Galbitang (Short Rib and Korean Radish Soup)
Published Feb. 26, 2025

- Total Time
- 2 ½ hours
- Prep Time
- 30 minutes
- Cook Time
- 2 hours
- Rating
- Comments
- Read comments
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Ingredients
- 3pounds English-cut short ribs
- 1medium yellow onion, peeled and halved
- 5large garlic cloves, lightly crushed
- 1(½-inch) piece peeled ginger
- 1teaspoon whole black peppercorns
- 3scallions, 2 cut into thirds and 1 thinly sliced
- 1pound Korean radishes (mu) or daikon, peeled and cut into 2-inch chunks
- Salt and pepper
- Cooked short-grain rice and kimchi, for serving
Preparation
- Step 1
Add the short ribs to a large pot, cover with 2 inches of cool water, and let soak for 30 minutes. Drain.
- Step 2
In the same pot, cover short ribs with enough cool water to cover by 1 inch. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat and cook, skimming off any foam that rises to the top, for 3 minutes. Drain, rinsing meat if needed to remove any residue and wiping out the pot.
- Step 3
Return ribs to the cleaned pot and add onion, garlic, ginger, peppercorns, the chopped scallions and 10 cups of water. Bring to a boil over medium-high, then cover, reduce heat to low and cook for 30 minutes.
- Step 4
After the ribs have cooked for 30 minutes, add the radishes, cover and cook until beef and radishes are tender, about 1 hour to 1 ½ hours longer.
- Step 5
Using tongs or a slotted spoon, transfer ribs and radish to a cutting board. Strain broth through a sieve into a large bowl; press on the solids to extract juices, then discard. Skim any fat off the surface of the broth, if desired. Thinly slice the radishes.
- Step 6
Add beef (it can be kept on the bone, or the bones can be discarded, if preferred), radishes and broth back to the pot and bring to a simmer. Season with salt and pepper and stir in half of the sliced scallions.
- Step 7
Divide soup among bowls and top with the remaining scallions. Serve hot with rice and kimchi on the side.
Private Notes
Comments
Simple, comforting and refreshing. I made the stew as written, with an extra inch of ginger. I did not defat the broth as aggressively as I could have and wish that I had - otherwise this was perfect. Served with kimchi and short grain rice on the side, it is a perfect light lunch or dinner. If short ribs were cheaper ($15/pound near me) I’d make this more often - I wonder how chuck roast or beef stew meat would fare?
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