Name: Korean Short Ribs Recipe {BBQ Galbi}
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 4 h 30 min
Yield: 2
Cuisine: Asian Fusion
Ingredients: 1 lb beef short ribs or chuck steak. When using steak, recommend marinating it with 1/4 tsp baking soda first to tenderize the beef.; Green onion, chopped, for garnishing; 4 tbsp {1/4 cup} dark soy sauce; 2 tbsp light soy sauce; 4 tbsp sugar, organic brown sugar or sugar in the raw; 1/2 tbsp sesame oil; 1/4 to 1/2 red onion, depending on the size, thin sliced; 1/2 tbsp minced garlic; one stalk Green onion, chopped {optional}

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Korean Short Ribs, or BBQ Galbi is a popular Korean-style beef dish. It features appetizingly delicious juicy short ribs in a sweet garlicky soy sauce with a hint of sesame oil aroma.

How to make a Scratch Korean-Style Short Ribs {BBQ Galbi} Marinating Sauce?

Marinate short ribs in homemade Korean BBQ Galbi sauce

As you can imagine, soy sauce is the first primary ingredient. I use a combination of dark Soy Sauce and Light Soy Sauce to balance the taste and color.

Sugar is the next key ingredient. Organic brown sugar or turbinado sugar {also known as Sugar in the Raw} are both excellent choices.

Red onion, green onion {optional}, minced garlic, and a splash of sesame oil elevate the flavor and aroma.

For each pound of short ribs, use 6 tbsp soy sauce (4 tbsp dark and 2 tbsp light), 6 tbsp sugar, 1/2 tbsp sesame oil, and 1/2 tbsp minced garlic. Add a quarter (1/4) up to half (1/2), depending on the size, red onion thin slices.

How to make Korean-Style Short Ribs?

It is easier than you think to make authentic Korean Short Ribs. All you need to do is marinate the short ribs in the homemade BBQ Galbi sauce for a few hours, overnight preferred.

Then grill the short ribs using a nonstick frying pan.

Can you make tasty Korean Short Ribs using Steak?

The short answer is YES, absolutely you can. I do that all the time when I am in the mood for Korean short ribs but only have steak on hand.

The first is to cut the steak into thin slices across the grain

This is the same first step as making Beef Stir Fry, Mongolian Beef {P.F. Chang’s Style}, Beef with Broccoli, or Beef Slices with Green Pepper Stir Fry. However, we don’t need to cut again in the other direction and can leave them as long strips.

Rinse and Soak the Beef

Rinse the steak slices under the running water three times. Then soak them in the cold water for about 10 minutes. This is to get rid of trapped blood so that the beef tastes more refreshing. It also helps moisturize the meat.

Marinate the Beef with Baking Soda

Remove the steak slices from the soaking water, and gently squeeze to get rid of the excess water. Place them onto a deep plate. Add 1/4 tsp baking soda, toss and mix well, and let it rest for about 10 minutes.

Prep Garlic, Green Onions, and Red Onions

Cut green onions and red onions into small pieces. Mince garlic using a compact food processor.

Minced Garlic Using a Compact Food Processor

Prepare Homemade Korean BBQ Galbi Sauce

Add both soy sauce to a saucepan and bring it to a boil. Turn off the heat once it reaches the boil. Add sugar to the saucepan and whisk until sugar is dissolved.

Add sliced red onions, minced garlic, and chopped green onion, and mix well. Set it aside.

Marinate Beef Slices in the Homemade Korean BBQ Galbi Sauce overnight

Add steak slices into the marinating sauce, toss, and mix well using a pair of bamboo utensils. Cover and seal the mixing bowl with seal wrap and leave it in the fridge overnight.

Korean Short Ribs Recipe {BBQ Galbi}

Yield: 2 servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Additional Time: 4 hours

Total Time: 4 hours 30 minutes

Korean Short Ribs, or BBQ Galbi is a popular Korean-style beef dish. It features appetizingly delicious juicy short ribs in a sweet garlicky soy sauce with a hint of sesame oil aroma.

Ingredients

1 lb beef short ribs or chuck steak. When using steak, recommend marinating it with 1/4 tsp baking soda first to tenderize the beef.
Green onion, chopped, for garnishing

For Homemade Marinating Sauce, for each pound of short ribs:

4 tbsp {1/4 cup} dark soy sauce
2 tbsp light soy sauce
4 tbsp sugar, organic brown sugar or sugar in the raw
1/2 tbsp sesame oil
1/4 to 1/2 red onion, depending on the size, thin sliced
1/2 tbsp minced garlic
one stalk Green onion, chopped {optional}

Instructions

Prep the Steak Slices, Skip when using Short Ribs:

Cut the steak into thin slices across the grain.
Rinse the steak slices under the running water three times. Then soak them in the cold water for about 10 minutes.
Remove the steak slices from the soaking water, and gently squeeze to get rid of the excess water. Place them onto a deep plate. Add 1/4 tsp baking soda, toss and mix well and let it rest for about 10 minutes.
Prep Garlic, Green Onions, and Red Onions. Cut green onions and red onions into small pieces. Mince garlic using a compact food processor.

Prepare Homemade Korean BBQ Galbi Sauce:

Before preparing the marinating sauce, soak the short ribs in a large mixing bowl filled with cold water. Change the water a couple of times if needed. This is to get rid of the trapped blood.
Add both soy sauce to a saucepan and bring it to a boil. Turn off the heat once it reaches the boil. Add sugar to the saucepan and whisk until sugar is dissolved. Add sliced red onions, minced garlic, and chopped green onion, and mix well. Set it aside.

Marinate the Beef in the Homemade Korean Beef Sauce:

Drain the short ribs or beef slices. Gently squeeze to get rid of the extra water and place them in a large mixing bowl.
Pour the marinating sauce over the beef. Toss, and mix well using a pair of bamboo utensils.
Cover and seal the mixing bowl with seal wrap and leave it in the fridge for a few hours or overnight.

Grill the Marinated Beef:

Remove the marinated beef from the refrigerator in advance to bring its temperature to room temperature. Toss and mix the beef with the sauce.
Turn the heat to medium and heat a quality nonstick frying pan for 1 minute.
Pick the short ribs or beef slices one at a time to drain the marinating sauce. Lay it flat on the pan using a pair of kitchen tongs or cooking chopsticks. Cook a few short ribs at a time, do not overcrowd the pan.
Let it cook for about 30 seconds (for chuck steak slice) to 1 minute (for short ribs) and then flip the beef and cook the other side. For short ribs, it takes longer to cook. Repeat until it is cooked to your satisfaction. To test whether it is done, use a chopstick to poke the meat next to the edge of the bone, if you can poke through without seeing blood, then it is a good sign the short ribs are cooked.
Remove the cooked short ribs or steak slices from the pan and place them onto a serving plate. Repeat the above process until all the marinated steak slices are cooked.
For the marinating sauce left behind, I usually bring it to a boil and then simmer for 10 minutes. You can then use it as a dipping sauce or sauce for the noodles or rice.
All done! Enjoy super tender and savory Korean BBQ Galbi.

Notes

I like grilling the short ribs stovetop using a nonstick pan. This way, the short ribs are juicier. Nevertheless, you can certainly grill them on a grill.
This 14-inch ceramic nonstick pan is the perfect size to grill short ribs on a stovetop.
For the marinating sauce left behind, I usually bring it to a boil and then simmer for 10 minutes. You can then use it as a dipping sauce or sauce for the noodles or rice.

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Nutrition Information

Yield 2 Serving Size half pound short ribs
Amount Per Serving Calories 392Total Fat 23gSaturated Fat 9gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 11gCholesterol 110mgSodium 1524mgCarbohydrates 14gFiber 1gSugar 12gProtein 32g

Nutrition calculation is provided by Nutritionix to the best knowledge per ingredients description and isn't always accurate.

Beef garlic Korean BBQ steak sweet soy

Korean Short Ribs {BBQ Galbi}