Flanken Style Short Ribs┃Grilled Costillas de Res
Sundays were magical growing up in Chihuahua, Mexico. My father loved to grill carne asada, and oh my gosh, I loved to eat. One of my Mexican father’s favorite carne asada cut of meat is flanken-style short ribs, which we call costillas de res.
What Are Flanken Style Ribs?
Flanken cut are a type of beef short ribs that have been cut across the bone, creating thin strips with a bone fragments in each rib. This strip of beef cut is popular in Korean BBQ ribs recipes, usually marinated in sesame oil and brown sugar.
But if you haven’t tried them in a Mexican grilling carne asada recipe, you’re in for a treat. The thin slices of flanken-style ribs are perfect for grilling, providing a delicious flavor that’s hard to beat.
Flanken short ribs recipe
There are many different ways to marinate flanken short ribs, but my favorite is a marinade I often use for arrachera. Trust me, this great recipe is a hit. Recently, we were invited to my friends Ana and Luis in Buffalo Grove, IL—a bit of a drive from our home. I prepared the flanken ribs recipe marinade in a zip-lock bag, and on our way, we stopped at Costco, where they sell flanken short ribs. I opened the pack, added the ribs to the marinade, and let them soak in the flavors during the drive. When we arrived, the grill was hot and ready to go. Everyone was asking for the marinade recipe, and I proudly shared that it was my papa’s special recipe.
I’ll guide you through this recipe step by step with photos. The recipe card below has detailed ingredients and explanations.
How to Prepare and Grill Flanken Short Ribs
- Start by mixing all the marinade ingredients together in an airtight container or a zip-lock bag. Add the beef flanken short ribs and shake the bag to ensure every piece is coated in the marinade.
2. Place the bag or container in the refrigerator for a couple of hours, or if possible, overnight, to let the flavors soak in; longer marinade is one of the awesome beef cooking secrets.
3. When you’re ready to cook, set your grill to a high heat. Grill the flanken short ribs on a hot grill for about 3 minutes on each side until they are beautifully charred and cooked to perfection. If the cut is thick, you might use a thermometer and check that the internal temperature is 145°F (63°C)
4. If using a charcoal grill, allow the briquettes or charcoal to be almost completely white so they do not burn the flanken beef ribs.
How Many Pounds of Short Ribs Per Person?
A good rule of thumb is to calculate about 1 pound of flanken short ribs per person or around 4 to 5 long strips of beef. This ensures everyone gets enough of this delicious meat.
Best Side Dishes for Costillas Asadas
To complete your meal, serve your grilled costillas de res with these classic Mexican side dishes:
- Guacamole
- Frijoles Charros
- Arroz Rojo
- Chile con Queso
- Chile Pasado
- Salsa Taquera
- Tortillas (Learn to heat them like a pro)
- Mexican white rice
This flanken-style short ribs recipe will surely become one of your favorite dishes. Whether you grill them for a family barbecue or a special occasion, the flavor from the marinade and the beautiful cut of beef make this dish a winner every time. Buen Provecho amigos!
Check out my other Carne Asada delicious recipes.
Flanken Style Short Ribs ┃ Grilled Costillas de Res
Equipment
- 1 aithight container or a ziploc bag
Ingredients
- 3 pounds flanken short ribs
- 1/2 cup Worcestershire sauce
- 3/4 cup Soy Sauce or 1/4 cup maggi seasoning
- 2 tablespoons Cooking Oil it can be avocado oil, I would not recommend olive oil as it has a low smoke coking point. I mostly used Mazola corn oil for it's high smoke point which makes it great for grilling.
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 piece onion finely sliced
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Start by mixing all the marinade ingredients together in an airtight container or a zip-lock bag
- Add the beef flanken short ribs and shake the bag to ensure every piece is coated in the marinade.
- Place the bag in the refrigerator for a couple of hours, or if possible, overnight to let the flavors really soak in
- When you're ready to cook, set your grill to a high heat.
- Grill the flanken short ribs on a hot grill for about 8 minutes on each side until they are beautifully charred and cooked to perfection.
- If using charcoal grill allow the brickets or charcoal to be almost completely white so they do not burn the flanken beef ribs.
I buy costillas at Costco or Sam’s both have great quality meat for grilling and with the marinade in the recipe card you are up for a win!