Kalbi Recipe (Korean Short Ribs)
Published August 2, 2019. This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
This delicious Korean-style short ribs recipe known as Kalbi is marinated overnight in a tasty sweet fruit marinade and grilled to perfection for an amazing sweet tender taste.
I am a sucker for ribs, especially my braised beef short ribs, but I’m not sure there is a ribs recipe I love more than Kalbi. It translates from Korean to English as “rib.” Kalbi is said to have been created in the 1700s where a Korean king allowed for the banned butchering of a cow to help feed a large mass of people who were helping construct an important structure. The ribs were thrown into a soup and then later someone suggested that they should be roasted.
Over time the roasted short ribs were added to a marinade and then made into what we know them as today. If you love Korean BBQ, then you get to bring your favorite joint right to your kitchen in this amazing recipe.
Kalbi Beef
Kalbi beef is a special cross-cut short rib where the rib is cut longways using a band saw making it a thin cut of meat. The cut bones are exposed along the bottom and if you were to line up the beef together you would easily recognize that it comes from the short rib.
Korean Short Ribs
As you may have read, kalbi is often referred to in America as Korean short ribs which make up the specific way the short ribs are cut as well as the traditional marinade that is in the recipe.
Kalbi Marinade Ingredients
The Kalbi Korean short rib marinade is really delicious and loaded with flavor. I have a few Korean friends and they helped me elevate my current recipe to the next level with a few new ingredients that are incredibly traditional. In addition, they mentioned making the marinade in the blender which will help incorporate the ingredients more efficiently.
- Onion
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Water
- Soy Sauce
- Brown Sugar
- Mirin (rice cooking wine)
- Honey
- Sesame Oil
- Sesame Seeds
- Asian Pear
- Fuji Apple
- Kiwi
- Green onions
- Black Pepper
You can also add in 1 teaspoon of salt and 2 tablespoons of regular sugar to make the marinade more intense in flavor. The 2 ingredients that go into the marinade that I had never heard of were the Fuji apple and kiwi. They help to flavor the ribs as well as tenderize with the added acid that they provide.
Add all of the ingredients to a blender and blend on high speed until all of the ingredients are incorporated and the mixture is smooth. The marinade will last up to 4 days if you choose not to marinate the short ribs right away.
How to Make Kalbi
- 1. Make the marinade and pour it into a deep casserole dish, plastic bag or plastic container.
- 2. Add the beef ribs or kalbi to the marinade and make sure to completely submerge.
- 3. Transfer the marinated ribs to the refrigerator and marinate for at least 12 hours or overnight. I like to move the marinated ribs around in the bag every 4-6 hours to make sure they are getting exposed to the marinade.
- 4. Remove from the refrigerator and let them sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes before grilling.
- 5. dd the ribs to a preheated grill in between 450° and 550° and cook for 3 to 4 minutes per side or until dark grill marks have formed.
- 6. Remove from the grill and garnish with sesame seeds and green onions.
- 7. They are traditionally served with lettuce, leafy vegetables, and perilla.
My friends, I can promise you that these Kalbi Korean short ribs are an absolute family favorite and they will be yours as well. Remember, you can make anything in a restaurant at home because homemade food from scratch just tastes better and it is always guaranteed to bring more smiles and happiness to your life and table!
Reheat and Storage
How to Reheat: To reheat the kalbi simply place back on a hot grill for just a few minutes per side to heat up.
How to Store: Store these ribs covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. The ribs will actually freeze well covered for up to 3 months. See the reheating instructions above.
chef notes + tips
- You can also add 1 teaspoon of salt and 2 tablespoons of regular sugar to the marinade to make it more intense in flavor.
- Don’t marinate them for more than 24 hours.
More Awesome BBQ Recipes
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Video
Authentic Kalbi Recipe (Korean Short Ribs)
Ingredients
- ½ peeled yellow onion
- 5 large garlic cloves
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, trimmed
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup soy sauce
- ½ cup packed light brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons mirin
- ¼ cup honey
- 3 tablespoons sesame oil
- 2 teaspoons sesame seeds
- 1 peeled and seeded Asian pear
- 1 peeled and seeded Fuji apple
- ½ peeled kiwi
- ¼ cup sliced green onions
- ½ teaspoon ground pepper
- 3 pounds kalbi cut short ribs
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients except for the ribs and green onions to a blender and blend on high speed until smooth.
- Transfer the mixture to a plastic zip bag and completely submerge the ribs in the marinade.
- Marinate in the refrigerator for 12 hours or overnight.
- Add the ribs right from the marinade to a hot grill in between 450° and 550° and cook for 3 to 4 minutes per side or until dark grill marks have formed.
- Remove from the grill, garnish with sesame seeds and sliced green onions and serve right away.
Notes
Nutrition
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Great recipe! One question though. Can this be made ahead at all?
If I used 1″ boneless country style short ribs how would I change the cooking times?
Not having done it, it’s hard to say but my guess would be double time on the grill. With that being said I can’t guarantee that those would be that tender or taste the same because it’s a completely different animal.