This Korean beef stew recipe is one of our family’s favorite. It’s a flavorful stew with an irresistible sauce! Be sure to prepare lots of rice and bean sprouts for side dish..


This Korean Beef Stew, inspired by Korean fast food restaurant back in Manila, is definitely a favorite in our house! An order of this stew always comes with bean sprout side dish. They are just perfect together because it balances the sweetness and adds a crunchy texture. I and my husband love this stew because the sweet sauce complements the fall-off-the-bone meat.
The first step in making this is to put the short ribs in a large pot together with water, garlic, whole onion, ginger, and salt. Make sure that all the meat pieces are immersed in water. Bring to a boil then reduce to medium heat and cook for 30-45 minutes, skimming off the scum on top. Next, strain the beef stock and reserve it for our braising liquid. Discard the garlic, onion, and ginger. Put back the meat in the pot then add the ingredients for the braising liquid – beef stock, soy sauce, and sugar. Cover, bring to a boil, then reduce to medium heat and continue to cook until beef is tender, about 1 to 1.5 hours. By that the time the short ribs have released their fats. Skim off the excess oil.
When the short ribs are tender, it is important to taste your sauce and adjust according to your liking. Add more sugar if you prefer it to be sweeter; add fish sauce or salt if you like to increase saltiness. Once you are good with the flavor, add the sesame oil, toasted sesame seeds, and sliced scallions. Serve this beef stew with Korean bean sprout side dish, kimchi, and lots of steam rice.
GET THE RECIPE: Korean Bean Sprout Side Dish
Korean Beef Stew (Galbi Jjim)
Ingredients
- 1 kilo beef short ribs
- 5 cups water
- 1 piece whole white onion peeled
- 5 cloves garlic peeled
- 2 pieces thumb-size ginger peeled
- ¼ teaspoon fine salt
- 4 cups beef stock
- ½ cup soy sauce
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
- ¼ cup scallions/ onion leeks sliced
Instructions
- Place short ribs in a large pot together with water, garlic, whole onion, ginger, and salt. Make sure that all the meat pieces are immersed in water. Add more if necessary. Bring to a boil then reduce to medium heat and cook for 30-45 minutes, skimming off the scum on top.1 kilo beef short ribs5 cups water1 piece whole white onion5 cloves garlic2 pieces thumb-size ginger1/4 teaspoon fine salt
- Next, strain the beef stock and reserve it for our braising liquid. Discard the garlic, onion, and ginger.
- Return the meat into the pot then add the ingredients for the braising liquid – beef stock, soy sauce, and brown sugar. Cover, bring to a boil, then reduce to medium heat and cook the beef until tender, about 1 to 1.5 hours. Skim off the excess oil or you can also drag a paper towel on top so it will absorb the oil.4 cups beef stock1/2 cup soy sauce1/3 cup brown sugar
- Taste your sauce and adjust according to your liking. Add more sugar if you prefer it to be sweeter; add fish sauce or salt if you like to increase saltiness.
- Add the sesame oil, toasted sesame seeds, and sliced scallions. Serve hot with Korean bean sprouts, kimchi, and rice.1 tablespoon sesame oil1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds1/4 cup scallions/ onion leeks
can i use white sugar
Yes!:)
Is the stock in step 3 the same as the stock you made in steps 1 and 2 or is it additional stock?
Yes, it is the same stock made in steps 1 and 2. I hope you’ll like this stew!
I hate to throw out the garlic onion and ginger, cant you just puree those 3 ingredients into a liquid and put them back into the stock to make it more flavorful?
Hi, Maggie! You can definitely do that if you wish.
Could this Korean Stew be made in a Slow Cooker?
I have not made this recipe yet using a slow cooker but if I were to try it, I would do steps 1 and 2 as instructed in the recipe, then at step 3 use the slow cooker instead of pot over stove method. I would also reduce the braising liquid (4 cups maybe) as slow cookers tend to increase the liquid due to steam. Slow cook on high for 4-6 hours or until meat is tender.
I cook it in a slow coomer every time!
Thank you for letting us know, Denis!
Excellent lunch idea! I would love to give it a try soon!
You’ll love it, Agness! 🙂
This recipe was wonderful! Added a bit of Thai basil to it and used stewed beef and still worked out wonderful, thank you for the recipe!
That’s wonderful, Laurel ! Thank you for sharing your feedback! 😀
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