Fish Sauce-Marinated Flanken Ribs with Grilled Veggies and Heirloom Tomato Salad

Flanken ribs are one of my go-to cuts for a quick and flavorful BBQ. They grill in minutes, caramelizing beautifully thanks to the perfect balance of salty, sweet, and umami in this marinade. A mix of fish sauce, honey, lime zest, and ginger gives these ribs deep flavor with minimal effort—exactly what you want for an easy weekend cookout.

I love serving them alongside grilled veggies, tossed in a punchy garlic-sherry vinaigrette, and something creamy to balance it all out—like pressed labneh or a simple yogurt sauce. Sliced heirloom tomatoes. Whether you’re cooking for two or a crowd, these ribs are proof that big flavor doesn’t have to mean complicated cooking.

Fish Sauce-Marinated Flanken Ribs

with Grilled Veggies & Heirloom Tomato Salad

Recipe:

Serving size: 2-4

Flanken Ribs:

• 4 flanken-cut short ribs

• 3 tbsp fish sauce

• 2 tbsp honey

• Juice & zest of 1 lime

• 1 tbsp grated ginger

• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

• Salt & pepper

Grilled Veggies:

• ½ Romanesco cauliflower, florets

• ½ regular cauliflower, florets

• 1 medium eggplant, sliced & salted

Garlic-Sherry Vinaigrette:

• ¼ cup olive oil

• 2 tbsp sherry vinegar

• 1 tsp Dijon mustard

• 2 cloves minced confit garlic (or fresh garlic)

• Salt & pepper

Heirloom Tomato Salad:

• 2 heirloom tomatoes, sliced

• Labneh balls preserved in olive oil

• Fresh chives, chopped

• Olive oil (use from labneh jar), salt & pepper

Garnish:

• Pickled raisins (optional, recommended)

Method:

1. Marinate ribs: Combine fish sauce, honey, lime juice & zest, ginger, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Marinate ribs at least 30 mins, reserve extra as finishing sauce.

2. Vinaigrette: Mix olive oil, sherry vinegar, mustard, garlic, salt, and pepper in jar; shake to combine.

3. Grill: Toss Romanesco, cauliflower, and eggplant slices with half of vinaigrette. Grill veggies until tender; grill ribs ~3–4 mins per side until caramelized.

4. Platter: Spread labneh balls on serving platter, top with grilled veggies, drizzle remaining vinaigrette, and sprinkle with pickled raisins.

5. Salad: Serve heirloom tomatoes topped with labneh balls, chives, olive oil from jar, salt, and pepper.

This is proof that great cooking doesn’t have to be complicated—just thoughtful, seasonal, and delicious.

Enjoy your vibrant, flavorful BBQ meal!