music to pair with pressure cooker short ribs)

This recipe grooves like “African Times” - rich, rhythmic, and unapologetically bold. Just like Seun Kuti’s horns cut through with fire and spirit, the maafe sauce hits deep with warmth and complexity. It’s food that celebrates roots, flavor, and the kind of groove that keeps you swaying long after the last bite.

Test Kitchen Secrets to a Great Dish:

1. Brown the ribs first to build deep, caramelized flavor.
2. Deglaze the pot to capture every bit of seared goodness.
3. Rest the ribs in the sauce after cooking to let the flavors marry fully.

Serve these braised short ribs with jollof rice, old school smoky collard greens, comforting Southern butter beans, or creamy mashed potatoes for a soul-meets-Africa plate that sings with balance and slight heat.

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