The spicy pork ribs at Los Angeles’s Ham Ji Park restaurant are what the restaurant is known for. I ordered them a few weeks ago to “do research,” and I think I have the recipe down pat!
Korean BBQ dish dwaeji galbi is often marinated in a sweet sauce. This dish is actually VERY easy to make and is definitely a crowd pleaser.
I tried this recipe three times and even brought home some of Ham Ji Park’s ribs to compare the two. Friends of my husband’s came over for dinner to do the final taste test. They ate all of them and said they were just as good as Ham Ji Park.
Prior to tackling this recipe, I did some research on how the ribs are made. Here is what I found:
The ribs don’t need to marinate overnight; all you have to do is rub the marinade all over them, and they’re ready to grill right away. I know that sounds wrong but trust me on this one!.
The type of ribs matters– it has to be pork spare ribs and not baby back. For this reason, baby back ribs are more meaty and won’t soak up as much of the marinade. Spare ribs are flatter and have more surface area for the marinade, ensuring that every bite is flavorful.
Grill quickly My ribs are still juicy after 30 minutes on the grill, but I think Ham Ji Park cuts theirs thinner to cook even faster.
It’s not necessary, but if you want the full Ham Ji Park experience, put the ribs on a hot cast iron plate. Just before the ribs are done, I put them on the grill with onions and oil. Place the ribs on top and serve immediately. Your family and friends will be impressed if you serve it hot off the grill. Here’s one I have:
As a busy mom who loves throwing fun dinner parties for family and friends, I’m always on the hunt for new flavors to liven up our everyday meals. Korean-style kalbi marinade can turn basic pork into an explosion of sweet, salty and spicy flavors that everyone will love.
This versatile kalbi sauce infuses pork with the addictive flavors of garlic, sesame and ginger A touch of sweetness from sugar balances out the salty soy sauce base With just a few easy-to-find ingredients, you can give pork chops, ribs, roasts and more a makeover with an amazing Korean kalbi marinade.
In this detailed guide, I’ll explain exactly how to make kalbi marinade at home and share my best tips on using it to upgrade various cuts of pork. Let’s get cooking!
Why Kalbi Marinade Makes Pork So Delicious
Here’s what makes kalbi marinade magic when paired with pork:
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Big Flavor – The blend of sweet salty spicy is hard to resist. So much more exciting than plain pork!
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Tender and Juicy – Kalbi marinade helps break down pork’s connective tissue so it turns out super tender and moist.
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Easy to Make – Whisk up the easy homemade marinade in minutes with common ingredients.
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Versatile – Use kalbi marinade on pork ribs, roasts, chops, tenderloin…anything goes!
My Favorite Kalbi Marinade Recipe
I love this kalbi marinade recipe from my friend Beth at OMG! Yummy. It delivers huge flavor without hard-to-find ingredients.
Kalbi Marinade Ingredients:
- 3⁄4 cup soy sauce
- 1⁄4 cup sake
- 2 tsp sesame oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 stalks green onion, chopped
- 2 tsp roasted sesame seeds
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 1⁄2 tsp black pepper
- 1⁄2 Asian pear, grated or 1⁄2 kiwi, mashed
Instructions:
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Combine all ingredients in a bowl and whisk together until well blended.
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Pour marinade over pork and refrigerate for at least 2-8 hours, overnight is best.
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Grill, bake, broil or pan fry marinated pork as desired until cooked through.
And that’s it! Couldn’t be easier. The kalbi marinade does all the work to make the pork irresistibly delicious.
Now let’s look at the best ways to use this tasty kabli sauce with different cuts of pork.
Kalbi Marinade Pairs Perfectly with These Pork Cuts
Pork Ribs
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Baby back, spare ribs, country-style – kalbi marinade shines on any type of rib!
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Marinate ribs in kalbi sauce overnight or up to 2 days for ultimate flavor.
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Grill ribs over medium heat, basting with extra sauce. Fall-off-the-bone perfection!
Pork Chops
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Bone-in or boneless chops cook up so juicy and satisfying with kalbi marinade.
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Marinate chops for 2-8 hours before grilling or pan searing until cooked through.
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Brush with reserved marinade while cooking for even more flavor.
Pork Roasts
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Shoulder and loin roasts are excellent candidates for kalbi marinade.
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Inject flavor by piercing roast all over with a fork before marinating overnight.
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Roast in the oven until internal temp reaches 145°F. Let rest before slicing.
Pork Tenderloin
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Skinny pork tenderloins soak up a ton of big flavor from kalbi marinade.
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Marinate 2-4 hours for best results. Grill or pan sear tenderloins to medium doneness.
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Slice and serve with extra kalbi sauce for dunking. So easy yet so impressive!
Ground Pork
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Transform everyday ground pork into kalbi-inspired burgers, meatballs, tacos and more.
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Mix marinade right into raw ground pork 2 hours before cooking. Shape into patties, balls or crumbles.
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Cook ground pork mixture thoroughly to 160°F internal temperature.
Cooking Tips for Kalbi Marinated Pork
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Always marinate in the refrigerator, not on the counter.
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Use a non-reactive baking dish or resealable plastic bag for marinating.
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Reserve leftover marinade to use as a sauce, but boil it for 5 minutes first.
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Pat pork dry before cooking for best browning.
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Grill or broil marinated pork for delicious caramelization and char.
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Bake or pan fry for easier indoor cooking. Aim for145°F internal temp.
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Let pork rest 5-10 minutes before slicing for ultra tender and juicy results.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should I marinate pork?
- Minimum 2 hours, but overnight or up to 2 days achieves max flavor.
What if I marinate too long?
- The meat won’t get over-marinated, but eventually the acidity can start to change the texture. Stick to under 2 days.
Can I reuse leftover marinade?
- Yes, boil used marinade for 5 minutes first to kill any bacteria, then use as a sauce.
What sides go well with kalbi pork?
- White or brown rice, kimchi, sesame noodles, steamed veggies and Korean bbq salads.
Is there a vegetarian kalbi marinade?
- Absolutely! Use on tofu, mushrooms, jackfruit or eggplant. Omit fish sauce and amplify ginger and sesame.
Satisfy Your Kalbi Craving with More Korean Pork Recipes
If you’re hooked on the Korean kalbi flavor profile, try these other amazing recipes:
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Kalbi Beef Short Ribs – Classic grilled Korean ribs. Ridiculously good!
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Spicy Korean Pork Bulgogi – Thinly sliced marinated pork belly. Great in tacos.
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Korean Pork Meatballs – Ground pork gets a kalbi makeover. Perfect appetizer or main.
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Kimchi Fried Rice with Pork – Kalbi pork stir-fried with kimchi rice. Quick and delicious one-pan meal.
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Korean Pork Soup (Gamja Tang) – Hearty soup with kalbi pork spine bones. Super comforting.
Dwaeji Galbi 돼지갈비- Ham Ji Park Copycat Pork Ribs
- 3 lb pork spare ribs
- 1 green onion chopped
- 1 tsp sesame seeds
- 1/2 onion sliced
- 1/4 Asian pear
- 2 tbsp onion
- 2 tbsp garlic
- 1 tsp ginger
- 1 tbsp mirin
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1/3 cup oligodang (cooking syrup) or sugar
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 1 tbsp dwenjang fermented soybean paste
- 2/3 cup gochujang
- 1 tbsp gochugaru
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp msg optional
- Stem the ribs off, cut them into single pieces, and soak them in cold water for an hour.
- Blend all the marinade ingredients together until smooth. Ham Ji Parks ribs are VERY sweet. I made mine not as sweet, but you can add more sugar or oligodang if you like.
- Take the ribs out of the water and dry them with paper towels. Save some of the marinade to use as a basting sauce later. Then, rub the rest of it into the ribs.
- Put a little oil on the grill and make sure it’s hot enough to give the ribs a nice char.
- When it starts to char, flip them over and baste them with the marinade you saved. Continue basting and flipping occasionally for about 25 minutes .
- You can slice some onions and cook them with a little oil in a skillet on the grill if you want to. When the onions start to get soft, the ribs are done. Put the ribs on the skillet and remove from heat.
- Top with green onions and sesame seeds.
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