This recipe for Korean Beef galbi features juicy Beef Short Ribs marinated in a sweet and savory sauce and grilled to caramelized perfection. A must-try!
We partnered with Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner., on behalf of the Beef Checkoff, to bring this tasty Beef Short Rib recipe to you.
Summertime grilling season is upon us and firing up the coals never sounded so good. No doubt, it’s perfectly acceptable to reach for go-to’s like grilled Ribeye, Beef Ribs, or a juicy T-Bone. That said, why not reach for a cut that isn’t used quite as often? The perfect way to experiment is with this recipe for grilled Beef galbi. It’s a sweet and savory Korean Short Rib dish that will have you salivating all season long.
What is Korean Beef Galbi?
Before we dive into the recipe, let’s first cover what galbi is. If you’re a huge fan of Korean BBQ, you’ve likely already come across it, but for those who don’t know here’s the rundown. Galbi features long, thin pieces of Beef Short Rib that have been marinated in a sauce that’s both equally sweet and savory. In the butcher world, this cut of Beef Short Rib is referred to as “flanken-cut” or “LA-style” and cooks ridiculously fast on the grill – making it a wonderful dish to cook for a hectic weeknight meal.
Beef Galbi Marinade 101
Aside from getting your hands on thin-cut Beef Short Ribs, the other most important component of this recipe lies in the ingredients that make up the marinade. The syrupy sauce of low-sodium soy sauce, mirin rice vinegar, brown sugar, apple juice, garlic cloves, and ginger lends such a depth of flavor to the dish. The best part is that you won’t simply toss the marinade after the Beef has soaked in it, but instead boil it down into a decadent sauce to serve alongside the galbi. YUM!
Like it spicy? If your palette craves heat, add a couple of tablespoons of gochujang (Korean-style hot chili paste) to the marinade.
Grilled Beef Galbi Video
How to Prepare Grilled Beef Galbi at Home
Preparing galbi is as simple as marinating the Beef, throwing it on the grill for a quick sear on both sides, and cooking down the marinade into a dipping sauce.
- Marinate the Beef: Place the Beef Short Ribs in a plastic storage bag. In a small bowl, whisk the marinade ingredients together and pour them over the ribs. Massage the marinade into the ribs and place them in the fridge for at least 4 hours.
- Grill the Ribs: Remove the ribs from the bag and grill the thin slices of Beef Short Rib on each side for about 4 minutes.
- Boil the Marinade: In a small saucepan, boil the marinade until it reduces in half.
- Serve the Galbi: Garnish the galbi with chopped green onions and a side of the sauce. Enjoy!
Did you know? The safe internal temperature of Beef Short Ribs is 145°F. If you’re unsure if your Beef is properly cooked through, enlist the help of an instant-read meat thermometer to double-check.
3 Tips for the Tastiest Grilled Beef Galbi
Much like most Beef dishes, galbi requires some TLC for it to reach optimal tenderness and maximum flavor.
- Marinate the galbi for at least 4 hours and up to overnight. A 4-hour marinade will surely do the trick, but if you have time to plan give the galbi 24 hours to sit in the syrupy sauce. This will take the flavor profile to the next level!
- Grill the galbi over medium heat. Don’t rush the process or shock the BeefShort Ribs with too high of a heat. A steady, medium heat is all you need to create the perfect level of caramelization on the outside of the BeefShort Ribs.
- Let the galbi rest for at least 5 minutes. Before digging in, give the galbi 5 minutes to rest at room temperature. This will help to lock in all the precious juices that formed during the cooking process.
Serving Suggestions
For a complete meal, serve the galbi over a bed of steamed white or brown rice and alongside grilled zucchini and mushrooms. Other great side dishes include grilled asparagus or a crunchy Asian-inspired salad with China coast dressing. Another fresh pairing would be this crispy, crunchy ramen noodle salad. You can even go light and stuff the galbi into lettuce leaves for easy lettuce wraps.
Storing & Reheating Best Practices
There’s no arguing that galbi is wonderful eaten straight off the grill, but it also makes for some pretty killer leftovers. To keep it fresh for up to 5 days, store it in the refrigerator in an airtight container. To reheat it, place it on a baking dish or pan covered with aluminum foil and pop it in the oven at 350°F for 5-10 minutes or until warmed through.
FAQ
What is the difference between kalbi and galbi?
There’s no difference between Korean kalbi and galbi. In fact, they are different pronunciations of a similar group of dishes hailing from Korea that are made with either Beef or pork short ribs and marinated in a wide variety of different sauces.
What cut of meat is typically used for galbi?
The cut of meat typically used for galbi is thin, flanken cut Beef Short Ribs. You’ll also find a similar dish made with pork short ribs.
What is galbi traditionally eaten with?
Traditionally, you’ll find galbi served alongside steamed white rice and banchan or bansang – a variety of pickled Korean-style side dishes such as kimchi, pickled cucumber, spicy radish, and so much more.
Can Beef Short Ribs be overcooked?
Yes, Beef Short Ribs can indeed be overcooked. If they sit on the grill too long, they will become tough and rubbery. This is especially true for flanken cut short ribs, as they are ultra-thin and cook super-fast.
More Tasty Beef Recipes to Try
- Easy Braised Beef with Mushrooms Recipe – Savory, slow-cooked chuck roast & mushrooms
- Braised Cabbage with Beef (Best Combo) – Tender Flank Steak & cabbage
- Braised Beef Short Ribs – Tender and delicious, slow cooked cooked on a bed of onions and in a savory broth.
- Korean Beef Bulgogi – Sweet, salty, and spicy ground beef
- Roast Beef Tenderloin – Juicy holiday-style Beef Tenderloin
- Amazing Shish Kabob Recipe (with Beef) – Top Sirloin or Strip Steak skewers with veggies
Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 lb Beef Short Ribs about 1/4 inch thickness
- 3/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 1/4 cup mirin rice vinegar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/3 cup apple juice
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 2 tbsp fresh ginger minced
- 1/3 cup green onions garnish
Instructions
- In a food safe bag, combine the soy sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar, apple juice, garlic cloves, and ginger together.
- Add the ribs, seal the bag, and massage the marinade in through the outside of the bag. Allow the ribs to marinate for at least 4 hours.
- Remove the Beef Short Ribs from the marinade and set the bag of marinade aside. Grill the ribs on each side for about 4 minutes or until each side is golden and the internal temperature is at 145°F.
- In a small saucepan, boil the marinade until it reduces by half (this should take about 7 minutes). Garnish the Beef Short Ribs with green onions and serve them with the marinade on the side for dipping.
Super yummy! Easy to sub ingredients too, I didn't have apple juice so used pineapple juice, used extra garlic to please the hubby lol, and added a good squirt of sriracha. I recommend giving the marinade it a quick taste before adding the meat, just to make sure the flavors are where you want them to be (I tasted an ended up adding a bit more pineapple juice, soy sauce, and the sriracha) seared them on our cast iron as we don't have a grill, and they turned out perfect!! Thanks so much for the recipe <3
Hi Madi, sounds like it turned out amazing! Thank you so much for sharing your process and feedback. Enjoy it dear!
I love that you talked that beef Galbi is a marinated short rib available for different styles of cut. I remember when my sister mentioned last week that she was planning to try a beef Galbi for our family gathering next week, and she asked if I had any idea what would be the best option to consider. I like this informative article, I'll tell her that we can try the beef Galbi at the tofu house restaurant that I know as they have good reviews.
Hey John- hope you give this beef galbi recipe a try, it's so easy to make, you can't go wrong with it! Enjoy!
The best short ribs ever! The flavor was AMAZING!
Thank you, Jennifer! Glad you love them just as much as we do! 🙂
Thank you so much for sharing this amazing recipe! Will surely have this again! It's really easy to make and it tasted so delicious! Highly recommended!
Hi Allyssa-thanks for the feedback, glad you enjoyed these short ribs!
All of my teen boys loved this!! Such yummy flavors!
Hi Diane- thanks for sharing! I'm always happy to hear when kids or teens approve a recipe 🙂