Tender and Juicy Braised Short Ribs (Galbi Jjim) Made in a Rice Cooker
Effortless Galbi Jjim Recipe: Perfectly Tender Short Ribs Made Easy with a Rice Cooker!
Unexpected guests arriving? Don’t stress about the menu! For those special occasions when guests drop by, a show-stopping main course is a must, and what’s more impressive than a savory meat dish? A well-set table typically includes steamed rice, braised short ribs (Galbi Jjim) or Bulgogi, fresh spring rolls (Wolnam ssam), meat wraps (Mu ssam), a sashimi platter, and a crisp salad. These elements elevate the dining experience, making it feel truly special. Today, instead of Bulgogi, we’re making Galbi Jjim using a rice cooker – it’s incredibly simple and delicious! Enjoy restaurant-quality braised short ribs in the comfort of your home.
Ingredients- 3 kg LA Galbi (short ribs, cut crosswise)
- 600g Jin-ganjang (Korean soy sauce for soup/stew)
- 1 Korean pear (medium size)
- 1 cup wine (red wine, white wine, or cooking wine like Cheongju or Mirin can be substituted)
- 2 cups corn syrup (or oligodang)
- 15 cloves garlic (minced or whole)
- 1 stalk green onion
- 3 Tbsp sesame oil
- Small piece of ginger (approx. 20g, minced or thinly sliced)
- 1/5 Korean radish (large)
- A little toasted sesame seeds
- A little black pepper
- 1/4 pineapple (optional, aids in tenderizing meat)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
We’re using 3kg of LA Galbi (short ribs). It’s crucial to remove as much blood as possible. Soak the ribs in cold water, changing the water multiple times. This process can take up to a full day to ensure the blood is thoroughly removed, which results in a cleaner flavor without any gamey smell.
Step 2
Once the ribs are bled, it’s time to prepare the marinade! While many opt for store-bought Galbi Jjim sauce for convenience and a guaranteed delicious taste due to added MSG, today we’ll be making a marinade from scratch using only natural ingredients. This approach yields a clean, yet deeply flavorful and savory dish.
Step 3
For the marinade, you’ll need: 600g Jin-ganjang, 1 Korean pear, 1 cup wine, 2 cups corn syrup, 15 cloves garlic, 1 green onion stalk, 3 Tbsp sesame oil, a little ginger, 1/5 Korean radish, a pinch of toasted sesame seeds, and a pinch of black pepper. First, grate the Korean pear to extract its juice. Take half of this pear juice and mix it with the bled short ribs. This step helps to tenderize the meat and allows the marinade to penetrate better. Add 1 cup of wine for enhanced aroma and flavor; the wine’s natural sweetness will deepen as it cooks. Now, add the minced garlic, roughly chopped green onion, ginger, sesame oil, toasted sesame seeds, and black pepper to the marinade mixture.
Step 4
This mixture isn’t meant to be cooked immediately; it’s a marinade. If you have Korean pears from a holiday gift, this is the perfect time to use them! Pears not only provide natural sweetness but also help break down the meat’s fibers, making it incredibly tender. (Tip: While kiwi is also a tenderizer, its strong enzymes can sometimes make the meat texture too mushy. Pears offer a more consistent, tender result for Galbi Jjim.)
Step 5
Combine the prepared marinade with the short ribs and gently massage it into the meat. Allowing the ribs to marinate for several hours will infuse them with flavor, making the dish significantly more delicious. If time allows, marinating in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to an hour is recommended.
Step 6
Now, let’s prepare the Korean radish. Cut some into larger chunks to be cooked alongside the ribs, and slice some thinly to line the bottom of the rice cooker pot. The thin slices will prevent the meat from sticking.
Step 7
Start by lining the bottom of your rice cooker pot with the thinly sliced Korean radish. This acts as a protective layer. Next, carefully stack the marinated short ribs on top of the radish. (Optional: Adding a few pieces of pineapple here will further enhance the meat’s tenderness due to its natural tenderizing enzymes.)
Step 8
When placing the ribs in the rice cooker, be mindful of the bones. Ensure the bones don’t come into direct contact with the outer heating element of the cooker, as they can burn. It’s best to orient the ribs so the bones are tucked inside or the meaty part faces upwards.
Step 9
Now, tuck the larger, cubed pieces of radish in between the layers of short ribs. Since we’re using a rice cooker for quicker cooking, cutting the radish into slightly larger pieces maintains a pleasant texture. You’ll see that 3kg of ribs fills the rice cooker pot quite generously!
Step 10
While marinating the ribs for an extended period yields great flavor, if you’re aiming for a hot dish right when your guests arrive, you can utilize the rice cooker’s timer function or preset cooking times to have it ready exactly when needed.
Step 11
The versatility of the Cuchen rice cooker is truly impressive! Once everything is in the pot, I can focus on preparing other dishes or greeting my guests without having to constantly monitor the stovetop. It feels almost like having a personal chef – no need to stand by a hot pot!
Step 12
Utilize the ‘Nutrition Stew’ (Yeongyang Jjim) mode on your Cuchen rice cooker. This mode offers a variety of options including Samgyetang (Ginseng Chicken Soup), Galbi Jjim (Braised Short Ribs), Dak Jjim (Braised Chicken), Suyuk (Boiled Pork Slices), Mandu Jjim (Steamed Dumplings), and many more. Select ‘Galbi Jjim,’ and with a simple touch of the confirmation button, the cooking process begins. The precise temperature control, a hallmark of Cuchen’s high-quality rice cookers, ensures a perfectly cooked dish.
Step 13
After 45 minutes of cooking! Behold, the moment of truth – your perfectly cooked Galbi Jjim! It’s astonishing to see how tender and juicy the ribs are, achieved without adding a single drop of water, relying solely on the natural juices released from the meat and vegetables.
Step 14
Voila! Your incredibly tender and flavorful LA Galbi Jjim is ready. Isn’t it amazing that you can create such a gourmet dish so easily in a rice cooker? Perfect for special occasions or when entertaining guests, enjoy this delightful Galbi Jjim right at home!
