Tender, delicious and addictive Korean braised short ribs – Galbi Jjim recipe!
Have you heard of Galbi Jjim / Kalbi Jjim / Galbijjim (갈비찜) before? Korea has many braised recipes and galbi jjim is braised short ribs made with (often) beef short ribs.
It is typically served during the festive holidays like Korean lunar new years’ day (seollal) and harvest festival days (chuseok) or at someone’s birthday or at a wedding reception. It is definitely one of the highlight dishes during these times.
I would say the best thing about galbi jjim is super tender meat that is coated with sticky, salty, sweet, and nutty sauce. It’s hugely addictive! You can finish a bowl of rice with it in no time!
The only downside is that its traditional cooking method is a little bit labor and time intensive.
Though the ingredients are very available – you may not even need to visit a Korean grocer particularly if you’re not going to add any optional ingredients.
For your information, you can get the right cut of short ribs from your local butcher too. Just show them the below photo and tell them that the size is about 4cm x 6cm (1.6 inch x 2.4 inch). That’s what I often do.
Nowadays, to save some cooking time, many Koreans make galbi jjim in a stove top pressure cooker, but I used my dutch oven for this recipe. While it may take 1 hour extra than pressure cooking, the result is outstanding!
Some say that traditional cooking methods result in better tasting and better textured galbi jjim. But, I will let you decide.
Also, in case you ask me, I’ve made braised ribs using pork several times in the past as well. Though it was so long ago that I should revisit my recipe again soon. In that recipe, I used my electric pressure cooker (aka Cuckoo IH rice cooker)
I also know some people make galbi jjim in a slow cooker too. I will share these versions as I test them out properly. Based on my relatively little slow cooking and pressure cooking experience, I would add no water or a lot less water if I’m using them. Anyway, stay tuned!
In the mean time, I hope you enjoy my traditional galbi jjim recipe! It’s my labor of love! ❤️
Update: If you have an instant pot or an electric pressure cooker, be sure to check out my instant pot Korean short rib recipe! This is just as good as the below recipe. Even better, it’s quicker and less work!
Ingredients for Galbi Jjim (Serves 4 to 6)
Main
- 1.5 kg to 1.8 kg / 3.3 to 4 pounds bone-in beef short ribs
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 2 carrots (275g / 9.7 ounces), cut into medium size pieces
- (optional) 8 dried jujube
- (optional)10 ginkgo nuts, peeled
- (optional) 10 chestnuts, peeled
Sauce
- 170g / 6 ounces red apple (or nashi/asian pear), cored & chopped
- 60g / 2 ounces onion, peeled & chopped
- 6 Tbsp regular soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp brown sugar
- 2 Tbsp honey
- 2 Tbsp rice wine (mirin)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 5 whole black peppers
*1 Tbsp = 15 ml, 1 Cup = 250 ml
How to Make Galbi Jim
1. Soak the beef ribs in cold water for 10 to 20 mins. This is to draw out the red liquid (which looks like blood) from the meat. Change the water a few times during this time.
2. Blend the sauce ingredients in a mixer or food processor. Set it aside until needed.
3. In a large pot, in rolling boiling water, boil the ribs for 6 to 8 minutes over medium high heat. Drain the water and rinse the ribs in cold running water. Cut off any obvious excess fat from the ribs.
4. Place the ribs in a dutch oven and pour the water in (1 & 1/2 cups). Add 2/3 of the sauce. Boil them over medium heat for about 30 mins, covered. Stir gently and change the position of the ribs. Reduce the heat to medium low and continue to simmer for about 10 minutes, covered.
5. Add the remaining ingredients (carrots, jujube, gingko nuts, chestnuts and the remaining sauce) and continue to simmer it over medium low heat for about 20 mins, covered.
6. By now the ribs should be fully cooked, but they may not be tender. Continue to simmer them over medium low heat until your desired tenderness is achieved. (I normally simmer it for an additional 1 hour, covered.) Depending on how long you simmered it, you may still have a reasonable amount of sauce/liquid left in the pot.
To boil it off, you can heat up the stove to medium high heat and boil it for 10 to 12 minutes, covered. This should thicken the sauce and leaves just the right amount of it at the bottom of the pot. Alternatively, you can continue to boil off the sauce over medium low heat until the sauce nearly disappears. (This can take another 1 hour or so. And this will make the meat off the bone. FYI, many Korean moms would say that the bones shouldn’t fall off as it’s visually less appealing when you serve it.)
7. Serve galbi jjim hot with steamed rice and other Korean side dishes. To reheat, add 1/3 cup of water in a dutch oven and boil it for 5 to 7 mins over medium high heat, covered.
Galbi Jjim (Korean Braised Short Ribs)
Ingredients
MAIN
- 1.5 - 1.8 kg bone-in beef short ribs (3.3 to 4 pounds)
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 2 carrots (275g / 9.7 ounces), cut into medium size pieces
- 8 dried jujube (optional)
- 10 ginkgo nuts , peeled (optional)
- 10 chestnuts , peeled (optional)
SAUCE
- 1 red apple or nashi/asian pear, (170g / 6 ounces), cored & chopped
- 1/2 onion (60g / 2 ounces), peeled & chopped
- 6 Tbsp regular soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp brown sugar
- 2 Tbsp honey
- 2 Tbsp rice wine (mirin)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 5 whole black peppers
Instructions
- Soak the beef ribs in cold water for 10 to 20 mins. This is to draw out the red liquid (which looks like blood) from the meat. Change the water a few times during this time.
- Blend the sauce ingredients in a mixer or food processor. Set it aside until needed.
- In a large pot, in rolling boiling water, boil the ribs for 6 to 8 minutes over medium high heat. Drain the water and rinse the ribs in cold running water. Cut off any obvious excess fat from the ribs.
- Place the ribs in a dutch oven and pour the water in (1 & 1/2 cups). Add 2/3 of the sauce. Boil them over medium heat for about 30 mins, covered. Stir gently and change the position of the ribs. Reduce the heat to medium low and continue to simmer for about 10 minutes, covered.
- Add the remaining ingredients (carrots, jujube, gingko nuts, chestnuts and the remaining sauce) and continue to simmer it over medium low heat for about 20 mins, covered.
- By now the ribs should be fully cooked, but they may not be tender. Continue to simmer them over medium low heat until your desired tenderness is achieved. (I normally simmer it for an additional 1 hour, covered.) Depending on how long you simmered it, you may still have a reasonable amount of sauce/liquid left in the pot.To boil it off, you can heat up the stove to medium high heat and boil it for 10 to 12 minutes, covered. This should thicken the sauce and leaves just the right amount of it at the bottom of the pot. Alternatively, you can continue to boil off the sauce over medium low heat until the sauce nearly disappears. (This can take another 1 hour or so. And this will make the meat off the bone. FYI, many Korean moms would say that the bones shouldn’t fall off as it’s visually less appealing when you serve it.)
- Serve galbi jjim hot with steamed rice and other Korean side dishes. To reheat, add 1/3 cup of water in a dutch oven and boil it for 5 to 7 mins over medium high heat, covered.
Nutrition Info (per serving)
The nutrition information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Can I sub the apple for one whole kiwi? Thanks!
It should be OK.
I have tried many galbi jjim recipes – this is the taste that I’ve been looking for. Thank you
I’m so pleased to hear that! Thanks for your feedback. 🙂
Can I use flanken-cut short ribs? Thin and flat as those used for kal bi? That’s what I found in my freezer…any suggestions as to how to adjust the cooking time?
I’m not sure what to adjust without testing it myself further. The meat you have is definitely much thiner. Perhaps you can try this recipe instead? https://mykoreankitchen.com/la-galbi/
Can i cook this with out the red apple or nashi/asian pear,? Would it taste the same?thanks.
You can cook without them. It would be less sweet and tender. Galbijjim will taste better with one of them. 🙂
Tried this recipe. Absolutely amazing!
my family loved this dish, thank you! wasn’t able to use gingko, jujube or chestnuts but we didn’t miss them. we love Korean food! what side dish would go well with this? planning to make it again 🙂
Galbijjim is a festive dish. Japchae will go very well. https://mykoreankitchen.com/korean-glass-noodle-stir-fry-japchae/ But really, any Korean side dishes e.g. kimchi and other sautéed Korean side dishes will go well too. 🙂
This is the second time I’m cooking this and decided to do some tiny tweaks. The first time I cooked it, i felt there wasn’t enough liquid to immerse all the meat and tenderize it properly so this time, I soaked some dried shiitakes in warm water, then dunked the whole thing—together with the tasty liquid I soaked them in. That did the trick. Also, I used less of the dates as it added too much to the sweetness, I felt. Filipinos love sauce (to add on top of the steamed rice) so it went over quite well.
Today I cooked your Galbi Jjim recipe for mothers day,and it was delicious. Next time I will try a little less sugar and honey because being brought up on italian cooking ,I found the sauce a bit sweet,but still loved it.Thanks to you for your recipe .
So in love with this recipe. I made it and everyone loves it. Thank you!
I’m so pleased to hear that! Thanks for your feedback. 🙂
I actually love the sauce that I doubled it and added more soy sauce to taste. And the longer you keep it on the stove the more tender the meat. This is so darn delicious!
I am about to really like this recipe. The texture of the ribs was melt in your mouth perfect. To achieve that, I reduced the boiling and simmering times to about half, since the ribs were thin. I found the sauce, however, which should be doubled, quite weak, never living up to its potential. The Koreans are not afraid of mouth-numbing pepper, and I will add a small bit of that next time. Five stars awaits a spice tweak.
Hi,
I am cooking this tomorrow for Sunday dinner. To clarify: “5 whole black peppers” is this black peppercorns or is this a specialty ingredient that I am not familiar with? Looking forward to cooking this wonderful dish.
It’s black peppercorns. Hope you enjoy it!
Delicious. I made it stove top twice, did not have fruit or mirin, and it was still deelish! Thanks! With less meat, I made the total amount of sauce here. With the required 3 lbs of ribs, I made extra sauce, to go on the rice. Too good!
I’m happy to hear that you enjoyed my recipe! Thanks for your feedback!
I’m planning on making this for a party soon. Thanks for having an automatic serving size converter! So helpful! Can I add potatoes when all the other vegetables are added? Is there anything else I should serve besides rice? Banchan reccomendations?
Yes, you can add some potatoes in there too. The sauce might thicken quicker.
Any banchan will go well. It’s really up to you. Some kimchi and Korean egg rolls perhaps? You can get more ideas from here. https://mykoreankitchen.com/category/side-dishes-banchan/ Enjoy!
I made these tonight and they were finger licking good. Definitely will make these again. Yum, yum, yum!! Thanks for sharing. We love Korean food.
Awesome! Happy to hear that! 🙂
I just tried this recipe and it’s delicious! Thank you!
Great to hear! 😀
I saw a video where the restaurant (in LA) added rice cake. They also served side dishes of different types of kimchee including: napa, daikon, chive. Your dish looks amazing!
Thank you for such a wonderful site!
YOUR RECIPE IS AMAZING , ITS THE FAVORITE FOOD OF OUR FAMILY, MORE POWER TO YOU! HOPE TO RECEIVE MORE RECIPE FROM YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH! FROM SUNSET
Thank you! So glad to hear you enjoyed my recipe! 🙏
Wow, this recipe looks super delicious! It looks like something my grandmother used to make. Can’t wait to try it myself!
Thank you! Hope you like it. 🙂
This recipe looking colourful and yummy !!!!!Pictures look implausible! thanks for sharing this delicious one!!!
Thanks! Hope you enjoy!
Looks so juicy and delicious. Great recipe.
Thank you!