Korean food emphasizes meats and vegetables that are prepared simply and without much use of oil, which makes it amongst the healthiest across the globe. Koreans have even carried out the art of food preservation, and one of its best and well-known results is Kimchi - the spicy cabbage. Kimchi is believed to be the one that has driven international individuals into discovering Korean food. But what really helped make Korean food known to most people is a meat dish called Galbi, which has a different taste to Kimchi being spicy.
Some people call Galbi as "LA Galbi," as in Los Angeles because this dish is said to have started from Korean immigrants who resided in the said city. In fact, "LA Galbi" has a different cut from the traditional way. The meat is chopped length-wise across the bone, providing a long handle of bone for comfort of eating and holding.
Galbi can either be beef or pork. If beef is used, it is called "so-galbi-gui" (grilled beef ribs), but if it is pork it is "dwaeji-galbi-gui" (grilled pork ribs). Each is marinated using different ingredients.
This kind of Korean barbecue is served raw in restaurants, with the customers grilling the meat themselves on a lightly greased gridiron over burning charcoal. The diners can enjoy both marinated and non-marinated galbi - marinated galbi is called "yangnyeom-galbi" while non-marinated is referred to as "saeng-galbi." The excess marinade is brushed on the meat during grilling to make it more flavorful, and even create a glazed barbecue.
Galbi, like other Korean main dishes, commonly comes with bap (cooked rice), doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew), kimchi, and other side dishes called banchan. The moment the meat is cooked, it is cut into pieces by using a pair of kitchen scissors, then wrapped inside leafy vegetables like lettuce. It can be partnered with raw or grilled garlic, ssamjang (thick and spicy paste), and a sauce created from soybean and chili pastes. This kind of leaf wrap is called "ssam."
Galbi has become so famous that it is being served not only in restaurants in Korea but also in other countries worldwide. Don't miss to try this Korean BBQ to experience its heavenly flavors!
