A super easy recipe for Korean BBQ with the most flavorful marinade! The thin, tender slices of meat cook SO quickly!
It was always a treat when my mom would whip this up on those busy weeknights – marinating the beef just a few hours while I was at swim practice. And then she’d throw these onto a hot skillet, filling up the house with the best kind of beef aroma – you know, the smell at the Korean BBQ restaurants that get you so hungry.
The meat cooked in seconds, and she’d serve these with perilla leaves, rice, and ssamjang (best known as a Korean BBQ dipping sauce). It was just perfection.
But with my mom being in Korea and all, she doesn’t really get a chance to make this for me anymore. So I’ve done my best to “grow up” and whip this up myself. Now to be honest, nothing beats my mom’s cooking but this is a very close second.
The key here is to slice the meat as thin as possible. Throwing the steak in the freezer for 20-30 minutes helps with this process tremendously. That way, the thin cuts of meat can soak up the most epic marinade in just a few hours.
Once it’s done marinating, the hard part is over. Throw it onto a super hot cast iron skillet or grill pan and that smoky, sweet-savory charred bits of meat will simply put you over the edge.
Serve with rice and maybe a side of kimchi for a full meal. Or red leaf lettuce tacos also work perfectly here.
Bul go gi (bulgogi, bul go ki, bulgoki, boolgogi, bulgogi gui, bool goki) translates as fire (bul) meat (go gi); to be more specific, it is finely shaved slices of tender beef (sirloin, rib-eye or tenderloin) marinated in soy sauce, sesame oil, sugar and garlic and cooked over an open fire.
TOOLS FOR THIS RECIPE
Gochujang is a red chili paste, a pantry staple in Korean cooking. It can be found in most grocery stores in a red, rectangular tub.
CAN I SUBSTITUTE SOMETHING ELSE FOR THE PEAR IN THE MARINADE?
You can use apple in place of the pear without compromising taste.
Spicy beef bulgogi #food #recipe
FAQ
What are the three types of bulgogi?
What does bul in bulgogi mean?
What is another name for beef bulgogi?
Is Korean BBQ and bulgogi the same thing?
What is bulgogi in Korea?
Bulgogi is a classic Korean dish, which translates to “fire meat” in English. It is a type of grilled or barbecued beef that has been marinated in a blend of soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil, garlic, and other seasonings. The marinade gives the beef a unique savory, slightly sweet, and smoky flavor.
What is bulgogi steak?
Bulgogi is a Korean dish for meat lovers. It’s a Korean beef barbeque that is made up of thin slices of ribeye, tenderloin, or sirloin beef. Bulgogi quite literally means “fire meat”. Each part of the beef is marinated in a savory-sweet sauce. It’s typically cooked on a stove-top griddle, or stir-fried.
What does bulgogi taste like?
Bulgogi has a unique taste and texture that sets it apart from other grilled beef dishes. The beef is thinly sliced, which helps to create a tender, juicy texture. The marinade, which typically includes soy sauce, sugar, garlic, sesame oil, and other seasonings, infuses the meat with a savory, slightly sweet, and smoky flavor.
Where does bulgogi come from?
Bulgogi, originating from Korea, is a delectable dish featuring thinly sliced beef marinated to perfection and traditionally cooked over an open flame. The name “Bulgogi” comes from the Korean words “bul” (fire) and “gogi” (meat), signifying its fiery origins. Although variations exist, the term primarily refers to beef Bulgogi.