Beef Bulgogi (불고기)

• servings: 4-6
• active time: 4 hours 20 minutes
• total time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

800 g beef, thinly sliced (ribeye, top sirloin, or any other tender beef cut)

1 onion, thinly sliced (optional)

2 stalks green onion, thinly sliced

½ carrot, thinly sliced (optional)

1 tbsp toasted sesame oil

1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds

High-heat neutral cooking oil (avocado, canola, etc)

Marinade:

6 tbsp soy sauce

3 tbsp brown sugar

2 tbsp rice wine (mirin)

1 red apple or asian pear (about 150 g)

½ onion

1 tbsp minced garlic

1 tsp minced ginger

Pinch of black pepper

Directions

Blend the marinade ingredients together in a blender or food processor until smooth.

Add the thinly sliced beef into a mixing bowl and pour the marinade over it. Use your hands and mix well, making sure the marinade gets to every slice.

Add the sesame oil and briefly mix again. Cover the bowl and marinate the meat for at least 4 hours in the fridge, ideally overnight.

Heat a skillet / bbq grill on medium high until well heated. Add the cooking oil. Once the oil is heated up, add the meat mixture with marinade, the carrots, and the sliced onion. Cook on medium to high heat for 6-7 minutes, or until the marinade has mostly cooked off and the beef is getting caramelized.

Add in the sesame seeds and sliced green onion, and serve with steamed rice and other Korean side dishes like kimchi.

Notes

Korean marinated BBQ beef. Bulgogi itself means “fire meat” and is one of the most well known traditional Korean foods. It became extremely popular in Seoul and South Korea after the Japanese rule ended. In South Korea today, it’s commonly served in social settings and barbeque places, with some Western chains offering bulgogi burgers. It’s even served on pizzas! The marinade is made of pear, soy sauce, garlic, and other sauces, which tenderize the thinly sliced beef and give it a great flavor once it’s seared. This can be eaten alongside some other sides with rice, or used in a variety of ways, like as a kimbap filling. This recipe includes some optional vegetables to go along with the beef.