Galbi, Quick and Easy LA style Recipe - Marinated Short Ribs, Korean BBQ

갈비

This is a quick and easy LA galbi recipe. The marinating time is longer than the traditional method but the prep time is quicker and this will result in more consistent taste. The biggest success factors for this recipe are to use the right ratio of soy sauce, sugar and water, and to marinate overnight if not 24 hours. See authentic traditional galbi recipe here.

Marinade ratio and marinating time:
The default ratio of the marinade ingredient here is 1 part soy sauce, 1 part sugar and 3 parts water. This ratio is for marinating overnight. (24 hours is ideal but you need at least 8-12 hours.)

Reduce the amount of water as the marinating time decreases. For example, if you only have 2-3 hours, use equal parts of soy sauce, sugar and water (1:1:1).

If you have no time to marinate, you can pour some marinade in the pan and braise the meat in the sauce until the sauce is gone. Then, brown the meat on high heat. It won't be as good as properly marinated one but it will still taste much better than bland meat.

Optional Ingredients and Substitutions

Nice-to-add Ingredients:
-Adding cheong-ju (korean rice wine) OR white wine will enhance the flavor. For 5 servings, add 1/2 to 1 cup of wine. But remember to decrease the amount of water as you add the wine. For example, if you are adding 1 cup of wine, use 1 less cup of water in the marinade.
-Adding ground Asian pear can give a very nice flavor. For 5 servings, add 1 pear.
-If you don't like using sugar, you can use pineapple juice or honey instead.
-Adding ground kiwi will tenderize the meat. For 5 servings, add 1 or less.

Sesame Seeds: You can omit sesame seeds.
LA Galbi: You can use other cuts of beef. If you are using thicker cuts, decrease the amount of water.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I cook galbi in a pan on stove top?
Yes. If using stove top, cook both sides of the meat on high heat until outside is browned (3-7 minutes). Make sure to let the marinade drip off the meat before placing in the pan. If there is much marinade in the pan, the meat will be boiled instead of pan-fried and the meat will be less tasty.

Can I cook galbi in oven?
Yes, but cook on high heat (475-500 F) until it’s almost cooked and put it on broil on high heat in the last 5 min or so to brown the outside.

My meat was too tough. What can I do?
In general, ribs are pretty fatty so it tends to be pretty tender. If you are using other cuts or want your ribs to be extra tender, you can add some minced kiwi to the marinade. Don't put too much though (½ kiwi is good for 600-800g of meat). Also, make sure your meat is thin.

More questions? Please leave your questions below in the comments section. We will do our best to answer as soon as we can.