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Authentic Korean BBQ Beef Recipe (Bulgogi)

This homemade bulgogi recipe features thin slices of beef marinated in a delicious blend of soy sauce, brown sugar, Asian pear, garlic, and sesame oil. The result is incredibly tender meat with a perfect caramelization that's both sweet and savory – a true Korean classic that's surprisingly easy to make at home!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Korean
Calories: 226

Ingredients
  

  • pounds beef ribeye or sirloin, thinly sliced
  • cup soy sauce
  • 3 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 small Asian pear or apple, grated
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil
  • 2 tablespoons rice wine mirin
  • 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
  • 3 green onions chopped
  • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds plus more for garnish
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil for cooking

Method
 

  1. Place the thinly sliced beef in a large mixing bowl.
  2. In a separate medium bowl, combine the soy sauce, brown sugar, grated Asian pear, minced garlic, sesame oil, rice wine, grated ginger, chopped green onions, sesame seeds, and black pepper. Whisk thoroughly until the sugar is dissolved.
  3. Pour the marinade over the beef slices and mix well, ensuring all meat is evenly coated. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (for best results, marinate overnight).
  4. When ready to cook, heat a large skillet or wok over high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil.
  5. Working in batches to avoid overcrowding (which would steam rather than sear the meat), cook the marinated beef slices for 1-2 minutes per side until slightly caramelized and cooked through.
  6. Transfer the cooked beef to a serving plate and repeat with remaining meat, adding more oil as needed.
  7. Garnish with additional sliced green onions and a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds.
  8. Serve immediately with steamed rice and traditional Korean side dishes (banchan) like kimchi.

Nutrition

Calories: 226kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 21gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 49mgSodium: 844mgFiber: 1gSugar: 8g
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