Korean Dwaeji Galbi, Sweet Soy Grilled Pork

🎁 You have 30 days of free full access to every recipe. Join the Kitchen Club to keep it →
Seongsan Ilchulbong

📍 Where this dish comes from: Jeju Island · Seongsan Ilchulbong
Discover the history of this region →
Korean Dwaeji Galbi, plated and ready to serve

Dwaeji galbi is the pork version of Korea’s famous galbi: pork shoulder or ribs marinated in a sweet, garlicky soy sauce and grilled until sticky and charred. It is more affordable than beef galbi and every bit as delicious. Grill it outdoors or sear it in a skillet.

Per serving: 508 calories · 3.6 g net carbs · 42 g protein · 35 g fat (calculated from the ingredients)

What You’ll Need

Ingredients for Korean Dwaeji Galbi

Korean Dwaeji Galbi, plated and ready to serve

Korean Dwaeji Galbi, Sweet Soy Grilled Pork

Dwaeji galbi is the pork version of Korea's famous galbi: pork shoulder or ribs marinated in a sweet, garlicky soy sauce and grilled until sticky and charred. It is more affordable than beef galbi and every bit as delicious. Grill it outdoors or sear it in a skillet.
Prep Time: 4 hours 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 4 hours 30 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Korean
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 508kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds boneless pork shoulder sliced 1/4 inch thick
  • Marinade: 1/3 cup soy sauce, 1/4 cup allulose, 1/4 cup grated onion, 6 cloves garlic minced, 1 tablespoon grated ginger, 2 tablespoons sesame oil, 1/4 cup water, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 scallions and 1 teaspoon sesame seeds for garnish

Instructions

  • Lightly score both sides of each pork slice so the marinade soaks in.
  • Whisk the marinade ingredients together, add the pork, and massage to coat. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
  • Grill over medium-high heat or cook in a cast-iron skillet for 3 to 4 minutes per side, until caramelized and cooked through.
  • Cut into bite-size pieces, garnish with scallions and sesame seeds, and serve with lettuce wraps.

Notes

Pork shoulder has enough marbling to stay juicy on the grill. Keep the heat at medium-high, because the marinade can scorch over very high heat.
Chef's Tip: For a spicy version, add 1 tablespoon of gochugaru and 1 tablespoon of Keto Gochujang-Style Paste to the marinade.
Keto Swap: Pork galbi marinade typically includes sugar, honey or corn syrup, plus fruit purée. Allulose and grated onion keep the sweetness and tenderness.
Success Tip: Leftovers are great chopped and stirred into kimchi fried cauliflower rice.
Nutrition is calculated from the ingredients and is an estimate per serving. Net carbs exclude fiber and allulose.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 508kcal | Protein: 42g | Fat: 35g | Fiber: 0.6g
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Cooking Korean Dwaeji Galbi in the kitchen

About This Dish

Galbi originally means rib, but dwaeji galbi today is often made with boneless shoulder or neck meat. Pork galbi restaurants became popular as an affordable alternative to beef galbi. Some restaurants grill it over charcoal briquettes on a wire grate for extra smokiness. Korean barbecue restaurants usually serve it with a basket of lettuce, a dish of ssamjang and sliced raw garlic. Many diners finish the meal with a bowl of cold noodles.

Pairs Well With

This recipe is from The Ultimate Korean Keto Cookbook by Gisele Costello, Chapter 7: Pork (Seongsan Ilchulbong). See all Korean recipes

Scroll to Top