Make genuine Korean BBQ at residence with this straightforward bulgogi recipe! Thinly sliced beef is marinated in a flavorful, barely candy and savory sauce, then shortly stir-fried. Serve with rice, lettuce wraps, kimchi, pickled greens, inexperienced onions, and sesame seeds.
What’s Bulgogi Beef?
Bulgogi (불고기) is a traditional Korean dish product of thinly sliced meat (beef, pork, or rooster) marinated in a sweet-savory sauce, then stir-fried or grilled. The marinade usually contains soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil, garlic, and crushed pear for tenderizing. Historically made with sirloin, ribeye, or brisket, bulgogi is juicy, flavorful, and cooks shortly. It’s often served with rice, lettuce wraps (or perilla leaves), kimchi, and spicy gochujang. Different well-liked accompaniments are pickled greens, Japchae (Glass Noodles) and fried egg.
Restaurant-quality recipe
Lengthy earlier than my meals running a blog days, I spent two years working for a significant Korean auto firm—the place I bought simply as a lot of an training in Korean meals as I did in enterprise. Then, about 10 years in the past, my household moved to Queens, NYC, the place, consider it or not, you’ll discover a few of the greatest Korean BBQ eating places run by first-generation Korean cooks. Quick ahead a decade, numerous plates of bulgogi later, and I’m lastly sharing this well-tested, battle-hardened recipe. You’re welcome!
Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
- Beef: I used boneless ribeye. Different beef choices embody sirloin, filet, or NY strip steak.
- Pear: If Asian pears are usually not straightforward to search out, substitute it with Bosc pear or any candy apple of alternative!
- Yellow onion: Shallots or crimson onions might be substituted for the common yellow onion.
- Brown sugar: You may as well use white granulated sugar.
- Soy sauce: Use an everyday or low-sodium. When you’re gluten-free, ensure that to make use of GF soy sauce. Tamari or coconut aminos are different gluten-free options.
- Is Gochujang gluten-free? Not all the time! Conventional gochujang is made with fermented soybeans and wheat or barley, so many manufacturers are usually not gluten-free. Nonetheless, there are gluten-free variations accessible—simply examine the label or search for ones particularly marked GF. You may as well use sriracha if you do not have Gochujang.
- Sesame seed oil: A bit of toasted walnut or peanut oil can work in a pinch.
- Use impartial cooking oils to fry beef like vegetable, canola, avocado, sunflower, peanut, or safflower—excellent for high-heat cooking with out overpowering flavors. Skip sturdy oils like olive or coconut.
- Recent Garlic & Ginger: Powdered variations can work, however recent is all the time greatest!
Variations
Bulgogi beef is tremendous versatile, so be at liberty to unleash your inside kitchen wizard and have enjoyable with these scrumptious variations:
- Vegan/Vegetarian Bulgogi: Substitute beef with tofu, tempeh, or plant-based meat options. Simply press tofu to take away extra moisture for higher texture.
- Spicy Bulgogi: Add warmth by incorporating Sriracha, Gochujang, or your favourite Asian scorching sauce into the marinade or drizzle over the cooked beef.
- Hen Bulgogi: Swap the meat for boneless rooster (ideally thighs for juiciness) and marinate it the identical means.
- Pork Bulgogi: Use thinly sliced pork (like shoulder or stomach) as a substitute of beef.
- Bulgogi Tacos: Serve bulgogi beef in smooth corn or flour tortillas with recent toppings like kimchi, cilantro, and a squeeze of lime to create a enjoyable, Asian fusion-style meal.
- Beef and Veggie Bulgogi: Add sliced greens like bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, and zucchini to the marinade and stir-fry together with the meat for a colourful, veggie-packed dish.
What’s a conventional strategy to tenderize meat for Korean bulgogi?
The standard technique for tenderizing meat in Korean bulgogi includes marinating it with Asian pear (or Korean pear). The pear accommodates pure enzymes, like calpain and bromelain, which assist break down the meat’s fibers, making it further tender and juicy. Different frequent tenderizing substances embody:
- Grated onion – Provides sweetness and helps soften the meat.
- Soy sauce – Enhances umami whereas barely tenderizing.
- Brown sugar or honey – Helps caramelize the meat when cooked.
For greatest outcomes and most tenderness, thinly slice the meat and let it marinate for a minimum of just a few hours or in a single day!
Suggestions for the Greatest Korean Bulgogi
- Beef: I often purchase thinly sliced meat at any Asian or Hispanic retailer. Nonetheless, if you happen to can’t discover thinly shaved ribeye you possibly can both reduce it from frozen or barely frozen towards the grain. In case your ribeye is thawed, place within the freezer for round 30-45 minutes or till it’s stiffened up a bit. Then, proceed to slice the meat thinly with a really sharp knife. Don’t fear about getting excellent slices.
- Gochujang (Korean chili paste): It is a pretty straightforward to search out condiment. Most main grocery shops and all Asian grocery shops ought to carry it. There are totally different varieties and spice ranges, so ensure that to decide on the one that you just want.
- Are you able to substitute sugar with different sweeteners? You CAN substitute the sugar with honey, maple syrup, or agave, nevertheless, honey tends to overpower the flavour of every thing else and agave could make the sweetness a bit medicinal. Maple syrup wouldn’t be a terrific substitute because it can also overpower the opposite flavors. We suggest sticking with common sugars for this recipe.
Can I eat this scorching or chilly?
We love consuming Bulgogi Beef straight from the pan or grill, when it is juicy and flavorful.
Greatest accompaniments for Bulgogi Beef
- Rice: Steamed white or brown rice to absorb the flavorful juices of the Korean BBQ sauce.
- Lettuce Wraps (Ssam): Wrap bulgogi in lettuce leaves with garlic, sliced chili, and ssamjang (Korean dipping sauce).
- Kimchi: A tangy, spicy distinction to the sweet-savory beef.
- Pickled Greens: Corresponding to pickled radish or cucumber for a refreshing crunch.
- Japchae (Glass Noodles): A chewy, barely candy noodle dish effectively with so many Korean meals.
- Fried Egg: Provides richness when served on high of rice.
Storage Directions
- Refrigerate the leftover beef in an hermetic container for as much as 5 days.
- To reheat, merely microwave for 30 seconds to a minute or flippantly reheat in a scorching pan.
- To freeze, place in a ziploc bag and squeeze all of the air out. It’s going to last as long as 1 month.
- To defrost, place the bag within the fridge in a single day and comply with reheating directions above.
Beef Bulgogi (Korean BBQ Beef)
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Substances
Marinade
- 1 giant Asian pear (or Bosc pear) peeled, cored and chopped into cubes
- 4 cloves garlic roughly chopped
- 1 inch recent ginger peeled and roughly chopped
- ⅓ cup soy sauce
- ¼ cup packed brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons sesame seed oil
- 1 tablespoon gochujang
Beef
- 1 ½ kilos ribeye steak boneless, very thinly sliced or shaved *see tip
- 1 small yellow onion sliced skinny
- 1 tablespoon impartial cooking oil divided
- salt and pepper
For serving (non-obligatory)
- white rice
- kimchi
- lettuce
- inexperienced onion sliced skinny
- sesame seeds
Directions
Marinade
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Mix the Asian pear, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame seed oil, and gochujang in a meals processor or a blender till a paste types.
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Salt and pepper the meat and place in a gallon ziploc bag with the yellow onion. Don’t put within the impartial oil at this level as will probably be used for cooking.
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Pour the marinade into the ziploc bag with the meat, ensuring to coat all of the items, and marinate in a single day.
Cook dinner the meat
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Take away the meat from the fridge and let it come to room temperature for 1 hour.
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Warmth a big skillet over excessive warmth till smoking then pour in 1 teaspoon of impartial oil. Utilizing tongs, take away the meat from the bag and place into the pan with out crowding it. It’s possible you’ll have to cook dinner the meat in batches.
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Depart the meat with out disturbing it for 30 seconds to 1 minute to char the meat. Flip the meat and char as greatest you possibly can on the opposite aspect. The meat ought to cook dinner in a short time so strive to not depart it within the pan too lengthy. You’re welcome to even depart some pink if you happen to like your steak medium or medium uncommon, however a minimum of get some char on it.
Serve
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Serve instantly and garnish with inexperienced onion and sesame seeds. I like to recommend serving the meat over bowls of scorching rice and accompanied with kimchi or any of your favorite Korean sides. If utilizing the lettuce, place a spoonful of the rice, beef, and kimchi in a leaf and luxuriate in!
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Observe: I offered useful step-by-step images beneath this recipe card.
Notes
- Reducing board
- Knife
- Gallon plastic bag
- Blender
- Giant pan tongs
Suggestions for selecting one of the best substances:
- Beef: I used boneless ribeye. Different beef choices embody sirloin, filet, or NY strip steak. Search for thinly sliced ribeye at Asian or Hispanic shops. When you can’t discover it, freeze your ribeye for 30-45 minutes till agency, then slice thinly towards the grain with a pointy knife.
- Pear: I used an Asian pear. You may substitute it with Bosc pear or any candy apple.
- Gochujang (Korean chili paste): Simple to search out at main grocery shops or Asian markets. Choose the spice degree that fits you greatest!
- Sweeteners: I used brown sugar, your subsequent most suitable option is granulated white sugar. You may swap sugar with honey, maple syrup, or agave, however these are usually not perfect substitutions. Honey may overpower the flavour, and agave can style medicinal. Persist with common sugars for one of the best outcomes.
- Yellow onion: Shallots or crimson onions might be substituted for the common yellow onion.
Storage and reheating ideas:
Retailer the leftover Bulgogi beef in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 5 days. To reheat, microwave for 30 seconds to a minute or heat in a scorching pan. For freezing, place in a ziploc bag, take away air, and freeze for as much as 1 month. To defrost, refrigerate in a single day and reheat as instructed.
Tasty variations:
- Vegan/Vegetarian: Substitute the meat with any vegan or vegetarian protein of alternative. You should utilize further agency tofu or plant-based meats.
- Hen or pork: You may simply make this dish with rooster or pork as effectively!
- Tacos: You can also make the meat and serve them as tacos if you happen to’d like! Prime along with your favourite substances and luxuriate in!
Diet
Make Bulgogi Beef (step-by-step images)
Make marinade by mixing Asian pear, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, and gochujang right into a paste.
Season the thinly sliced beef with salt and pepper, then place it in a gallon-sized Ziploc bag with sliced onion.
Pour within the marinade, making certain the meat is effectively coated, and refrigerate in a single day.
Let the meat sit at room temperature for an hour. Warmth a skillet over excessive warmth till smoking, then add 1 teaspoon of impartial oil. Sear the meat in batches for 30–60 seconds per aspect till charred. Cook dinner to your most popular doneness—medium or medium-rare is okay!
Garnish with inexperienced onions and sesame seeds. Serve over scorching rice with kimchi or your favourite Korean sides.
