Have you tried beef flanken short ribs yet?
If you haven't, then you are really missing something for barbecue season!
Although typically, beef ribs take long slow cooking to achieve a tender result, flanken ribs take just a minute or so each side to achieve juicy perfection.
Perfect for a barbecue, griddle or under a hot grill, this dinner really takes just minutes! Great for a quick meal or for when you are catering for a crowd.
Not only that but they are so, so tender and totally delicious too, with just a quick Asian marinade.
Enjoy!
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I came across beef flanken ribs by accident. I do buy a lot of meat online, as there seems to be less and less choice and availability in the supermarkets these days.
I've been using Swaledale butchers for a while and found flanken ribs in the barbecue section and I was intrigued! After all, the British love to barbecue.
Here's all you need to know about this fantastic cut.
FAQs
These are cross cut ribs, also known as banderita in Argentina, which means small flags. The Koreans have also cut their ribs in this way.
Essentially, beef flanken ribs are cut across the bone, which is also across the grain of the meat. Each slice resembles a thin pork rasher with a line of rib bones running through it.
When you cut meat thinly against the grain, beef, which would normally be too tough to eat without long cooking, becomes meltingly tender.
Typically cut from the breast ribs, there is a small amount of fat to add to the flavour.
English cut ribs are cut in between the bones, with the grain. This means that each piece consists of bone surrounded by meat, fat and connective tissue.
Longer ribs are called beef spare ribs and are normally about 15 centimetres or 6 inches long.
Short ribs are spare ribs cut in half.
There is also a cut called Jacob's ladder, where short rib portions are not cut between the bones.
However, all of these cuts require braising on the hob, in the oven or slow cooker, whereas the beef flanken ribs are cut thinly across a series of bones and require little cooking.
The best bit for me is that the pieces of bone are easily cut out with a knife and fork and there's absolutely no need to get messy because you have to pick them up to extract the meat!
It does depend on the thickness of the cut, but it's important to start with a really hot barbecue or grill and cook for around a minute a side for slices up to a centimetre thick.
Why you will love this recipe
- Quick cook in minutes
- Use your own favourite marinade
- No messy eating
- Great for feeding a crowd
- Extremely tasty and tender
🥘 Ingredients
- Beef - flanken cut short ribs. You may be able to get these from your butcher or try online. They should be cut into long lengths just less than a centimetre thick.
- Soy sauce - for most marinades or bastes I use dark soy sauce. It's an instant flavour enhancer for gravy too. Use a low salt version if you prefer.
- Oil - I've used sesame oil for flavour as I'm not using it to cook the meat.
- Garlic - garlic and beef go so well together.
- Ginger - a grated piece of ginger gives the best results.
- Sugar - brown sugar really helps the meat to caramelise quickly.
See recipe card for quantities.
💭 Top Tip
- It's not always easy to have fresh ginger to hand but it can be easily frozen. Simply cut into thumb sized chunks and place in a container or ziplock bag without peeling. When you need ginger just grate what you need from a chunk. It doesn't clog the grater and is much easier and quicker.
🍽 Equipment
🔪 Instructions
Start by making the marinade.
Crush or finely chop the garlic and grate the ginger.
Place them in a small bowl with the soy sauce, sesame oil and brown sugar.
Pat dry the beef flanken short ribs and place in a large dish.
Pour over the marinade and use a pastry brush to make sure that all surfaces are coated.
Leave the ribs in the marinade for at least 30 minutes.
⏲️ Cooking Time
Preheat the barbecue, griddle or grill to a medium high heat.
Add the beef flanken ribs in a single layer and leave for 1 minute without disturbing. This means that you will get a good sear on the meat.
Turn over and cook for a further minute.
💭 Top Tip
- A pack of flanken short ribs typically has 12 slices so the grill may quickly get overcrowded. To make it easier, cook in 2 batches.
Serve and enjoy!
🥗 Side Dishes
Try a salad or more conventional hot side dish.
- Courgette Salad
- Fried Cabbage with Bacon and Onions
- Pan Haggerty
- Honey Roasted Carrots and Parsnips
- Easy Roast Potatoes
- Roasted Courgettes
- Roast Savoy Cabbage
- Tomato and Onion Salad
- Sarladaise Potatoes
- Braised Red Cabbage
- Crispy Smashed Potatoes
📖 Variations
Try these marinades and sauces for a change
- Chimichurri sauce - this herby, spicy and garlic sauce is great served with the meat, but can also be used as a marinade.
- Herby - use a mix of dried tarragon and red wine. I love using tarragon with beef as it's a bit like having a bearnaise sauce.
- Onion - replace the ginger and garlic with finely chopped shallot or onion.
- Spicy - use red pepper flakes, sriracha sauce or a teaspoon of chilli powder.
Storage
- Refrigerator - store cooked ribs covered in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freezer - wrap well and freeze for up to 2 months.
- To reheat - use in stir fries or heat quickly in a hot pan or under the grill.
Prepare in Advance
- Let the meat sit in the marinade for up to 24 hours before cooking.
More barbecue and grilling ideas
- Minted Lamb Burgers
- Stilton and Black Pudding Burgers
- Venison Burgers
- Lincolnshire Sausage Skewers
- Pinchos de Pollo
- Vietnamese Grilled Chicken
📋 Recipe
Flanken Short Ribs
Equipment
- Pastry brush
- grill, barbecue or griddle pan
Ingredients
- 600 g flanken ribs
- 2 tablespoon dark soy sauce
- 2 tablespoon sesame oil
- 2 cloves garlic
- 3 teaspoon ginger grated
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
Instructions
- Crush or finely chop the garlic and grate the ginger. Place them in a small bowl with the soy sauce, sesame oil and brown sugar.
- Pat dry the beef ribs and place in a large dish. Pour over the marinade and use a pastry brush to make sure that all surfaces are coated.
- Leave the ribs in the marinade for at least 30 minutes.
- Preheat the barbecue, griddle or grill to a medium high heat.
- Add the beef flanken ribs in a single layer and leave for 1 minute without disturbing.
- Turn over and cook for a further minute.
- Serve.
Disclaimer: The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
Detailed instructions for this recipe, including step by step photographs, hints and tips, can be found in the main article
More beef recipes
Food Safety
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat.
- Wash hands after touching raw meat.
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods.
- Never leave cooking food unattended.
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds.
- Always have good ventilation when using gas.
Do you have a question or did you make the recipe?
Please leave a rating as it helps other readers to discover the dish. Your name and email are required to avoid spam comments; they are never used for any purpose or shared with third parties
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Caitlin
This recipe is fantastic! So easy to follow and just delicious.
GUNJAN
This recipe came out really well and my friends loved it and asked me for the recipe. I shared your website with them 🙂
Tayler Ross
I absolutely love short ribs, so I can't wait to try this recipe! Making them for dinner tonight!
Mirlene
I am going to make these ribs again. The marinade is so flavorful. My hubby loves the ribs so this weekend will be perfect to grill!
Sharon
Delicious! That hint of ginger was the best part. 🙂 I never tried flanken ribs on the grill and they were great. Thanks!
Mahy
One of the best short ribs recipes that I have ever seen. Love how juicy these look!
Elaine
I have tried it bit I don't remember those short ribs look as tasty as yours. Definitely you know how it should be done 😉
Rachna
Looks so delicious. Your instructions are just perfect and detailed. Must try it soon.
Natalie
My short ribs finally turned out perfect! Thank you Amanda for great tips and useful advice!
Dionne
This is a great find for this season really. I love barbecues and am always happy when I find something interesting as these ribs. Yum!
Jacqueline
That sounds like a really good glamour combination for the marinade.
Natalie
My husband loves your short ribs recipe. He says it is the best he could find. So I thank you on his behalf, and mine of course!
Farah
I am a big beef fan, and these ribs look amazing. Perfect for a special family dinner. Can't wait to try them out thanks so much!
kushigalu
One of the best short ribs recipes. Thanks for sharing this. Pinned.
Dannii
The meat was so tender and delicious. 10/10. I will definitely be making this again.