Korean Beef Short Ribs (sous vide)

You will knock it out of the park with these mouthwatering sous vide Korean beef short ribs (also called Kalbi). Tender meat infused with complex, sweet, salty, garlicky flavors. No sous vide equipment? No worries – you have options.

 As we said in our BBQ sous vide short ribs recipe If there was ever a reason to use the sous vide cooking method, short ribs is it.

This tough cut of meat can be cooked to melt-in-your-mouth tenderness and still maintain a medium rare temperature that is simply not possible in the oven. 

You can also achieve a medium rare on the grill, but definitely not the same tenderness. (Still pretty delicious, though, and you can use a more tender cut of meat instead).

A quick 101 on terms. Kalbi – also called Galbi – is the Korean term for short ribs. Kalbi sauce is the marinade used with the short ribs. Bulogoni uses the same type of marinade, but with a tender cut of meat like rib-eye steak instead.

The two basic ingredients in this Korean short ribs recipe are the meat and the marinade. As always, there are variations you can use to tailor it to your taste or what you have on hand.

Bottom line – these beef short ribs are very easy to make and simply delicious. Guests will rave.

Check out our sous vide tips and best sous vide recipes if you love sous vide cooking.

Which short ribs to buy

I use boneless short ribs that are about 1 inch (2.5 cm) thick from Costco. For this recipe, I slice them horizontally to make them 1/2 inch thick. 

More typically, Kalbi short ribs are a bone-in strip of beef cut across the bone from the chuck end of the short ribs. Also called flanken. They are 1/2 inch (1.3 cm) thick and about 8-10 inches long. Use these if you prefer. You can find them at Asian markets or some mainstream grocery stores. 

Short ribs are tough and usually require a braising cook method. Not this time. The sous vide method is an alternative you will love. 

Short ribs are also flavorful and rich due to their extensive marbling. Yes, fat means flavor but, don’t worry, you won’t be eating through chunks of fat. In fact, I doubt you will notice any at all.

Kalbi marinade – it’s fantastic

I use a marinade recipe with a few tweaks from Food Network by Judiaann Woo. After much research and many tests (no complaints from my family), I found several good substitutions and variations described below.

Key ingredients are soy, brown sugar, pear, onion, garlic, mirin and sesame oil. 

The Kalbi marinade makes the dish. In combination with the sous vide cook, this Korean beef short ribs recipe is totally worth the time it takes to make. The effort is minimal. 

What to serve with Korean beef short ribs

Commonly, Korean short ribs are served with white rice. They are also great over mashed potatoes, cauliflower ‘rice’ stir fry (a lighter option) or in lettuce wraps. A vinegar based slaw or easy roasted bok choy and broccoli would be good sides dish choices too.

Tailor To Your Taste

Here are a few substitutions and variations you can try.

• Meat: I use boneless 1/2 inch (1.3 cm) thick beef short ribs, but you can also use thin short ribs with the bone (flanken). Ribeye, sirloin, chicken breasts, pork tenderloin or pork chops would also be great with the marinade and grill method.
• Marinade: Instead of a pear, use a grated apple, kiwi or pineapple. You can also substitute the water with pineapple juice.
• If you don’t have a grill or sous vide equipment, you will find cooking alternatives in the recipe.

Shortcuts

Make this Korean beef short ribs recipe as written to get knock-it-out-of-the-park results, but any of these shortcuts will still be delicious.

1. Marinate the short ribs for 4-6 hours (instead of 24-48 hours)
2. Skip the sous vide and just grill the short ribs after marinating. For this shortcut, you should definitely marinate at least 24 hours and 48 hours if possible.
3. Reduce the time for sous vide from 24 hours to 6 hours.
4. Skip making the glaze/sauce (I don’t suggest this, though, because it adds great depth)

Make Ahead

• You have some flexibility on timing with this recipe.
  • Marinating time can range from 6 hours to 2-3 days. Minimum 24 hours is best.
  • Sous vide time for this recipe is 24 hours. I’ve tried the short ribs for only 5 hours and the meat was a lot more tender than no sous vide, but less tender than 24 hours. This tells me that anywhere from 12-24 hours will be good too. Even 30 hours should be fine.
• Needless to say, the entire recipe can be made ahead except for the final step of grilling (or broiling) for 2 minutes just before serving.

No sous vide equipment?

If you don’t have sous vide equipment and still want to make Korean style short ribs, you have two options: 

1. Skip the sous vide and just grill the short ribs after marinating, or
2. Use a more tender cut of beef like rib eye, flank steak or sirloin – and grill after marinating.

How to make sous vide Korean beef short ribs

Check out our sous vide tips and best sous vide recipes if you love sous vide cooking.

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Korean Beef Short Ribs (Sous Vide)

You will knock it out of the park with these mouthwatering sous vide Korean beef short ribs (also called Kalbi). Tender meat infused with complex sweet, salty, garlicky flavors. No sous vide equipment? No worries – you have options.

Prep Time8 mins

Cook Time1 d 2 mins

Marinating1 d

Total Time2 d 10 mins

Course: main

Cuisine: Korean

Servings: 6 (or 5 big eaters)

1x2x3x

Author: Cheryl, Two Kooks In The Kitchen

Equipment

• Sous vide equipment and grill (or see other options in notes)

Ingredients

• 3 lbs (1.36 kg) boneless beef short ribs, Note 1 I get them at Costco
• Garnish (optional) – chopped green onion, parsley and/or toasted sesame seeds.

Kalbi Marinade (see Note 2 for substitutes)

• 1/2 cup (100g) brown sugar
• 1/2 cup (115 ml) light soy sauce
• 1/4 cup (59 ml) water
• 2 tbsp (30 ml) mirin or rice wine
• 1/4 cup (13g) chopped onion, about 1/2 small onion grate it if not using blender/processor
• 1/2 Asian pear, peeled, cubed
• 2 tbsp minced garlic (6 cloves)
• 1 tbsp (8.9g) dark sesame oil
• 1/8 tsp black pepper
• 1 green onion, chopped (optional)

Instructions

• MAKE MARINADE: Use a food processor, immersion blender or nothing. Place all ingredients in a food processor (or bowl). Process (or blend with immersion blender) until smooth. If you don't have a processor or blender, grate the pear and onion, then mix with the remaining ingredients.
• MARINATE SHORT RIBS: Pour marinade into large zipper lock bag along with boneless beef short ribs. Remove air and seal bag. Squish meat around to ensure meat is well covered with marinade. Place in fridge for 24 -48 hours (or 6 hours if taking a shortcut).
• SOUS VIDE SHORT RIBS (see Note 3 for non-sous vide option). Heat water with sous vide equipment to 135F/57C. Lower bag of short ribs into water. Bag should float under water. If it doesn't, unseal bag, lower it until top of bag is just above water line, then reseal it once all air is pressed out by water. If using a circulator sous vide, cover pot with lid or towel to reduce evaporation.

  Sous vide ribs for 12-30 hours. I find 24 hours perfect or, if ribs are very thin, 12 hours. (For a shortcut, sous vide for 6 hours – but not as tender). Remove shorts rib from bag. Pat dry with paper towel.
• MAKE GLAZE/SAUCE (optional but recommended): Pour marinade juices into small pot (I like to pour it through a sieve to remove small bits but it's fine if you don't). Bring to boil, then reduce to medium high. Boil for about 10 minutes until reduce by half and slightly thickened.
• GRILL KOREAN SHORT RIBS: Spray grill with oil and heat to medium high (450-500F). Brush glaze on both sides of short ribs. Spray ribs with oil on one side to avoid sticking. Grill for 2 minutes on one side that is sprayed with oil. No need to grill the other side. Brush on extra glaze and serve with remaining sauce on the side. Garnish with chopped green onions and/or sesame seeds if desired.

Notes

1. Short ribs options:  I use boneless 1/2 inch (1.3 cm) thick beef short ribs (slice them horizontally in half if they are 1 inch thick). You can also use thin short ribs with the bone (flanken). Ribeye, sirloin, chicken breasts, pork tenderloin or pork chops would also be great with the marinade and grill method.
2. Substitutes in Marinade :
   • Instead of pear – use apple, kiwi or pineapple.
   • Instead of water – use pineapple juice or (half pineapple, half water)
   • Instead of mirin or rice vinegar –  use white vinegar
   • Instead of dark sesame oil – use light 
   • Instead of onion – use green onion
3. If you don’t have sous vide equipment: I suggest marinating for at least 24 hours. Spray grill with oil and heat to medium high (about 450-500F). Remove ribs from marinating bag. Reserve marinade to make glaze/sauce as per instructions above if desired. Pat meat to dry with paper towel, brush on glaze if using, spray with oil. Grill ribs for 2-3 minutes per side for medium rare. Instant thermometer will read 130F. Let rest 5 minutes. 
4. If you don’t have a grill:
   • After sous vide cooking, broil ribs for 2 minutes close to the heat on one side. Brush with glaze first. 
   • If you don’t have sous vide equipment or a grill, bake short ribs at 375F for 20 minutes, then broil for 2-3 minutes close to heat to brown. 
5. Make Ahead:

• • Timing options/shortcuts:
    • Marinating time can range from 6 hours to 2-3 days. 24 hours is best.
    • Sous vide time for this recipe is 24 hours. But I’ve tried the short ribs for only 5 hours and the meat was a lot more tender than no sous vide, but less tender than 24 hours. This tells me that anywhere from 12-24 hours will be good too. Even 30 hours should be fine.
  • Needless to say, the entire recipe can be made ahead except for the final step of grilling (or broiling) for 2 minutes just before serving.

 

Nutrition values are estimates. 

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Korean Beef Short Ribs (Sous Vide)

Amount Per Serving

Calories 518 Calories from Fat 234

% Daily Value*

Fat 26g40%

Saturated Fat 10g63%

Cholesterol 134mg45%

Sodium 1277mg56%

Potassium 913mg26%

Carbohydrates 25g8%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 21g23%

Protein 46g92%

Vitamin A 20IU0%

Vitamin C 2mg2%

Calcium 42mg4%

Iron 6mg33%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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