When it comes to bone-in cuts, it doesnt get much better than short ribs. These fatty, flavorful morsels of meat come from the lower section of the rib. Although they can be sourced across the length of the animal, the most lauded are from the chuck — meaning the front of the cow. These first five ribs are loaded with fat and meat, making them perfect candidates for a variety of preparations.
However, determining the best way to cook them depends on how theyre butchered. There are two popular choices – flanken and English. In the former, the ribs are sliced into thin strips across the bone, with three or four pieces nestled into the cut. Then theres the English-style cut — the more popular short rib butchering in the U.S. The beef is sliced between the ribs, yielding meaty rib chunks, with one bone in the middle. Lets dive into when to cook with each.
Flanken, Beef Short Ribs and Beef Spare Ribs are all actually the same piece of meat. The difference is simply in how it is cut. As terminology can vary between shops, we offer the following primer as we specify them at Fischer Bros. 🙂 At the right is shown the uncut beef ribs.
Prepare flanken short ribs on high heat
In the U.S., flanken short ribs are most famously intertwined with Korean BBQ. Known as L.A.-style, these thin, half-inch cuts are mouth-wateringly delicious when sizzled on a hot grill. The high-fat content will likely drip and create flare-ups, adding palatable charred bites. Plus, those small sections of included bones will even out the heat distribution, lending a delicate texture.
While such a quick, high-heat method is the optimal way to bring out the cuts flavor, it does take some attention to detail. The thin cut, coupled with the abundant connective tissue, means that flanken ribs easily turn tough. Keep a close eye on the cooking duration, and marinate before cooking. While the cut wont yield an eye-catching medium-rare slice, it boasts a delicious beef taste, especially when elevated with a marinade.
Such a robust flavor makes flanken short ribs applicable in braising, too. In Jewish cooking, theyre the base of a stew. The ribs are first seared for a couple of minutes on each side, then removed from the pan. Aromatics are then prepared in the beef juices, beef stock is poured in, and then the beef ribs are reintroduced. Theyre simmered for around three hours until tender.
Flanken Beef Short Ribs | Carnivore – Keto Recipe |
FAQ
What are the two types of short ribs?
What cut of meat is flanken?
What is another name for short rib meat?
What cut of meat is closest to short ribs?
What is the difference between Flanken and short ribs?
Flanken ribs and short ribs come from the same strip of beef cut. The only difference is how they’re cut. Short ribs are cut between the bones, whereas the flanken cut actually cuts through the rib bones and leaves long strips of meat under the sections of rib bones. Korean short ribs are also known as galbi or kalbi.
Skirt steak vs Flank steak: Which is healthier?
Both the steak variants have similar amount of energy and proteins as both are cut from a similar animal. Moreover, skirt steak is cut from the lower portion of the animal, just behind the fore limbs. Flank steak is also cut from the lower part but behind the skirt steak or before the hind limbs. Both the meat variants have characteristic flavor but are not very tender. Thus, they can be used for grilling, roasting, sautéing or broiling. However, the steak should not be cut thickly or over cooked to avoid toughness and dryness.
Can I substitute short ribs for Flanken beef?
Since this recipe is specifically for flanken beef, I don’t recommend substituting it with another type of meat without changing the timing. If you can’t find the flanken cut ribs, you can absolutely use the same marinade with Short Ribs, also known as English Cut Beef Ribs.
What are flanken cut ribs?
If you aren’t familiar with Flanken cut ribs, they are cut into thin strips of beef instead of a thick cut. Flanken Style Short Ribs are usually used when making Korean style ribs that you find at Korean BBQ restaurants or Tira De Asado, Argentinean grilled short ribs.