Des

Hey! I'm Des!

Welcome to Life’s Ambrosia where Dinner is served and memories are made. Here you will find over 1000 tried and true recipes for every possible occasion. In the last 10 years, this blog has helped millions of families put dinner on the table and create food memories. Let me help you too.

Read more »

Sweet Chili Flanken Ribs

It’s only April and we’ve already broken out the grill a few times. We’ve made burgers, dogs, steaks. Grilled veggies and fruit. It’s basically grilling season here in the Life’s Ambrosia household and these Sweet Chili Flanken Ribs are a new favorite.

All of this grilling, you’d think that one would check the level in the propane take before she started to grill.

And you’d be wrong.

You see, I planned to make these a few weeks ago. The night before I wanted to cook them, before I went to bed, I whisked the ingredients for the marinade together, put it all in a bag, gave it a good shake and refrigerated it. I knew they were going to be good. I could already tell.

Fast forward to the next night when it was time to grill. I preheat the grill, removed the ribs from their sweet chili sauce bath, placed them on the hot grill and anxiously awaited perfectly cooked flanken ribs.

Then, I kid you not, not 1 minute after I set the last rib on the grill, my grill made a lovely puft puft puft psssss sound.

Flames. Gone.

Yep, I didn’t run of out propane as the grill was heating. I didn’t run out of propane right after I pulled the food off. I ran out of propane about halfway through the cooking process.

I saw my vision of tender, marinated, perfectly grilled flanken ribs fly out the window.

I thought maybe I could salvage it and shut the grill really fast in hopes that, since they are thin, the flanken ribs would cook with just the heat that was leftover in the grill.

No such luck.

I was scrambling, trying to figure out how I would finish these. This recipe, after wall, was 10 hours in the making and I didn’t just want to give up on it. Then, I remembered that I had a grill pan.

HALLELUJAH!

It saved the day! The ribs tasted fantastic. Sweet, a hint of spicy and perfectly cooked.  Sure using a grill pan, is not EXACTLY like using an outdoor grill. But it totally works. I still got those lovely grill marks I was looking for and that little bit of char.

I’m so glad I had the back up of the grill pan. Next time though, to save myself the frantic running around with a plate of half cooked ribs, I think I’ll just remember to refill the propane tank.

Sweet Chili Flanken Ribs

Flanken Ribs marinated overnight in sweet chile sauce and then grilled to perfection.
Prep Time 10 hrs
Cook Time 5 mins
Total Time 10 hrs 5 mins
Course Main Dishes
Cuisine Asian
Servings 4 Servings

Ingredients
  

Ingredients:

  • 3/4 cup sweet chili sauce
  • 2 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 3/4 - 3 pounds flanken cut beef ribs

Instructions
 

  • Whisk chile sauce, soy sauce, rice vinegar and garlic together in a bowl.
  • Place ribs in a resealable plastic bag. Pour marinade over the top and seal. Shake to coat ribs in marinade. Refrigerate 8 - 10 hours or overnight, turning once to redistribute the marinade.
  • Preheat grill (or grill pan) to medium-high heat. Remove ribs from marinade and grill 2 - 3 minutes per-side. Transfer to a plate and serve.

Notes

Enjoy!
Tried this recipe?Mention @lifesambrosia or tag #lifesambrosia!

Leave a Comment

Recipe Rating




  • Reply
    In Good Flavor
    May 1, 2015 at 7:42 pm

    I love my veggies, but I could never be a full-time vegetarian. It’s the look and smell of mouthwatering steaks like these that would make me cave in every time.

  • Reply
    Kim Beaulieu
    April 30, 2015 at 12:02 am

    This makes me want to run out to grill but it’s 3 am. So I won’t. Tonight. But this has to happen. Soon.

  • Reply
    Lauren
    April 29, 2015 at 12:23 pm

    These look great! I’ve got a jar leftover homemade thai chili sauce in the fridge I’ve been searching for a use for.

  • Reply
    Mirlandra @ MirlandrasKitchen
    April 29, 2015 at 10:57 am

    Mercy! These look amazing. Pinning for later. Thanks!

  • Reply
    Lisa MarcAurele
    April 29, 2015 at 8:06 am

    I’m a big fan of the grill and I’ve had the propane go out in the middle as well without a spare. Guess what? I keep a spare bottle in the shed or garage now! This marinate sounds perfect. Will give it a try.

  • Reply
    Laura @MotherWouldKnow
    April 29, 2015 at 7:55 am

    What an incredibly simple and lovely way to make beef ribs. Bet this marinade would be great with other cuts too. (Thinking short ribs and maybe even going to pork ribs too.)

  • Reply
    Heather @FrenchPress
    April 29, 2015 at 7:31 am

    that used to happen to my dad all the time – my husband cooks on charcoal :) but these ribs sound amazing – so glad they worked out in the end

  • Des

    Hey! I'm Des!

    Welcome to Life’s Ambrosia where Dinner is served and memories are made. Here you will find over 1000 tried and true recipes for every possible occasion. In the last 10 years, this blog has helped millions of families put dinner on the table and create food memories. Let me help you too.

    Read more »

    Sharing is Caring

    Help spread the word. You're awesome for doing it!