Chuseok festival is an important traditional Korean holiday. Outside of Korea, people refer to it as “Korean Thanksgiving” or “Mid-Autumn Festival”. As we speak, Koreans are probably already starting to prepare heavily for their Chuseok feast. When Chuseok happens, you can expect a spread of dishes and delicacies for the whole family to enjoy. Part of this usual spread is the ggalbijjim, which are braised short ribs. Although every family is different, ggalbijjim is one of the staple foods during Chuseok. 

What makes ggalbijjim special? Imagine biting into tender braised short ribs oozing with delicious sauce and then following that with a spoonful of rice. This mouth-watering dish is a crowd favorite and is often served during special occasions. 

So how is ggalbijjim prepared? One of the reasons this is so special is the utmost care and labor in making this dish. It is also vital to choose the best ingredients and best types of meat to make this. When making ggalbijjim, the kind of meat you buy is critical. It is best prepared with short ribs that aren’t too fatty, so choose the cut very well. The more meat there is, the better. Meat cooked on the bone is very tasty and is perfect for this dish. 

When you think of braising, some might think that it’s referring to the Western way where the meat is seared before it is slowly cooked. However, for ggalbijjim, it is partially boiled first in vegetables like scallions, ginger, onion, and garlic before it is braised in the beautiful and tasty sauce. The sauce is tasty because of its ingredients, which include soy sauce, sugar, honey, mirin, onion, Asian pear, garlic, ginger, black pepper, and sesame oil. Imagine the beautiful combination of these choice ingredients slowly cooking the meat to perfection. So the other vegetables like the carrots, mushrooms, and radish won’t be too soggy, they are usually added last. 

If you’re curious how to make this dish, here is an online tutorial you can follow: 

Try making this dish to surprise your family! Surely, it will be a new favorite.