Classic Kalbi Dinner
Serves 6
Ingredients
- For the Kalbi:
- 8 Garlic cloves
- ½ Large or 1 medium Asian pear, peeled, cored, cut into large chunks
- 1 1”-Piece ginger, peeled, coarsely chopped
- ½ Cup mirin (sweet Japanese rice wine)
- ½ Cup soy sauce (not low-sodium)
- ½ Cup sugar
- ¼ Cup toasted sesame oil
- ½ Teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 ½ Pound ¼"–½"-thick crosscut bone-in beef short ribs (flanken-style; about 12 three-bone strips)
- Scallion Salad:
- 2 Bunches scallions, cut into 3" pieces
- 1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon mirin (sweet Japanese rice wine)
- 1 Teaspoon gochugaru (coarse Korean red pepper powder)
- ½ Teaspoon sugar
- Kosher salt
- Vegetable oil (for grill)
- Toasted sesame seeds and thinly sliced scallions (for serving)
- 1 Large head of green leaf, red leaf, or Bibb lettuce, leaves separated, torn if large
- Cooked short-grain rice (for serving)
Shopping List
- Garlic
- Asian pear
- Ginger
- Mirin
- Soy sauce
- Toasted sesame oil
- Bone-in beef short ribs
- Scallions
- Apple cider vinegar
- Gochugaru
- Toasted sesame seeds
- Green leaf lettuce
- Short-grain rice
Instructions
- For the Kalbi:
- Purée garlic, Asian pear, and ginger to a smooth paste in a food processor or blender. Transfer purée to a medium bowl. Whisk in mirin, soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil, black pepper, and ½ cup water until sugar is dissolved.
- Arrange short ribs in a resealable plastic bag or baking dish. Pour marinade over and turn ribs to coat. Seal or cover and chill for at least 4 hours and up to 12 hours.
- Pa Muchim and Assembly:
- Slice scallion pieces lengthwise into thin strips. Soak in a mesh strainer set inside a large bowl of ice water for 10 minutes to remove some sharp bite and allow time to curl slightly. Swish scallions around with your hands to remove any sliminess, then drain well and pat dry. Wipe out bowl; return scallions to bowl.
- Whisk vinegar, mirin, gochugaru, and sugar in a small bowl until sugar is dissolved; season with salt. Add dressing to scallions and toss to coat.
- Prepare a grill for medium-high heat; oil grate. Remove short ribs from marinade and grill until well browned and slightly charred around edges, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a platter and top with sesame seeds and sliced scallions. Let rest for 5 minutes, then cut meat into bite-size pieces with kitchen shears.
- Arrange lettuce on a second platter. Scoop rice into individual bowls.
- To eat, stack a palm-size lettuce leaf in your hand. Top with rice, meat, and scallion salad and wrap into a tight bundle. Eat in one bite and repeat!