Galbi
Galbi are beef short ribs marinated in a sweet soy and pear mixture, then grilled until charred at the edges. They are a popular choice for family barbecues.

Korean.food-Galbi-03: ayustety (a flickr user), CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Where it comes from
Galbi means 'rib', and grilled ribs have long been served at gatherings and celebrations in Korea. The meat is cut flanken-style so it cooks quickly over charcoal.
Explore the cuisine of South Korea.
Recipe
Make Galbi at home
Ingredients
- 3 lb beef short ribs, flanken-cut
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 Asian pear or apple, grated
- 1 small onion, grated
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons rice syrup or honey
- Black pepper
- Scallions and sesame seeds
How it's made
- Soak the ribs in cold water for 30 minutes to draw out blood; drain and pat dry.
- Blend soy sauce, sugar, pear, onion, garlic, sesame oil, honey and pepper.
- Marinate the ribs 4 hours or overnight in the refrigerator.
- Heat a grill or cast iron pan to high.
- Cook the ribs 3-4 minutes per side until well browned and cooked through.
- Snip into pieces and serve with lettuce, rice and sauces.
Variations
- Dwaeji galbi: spicy pork ribs
- Galbi-jjim: braised short ribs
- LA galbi: thin cross-cut style
Cook’s tip: Grill over medium-high heat and watch the sugary marinade, which can burn quickly.
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About this page
Description and method written by Intercontinental Chef. Home-style method; quantities are a starting point, so adjust to taste.
Photo credit
- Korean.food-Galbi-03: ayustety (a flickr user), CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
