This grilled Asian beef short ribs recipe (Thai-style) using flaken-cut ribs is a mouth-watering dish that will tantalize your taste buds all summer! These beef ribs are marinated in a delicious blend of Thai sauces, garlic, cilantro stems, and coconut milk, infusing the meat with a rich, savory flavor.
The inspiration behind this recipe for Asian beef short ribs stems from two sources. Firstly, my recent sharing of a recipe for Thai grilled BBQ pork spare ribs, which served as a basis for this dish. Secondly, my Korean cousin recently returned from a trip to Korea to connect with her roots. The popular Korean dish of Galbi beef, a recipe for short ribs, reminds me of this dish.
I aimed to merge Thai flavors into the traditional beef short ribs recipe to create this unique and flavorful dish. Trust me, this original recipe of Thai-flavored flanken short ribs is one I'm very excited to share with you!
For more Thai grilling recipes you'll love, make these. Sticky Asian beef ribs, Bacon-wrapped Enoki mushrooms, Thai BBQ Pork spared ribs, Moo Ping Pork skewers, and Thai BBQ tiger shrimp.
Jump to:
- What are Asian beef short ribs?
- Why you'll love this Thai flavored flanken ribs
- Flanken cut vs English cut
- What is the difference between a Korean short ribs recipe and short ribs?
- Ingredients for making Asian short ribs
- How to make Thai-style Asian short ribs?
- Helpful Kitchen tips on making Thai beef short ribs
- What to serve with Thai beef short ribs
- What to serve with Asian short ribs?
- Helpful kitchen tools for grilling this Asian beef short ribs recipe
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More Thai grilling recipes
- Thai Sauces for grilled food
- Grilled Asian Beef Short Ribs Recipe (Thai-Style)
What are Asian beef short ribs?
Asian grilled beef short ribs with flanken cut is a mouth-watering dish that will tantalize your taste buds. The flanken cut beef ribs are marinated in a delicious blend of Thai sauces, including oyster sauce, fish sauce, honey, garlic, cilantro, and coconut milk, which infuse the meat with a rich, savory flavor.
Once marinated, the beef ribs are grilled to perfection, resulting in juicy and bone-tender meat bursting with flavor. The charred edges of the tender beef add a smoky taste that perfectly complements the Thai seasoning.
Why you'll love this Thai flavored flanken ribs
- It's delicious! This dish's flavors and textures make it a must-try for any ribs lover.
- So, if you are looking for a delicious and exotic meal that will impress your guests on special occasions, this is the recipe. It is sure to be a crowd-pleaser!
- A great summer recipe served as a stand-alone main meal or a meaty and delectable starter.
- This is the perfect recipe to impress your friends and family with your grilling skills.
Flanken cut vs English cut
There are two popular cuts for short ribs. Ones are English-cut and flanken-cut short ribs. Ultimately, the best short rib type depends on your preference and recipe. Both English-cut and flanken-cut short ribs can be delicious when cooked correctly.
English-cut short ribs are cut parallel to the bone and have a meaty portion on one side and a bone on the other. English cuts are best as braised short ribs and best as a slow cooking process as the meat becomes tender and falls off the bone.
Flanken-cut short ribs are cut across the bone with a thin strip of meat on each side of the little bones. They are ideal for grilling, broiling, or pan-searing as they cook quickly and have a nice charred flavor.
What is the difference between a Korean short ribs recipe and short ribs?
Korean short ribs are a specific type of short rib prepared differently than traditional ones. Korean short ribs are marinated and grilled, while traditional short ribs are typically cooked in low heat, either in a slow cooker like a crock pot or instant pot. Galbi Jjim is a popular Korean recipe cooked using this braising method.
Korean short ribs are cut across the bone and typically marinated in a sweet and savory sauce made with soy sauce, sugar, garlic, and other seasonings. This results in tender, flavorful meat that is often grilled or broiled.
A delicious Korean recipe using flanken cut ribs is called Galbi, a popular dish with Korean-style seasonings.
In short ribs, the meat is cut parallel to the bone and is often braised or slow-cooked for a long time. They have a rich, beefy flavor and can be used in stews, soups, or other hearty dishes.
Ingredients for making Asian short ribs
- Beef short ribs. Flanken cut. Ask a butcher at your local grocery store to specially cut the ribs for you. I did and had the most pleasant experience with mine, and he was extremely helpful!
- Oyster sauce. Adds a velvety umami flavor to the ribs.
- Fish sauce. Fish sauces are used in many Asian cuisines, especially Thai food. It gives an unequaled umami Asian flavor that is hard to achieve if using soy sauce.
- Rice wine vinegar. Lime or lemon juice can be used as a substitute.
- Thai sweet chili garlic sauce. This is the same sweet sticky sauce used for dipping Thai chicken wings. Buy the sauce at your Asian markets, or use this homemade sweet chili sauce recipe.
- Honey. The marinade ingredients are balanced with honey, adding to the delectable sticky sauce. Agave or brown sugar is fine as a substitute.
- Sriracha sauce. Adds a touch of spiciness and tang to the recipe.
- Cilantro stems. If cilantro roots are available, use 5-6 roots instead of the stems.
- Coconut milk. Use full-fat coconut milk. I used a Thai brand of coconut milk, Chao Koh, for this recipe.
- Garlic. Use fresh garlic. Garlic paste is ok as a substitute but garlic powder is not recommended.
How to make Thai-style Asian short ribs?
Step 1. Combine the marinating ingredients in a small food processor (everything but the beef ribs). Blitz until garlic and cilantro and finely chopped. *Check kitchen tips if not using the food processor.
Step 2. Add the beef short ribs to a large deep dish or aluminum pan. Toss to coat the meat evenly with the marinade. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour and up to 5 hours. I marinade my ribs in two layers-*See Kitchen notes if you don't have a large pan to fit all the rib pieces.
Step 3. Remove the meat from the refrigerator. Let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before grilling. While waiting, reheat your grill to medium high heat. Brush the grates lightly with vegetable oil to prevent sticking.
Step 4. The next step is to grill the ribs. Place the beef short ribs on the grill and cook for 5-7 minutes on each side or until they are cooked to your desired level of doneness. Baste the short ribs with the marinade every time you flip them for the best results. Cook time varies on each grill, so keep an eye on your meat or use a meat thermometer to see if the meat is done.
Step 5. Once done, remove the beef short ribs from the grill and let them rest for a few minutes before serving. Serve the Thai grilled beef short ribs with your favorite sides, such as white rice or vegetables. Garnish with chopped cilantro, green onions, toasted sesame seeds, some red pepper flakes (if desired!), and lime wedges. Enjoy!
Helpful Kitchen tips on making Thai beef short ribs
- If you don't have a food processor, finely dice the garlic and cilantro stems, then combine them in a small bowl with all the sauces. Whisk together until smooth.
- A spice grinder may be used, but you must make the sauce in two batches as they are too small.
- When combining the sauce with the ribs, use a large deep-dish baking pan. You may need to add 2 layers, as I did for my ribs. The best way to do this is to pour half the soy sauce mixture over the single layer of ribs, add another layer, and pour the rest of the sauce over that top layer (Think lasagna sheets and sauce layers!). Make sure each individual ribs get a good sauce coating to marinade in.
- Marinate the beef short ribs for a few hours. This will help tenderize the meat and infuse it with the marinade flavors.
- Baste the beef short ribs with the marinade while cooking to keep them moist and flavorful.
- Let the beef short ribs rest for a few minutes after cooking to allow the juices to redistribute throughout the meat. This will make them juicier and more tender.
What to serve with Thai beef short ribs
Serve this Thai-flavored Asian short rib with steamed sticky rice and a spicy papaya salad, a spicy dipping sauce or two like Nam Jim Jaoew, or Thai green seafood sauce, which completes the family Thai-style meal. This dish's combination of flavors and textures makes it a must-try for any food lover.
What to serve with Asian short ribs?
This dish serves with steamed jasmine rice, sticky rice, and a spicy papaya salad or Lao cucumber salad. A spicy sauce or two like Nam Jim Jeow or Thai green seafood sauce work perfectly well if you want a tasty spicy sauce to dip your ribs in.
Helpful kitchen tools for grilling this Asian beef short ribs recipe
- Small food processor
- Spice grinder
- Stone mortar and pestle. I highly recommend getting a set if you love to make a lot of Asian food. Invest in a good set, and you will have one for years.
- A large deep-dish baking pan
- A large aluminum pan
- Tongs - To flip and move the beef short ribs on the grill.
- Basting brush - To apply the marinade on the beef short ribs while grilling.
Frequently Asked Questions
Flanken-style short ribs are cut across the bone, creating thin strips of meat about ½ inch thick. The bones are also cut across the short portion of the rib bone interspersed with the meat. This cut of beef is typically used for slow-cooking methods like braising or grilling.
Yes and no. It is always recommended to remove the connective tissue in ribs before cooking. This tough tissue can make the meat chewy and difficult to eat. However, a butcher typically does a flanken cut, and asking him/her to remove connective tissues from your ribs can be a strange and awkward request. So I will leave it up to you to decide if you want to remove the connective tissues on your ribs before cooking.
The connective tissues in the ribs are the fibrous grayish-white sheet that connects the meat to the bones in the ribs. The connective tissues in ribs are called silverskin, a tough fibrous thin layer of the white sheet in the back of the rib bones.
Removing the connective tissues from small bones is labor-intensive but worthwhile. To remove the connective tissue, use a sharp knife to carefully cut it from the meat. It may take some time and effort, but the result will be tender, juicy ribs for good BBQ meat.
More Thai grilling recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Thai Sauces for grilled food
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PrintGrilled Asian Beef Short Ribs Recipe (Thai-Style)
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 8 1x
- Diet: Low Lactose
Description
This grilled Asian beef short ribs recipe (Thai-style) using flaken-cut ribs is a mouth-watering dish that will tantalize your taste buds all summer! These beef ribs are marinated in a delicious blend of Thai sauces, garlic, cilantro stems, and coconut milk, infusing the meat with a rich, savory flavor.
Ingredients
- 5 pounds beef short ribs. Flanken cut. Ask a butcher at your local grocery store to specially cut the ribs for you.
- ¼ cup oyster sauce
- ¼ cup Thai sweet chili sauce. This is the same sweet sticky sauce used for dipping Thai chicken wings. Buy the sauce at your Asian markets or make your sauce using this homemade sweet chili sauce recipe
- ¼ cup coconut milk
- ¼ cup honey
- 3 tablespoons fish sauce
- 2 tablespoons Sriracha sauce. Add more or less as preferred for the spiciness level. Note-Adding more than 4 tablespoons will need adjustments in saltiness and sweetness. Use chili flakes if you love spicy food. (:
- 1.5 tablespoon rice wine vinegar. Lime or lemon juice can be used as a substitute.
- ⅓ cup cilantro stems, chopped into 1-inch pieces. If cilantro roots are available, use 5-6 roots instead of the stems.
- 2 tablespoons garlic, minced. Use fresh garlic. Garlic paste is ok as a substitute but garlic powder is not recommended.
Instructions
- Combine the marinating ingredients in a small food processor (everything but the beef ribs). Blitz until garlic and cilantro and finely chopped. *Check kitchen tips if not using the food processor.
- Add the beef short ribs to a large deep dish pan. Toss to coat the meat evenly with the marinade. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour and up to 5 hours. I marinade my ribs in two layers-*See Kitchen notes if you don't have a large pan to fit all the rib pieces.
- Remove the meat from the refrigerator. Let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before grilling. While waiting, reheat your grill to medium high heat. Brush the grates lightly with vegetable oil to prevent sticking.
- The next step is to grill the ribs. Place the beef short ribs on the grill and cook for 5-7 minutes on each side or until they are cooked to your desired level of doneness. Baste the short ribs with the marinade every time you flip them for the best results. Cook time varies on each grill, so keep an eye on your meat or use a meat thermometer to see if the meat is done.
- Once done, remove the beef short ribs from the grill and let them rest for a few minutes before serving. Serve the Thai grilled beef short ribs with your favorite sides, such as white rice or vegetables. Garnish with chopped cilantro, green onions, toasted sesame seeds, some red pepper flakes (if desired!), and lime wedges. Enjoy!
Notes
- If you don't have a food processor, finely dice the garlic and cilantro stems, then combine them in a small bowl with all the sauces. Whisk together until smooth.
- A spice grinder may be used, but you must make the sauce in two batches as they are too small.
- When combining the sauce with the ribs, use a large deep-dish baking pan. You may need to add 2 layers, as I did for my ribs. The best way to do this is to pour half the soy sauce mixture over the single layer of ribs, add another layer, and pour the rest of the sauce over that top layer (Think lasagna sheets and sauce layers!). Ensure individual ribs get a good sauce coating to marinade in.
- Marinate the beef short ribs for a few hours. This will help tenderize the meat and infuse it with the marinade flavors.
- Baste the beef short ribs with the marinade while cooking to keep them moist and flavorful.
- Let the beef short ribs rest for a few minutes after cooking to allow the juices to redistribute throughout the meat. This will make them juicier and more tender.
** Thank you so much for visiting my blog! This is truly a passion for me. If you have enjoyed these recipes and appreciate the hard work I put into them, I would love it if you would share them with your friends! Your recommendation is the highest review I could hope for, and I’d appreciate it! **
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 30
- Category: Grilled food, beef recipe
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Thai
Thomas H
Delicious! I had to hunt down the flakes ribs a bit but found some in the frozen area. It was still tasty. The marinating sauce is extremely flavorful.