Galbi (Korean Marinated Short Ribs)
"Costco Korea's single most iconic prepared item — sweet, savory, deeply caramelized beef short ribs marinated in soy, Korean pear, garlic, and sesame. Once you nail this marinade, you'll never look at plain grilled beef the same way again."
Costco Copycat — This is a homemade version of the Costco International Flavors item. See it in store →
The Game Plan
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**Marinade:** Blend or finely grate the Korean pear. Combine with soy sauce, sesame oil, brown sugar, mirin, rice vinegar, grated onion, minced garlic, and black pepper. Stir until the sugar dissolves.
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Place flanken-cut short ribs in a large zip-top bag or shallow container. Pour marinade over the ribs, making sure every piece is coated. Seal and refrigerate overnight (at least 8 hours, up to 24 hours). The pear is doing double duty here — tenderizing and sweetening.
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Remove ribs from the fridge 30 minutes before cooking to take the chill off.
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**Grill method:** Heat grill to high (around 500°F). Grill ribs 2-3 minutes per side until you get deep, sticky char marks. The sugar in the marinade caramelizes fast, so watch them closely.
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**Pan method:** Heat a cast-iron skillet or heavy pan over high heat until smoking. Cook ribs in a single layer (work in batches — don't crowd) for 2-3 minutes per side.
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Transfer to a platter, garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds. Serve immediately with steamed rice and kimchi.