Today let’s learn about cooking galbi jjim (갈비찜) at home! This dish is one of Korea’s most popular. More like a stew comprised of braised beef short ribs and vegetables, the sweet and savory flavor is one that will have you adding it to your regular meal rotation.
About the South of Seoul “A Year to Learn Korean Cooking’ Series
Many of us live in South Korea for only a year. However, time flies past faster than we can imagine. At South of Seoul, we decided to create a simple series that will offer 2-4 dishes to learn each month so that when you leave South Korea you have a slew of new dishes you feel comfortable making anywhere.
This series is a collaboration with Kimchi Rednecks. In 2020 they created the first blog in this series Online Resources for Learning to Cook Korean Food. These two love to have adventures in the kitchen and share the results with their community. Be sure to follow Kimchi Rednecks on YouTube for other great videos about living life in South Korea.
About Galbi jjim
Galbi jjim is a delicious braised beef short rib with vegetable dish. Although this dish is most often made with beef ribs, it can also be made with pork short ribs, referred to as dweji galbi jjim 돼지갈비찜. The most common vegetables included in this dish are Korean radish, potatoes, mushrooms, and carrots. However, there are many variations of this dish and recipes that use other vegetables as well.
The sauce for galbi jjim has a delicious sweet, savory, and nutty flavor. Additionally, adding gochugaru to this dish can kick up the heat for some spice! The meat just falls off the bone, and the vegetables have a fabulous texture. On the whole, this dish has such a depth of flavor that it will make you want to eat it all the time.
Traditionally, galbi jjim is served during Seollal, Chuseok, family birthday celebrations, and wedding receptions. Typically made from the center part of the ribs, many Koreans considered this dish high-class.
Furthermore, if you are in the Daegu area in the district of Dongin-dong, check out the street known for being the place for the tastiest galbi jjim.
Biggest Hurdle in Cooking Galbi Jjim
Even though beef short ribs are expensive, it is vital to choose good quality short ribs for this recipe. Definitely select ones with a lot of meat still attached to the ribs. Moreover, it is critical to soak and blanch the ribs to remove as much blood as possible. Although it may seem a hassle to wash and blanch the ribs, failing to do so might give the dish an off-putting odor.
This dish takes a bit of time to cook but the end result is worth all of the labor.
Three Recommended Cooking Galbi jjim Videos to Watch
Our first experience was this dish came at Chuseok one year. Our excellent Korean neighbor brought some of their Chuseok goodies to share when they returned from their family visits. Chuck and I thought it tasted like a fantastic version of Korean pot roast but with higher quality meat.
Since this dish is often made for special occasions, many recipes and videos exist to help you make your favorite version. Variations of the recipes have been made for Instant Pot and slow cookers.
Korean American Cooking Galbi jjim
Korean Cooking Galbi jjim
American in Korea Cooking Galbi jjim
Let Us Know How It Turns Out
When you make galbi jjim for the first time at home, be sure to leave a comment and let us know how it turned out! Also, if you live in Pyeongtaek, you can even share your success (or failure) with us in the Pyeongtaek Food & Fun Facebook group.
If you are looking for other dishes (Korean or otherwise) or reviews of restaurants, be sure to check out the KimchiRednecks channel or check out our social media accounts on Facebook or Instagram, where we often share what we are cooking or eating.
Read more in our Year to Learn Korean Cooking Series
The KimchiRednecks channel was created in September 2018 by Chuck Whittington and Melissa Edwards-Whittington. They moved to Korea in July 2017 with their three Shih Tzu daughters, Sookie, Minion, and Mayhem.
The YouTube channel started as a way to share their lives here with their friends and families back in the states. They both have a deep love for Korean culture, people, and food and love being able to share that with others.
Chuck Whittington graduated from Francis Marion University with a Bachelors in Information Systems Management. He has worked in Information Technology roles for over 20 years. Chuck has always had an interest in Korea and has traveled here many times in the past.
Melissa Edwards-Whittington graduated from Mid-Atlantic Christian University with a Bachelors in Bible and a Minor in Elementary Education. She has worked in various roles in customer service and marketing over the years.
The YouTube channel has many interests just like they do because it is an extension of their lives here in Korea. You will often find videos on their channel about daily life in Korea, cooking, foodie adventures, traveling and exploring, computer and tech pursuits, gaming, and working on the Subaru BRZ.
Over the years, many of their friends have joined them for their videos and adventures because they enjoy sharing their lives with those around them. In addition, they add new interests from time to time, like making moonshine in Korea.
Life is about growing and changing, and the longer the KimchiRednecks live in Korea, the more they learn to love this country and culture and all it has to offer.
