Korean Beef Bulgogi Hot Pot (Bulgogi Jeongol)

Name: Korean Beef Bulgogi Hot Pot (Bulgogi Jeongol)
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 160 min
Ingredients: 7 large dried anchovy; 1 large dried sea kelp (dashima); 4 dried jujube (daechu); 2 tsp whole peppercorn (optional); 6 cup water; 2 tbsp Korean soup soy sauce (gukganjang); 2 tbsp sweet rice wine (mirim); salt to taste; 1/2 lb Korean beef bulgogi (marinated, or use a store-bought bulgogi sauce to marinade the beef); 3 oz Korean glass noodles (dangmyeon); 1/4 napa cabbage (sliced); 8 oz baby bok choy (halved); 4 oz each mushroom (shiitake, oyster, and enoki mushroom) (or use other favorite mushrooms); 1/2 medium onion (sliced); 4 green onion (sliced); 6 tbsp soy sauce; 4 tbsp rice vinegar; 1 1/2 tbsp sugar; 2 tsp Korean mustard (yeongeoja) (or dijon mustard); 1/2 white onion (thinly sliced, optional)

posted by Holly Ford on Nov 29, 2010 (updated Apr 14, 2022) 6 comments »

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Bulgogi hot pot (Jeongol) is a Korean beef hot pot dish with marinated bulgogi meat, a variety of vegetables, and glass noodles in a savory and slightly sweet broth. Typically served during cold winter months, this hearty, comforting Korean hot pot recipe is perfect for gatherings with family and friends.

Kitchen tongs are picking up a bulgogi piece with noodles from the simmering hot pot on the portable burner.

As I review fond memories of winter time in Korea when I was growing up, I think of my mother preparing this delicious, savory bulgogi hot pot for dinner.

A large shallow pot is adorned with a beautiful arrangement of Korean beef bulgogi meat, along with a variety of leafy vegetables, mushrooms, and Korean glass noodles (dangmyeon). Then a slightly sweet and savory broth is poured over it all.

My mother placed the pot on a portable burner in the middle of table. The entire family of seven sat around the table and watched with anticipation as the hot pot steamed up and then began to boil.

Bulgogi jeongol cooks up fast. Within a short few minutes, this comforting and delicious Korean beef stew is ready. We each rushed to pick out, with a ladle, our favorite ingredient from the hot pot – for me, it was the mushroom – and dip it in the dipping sauce on our individual plate. It’s steaming hot, of course. So we had to cool down each morsel by blowing on it until we could eat it.

No matter how cold or bad the weather outside was, this soul-comforting Korean stew instantly warmed us up. So hearty and delicious!

What is Jeongol?

Jeongol is a Korean word for hot pot. It’s a one of the sophisticated Korean stew dishes cooked right at the table. There are a variety of ingredient options for jeongol, such as Korean bulgogi, fresh seafood, dumplings, mushroom, tofu, and fish cakes.

Whichever option you choose, always add leafy vegetables to balance the dish. Jeongol also requires a slightly sweet and savory broth, which flavors the dish, that you boil the ingredients in.

It is typically cooked in a wide and shallow pot (jeongol naembi) right at the table, so that you can enjoy the steaming hot jeongol right away. Use any large, shallow pot or pan. I used my braiser pan.

A bulgogi hot pot with mushroom and vegetables is simmering over stove

What Ingredients are good for Bulgogi Hot Pot?

bulgogi – beef slices marinated in the bulgogi sauce in advance (see my Best bulgogi recipe). Or use a store-bought jarred bulgogi marinade.
vegetables – use leafy vegetables: napa cabbage, spinach, bok choy, watercress, Swiss chard, choy sum, etc.
mushroom – use a variety: shiitake, oyster, enoki, etc.
tofu – either soft or firm (sliced)
onion – leek, green onion, or chives are great, too.
glass noodles (dangmyeon) – make sure to soak them in water to soften them up before adding them to the pot.
broth – use anchovy kelp stock simmered with dried jujube. Then season with Korean soup soy sauce and sweet rice wine.

How to serve Korean Beef Hot Pot?

It is a good idea to get a portable burner so you can cook right on the table. You’ll want to enjoy the fresh hot pot instantly. Each person should have their own serving dish (a shallow bowl) so that they can ladle up their own portions as it cooks.

You can serve bulgogi jeongol as is, together with the savory broth. Alternatively, you can also dip the meat, vegetable, and mushroom in a simple dipping sauce to get an extra flavor boost.

How to make Bulgogi Jeongol at Home

Korean beef has been in the savory marinade before used in the recipe.

Step 1. Marinate the beef with bulgogi sauce. See my best beef bulgogi recipe. Make sure to do this step well in advance, at least 2 hours or up to a day before you assemble the hot pot.

Korean glass noodle is soaked in water to soften up.

Step 2. Soak Korean glass noodles (dangmyeon) in warm water for 15 minutes. Drain and set aside.

Kithcen tongs are picking up a piece of sea kelp from the stock made with dried anchovies and jujube.

A large glass mixing cup is showing the stock mixed with soy sauce and rice wine.

Step 3. Make the savory broth. Simmer together dried anchovies, dried sea kelp (dashima), dried jujube (daechu), and whole peppercorn (optional) over low heat for 10 minutes. Remove the sea kelp halfway through your simmering time. Discard the anchovies, jujube, peppercorn and reserve the stock. Season the broth with Korean soup soy sauce and sweet rice wine.

Various vegetables and mushrooms are gathered to make a Korean beef hot pot.

Step 4. Prepare other ingredients of your choice. I am using napa cabbage, bok choy, shiitake mushroom, oyster mushroom, enoki mushroom, onion, green onion.

Onion slices are added to cold water to soak.

Korean mustard is added to a dipping sauce mixture in a jar.

Step 5. I recommend adding fresh raw onion when you serve the hot pot. Soak the thin onion slices in cold water for a few minutes to crisp them up. To make the dipping sauce, combine soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, and Korean mustard in a small jar and shake the jar vigorously to emulsify the sauce.

A wide pan filled with Korean beef and vegetable is getting ready to cook on the portable stove.

Step 5. Assemble the hot pot ingredients, placing them in a pleasing way for presentation, and then pour the savory stock over them. The stock should not reach all the way to the top. You can add more stock as you cook.

Korean beef and vegetable hot pot is boiling up in the pan over the portable stove.

Step 6. Place the pot over the portable burner and let it boil over medium-high heat. When the broth is starting to boil, spread the beef around so it cooks evenly.

A small serving bowl contains dipping sauce and onion slices.

Pieces of bulgogi, mushroom are dipping in a sauce inside the serving bowl.

How to serve bulgogi hotpot

When meat is cooked, and the vegetables, mushrooms, and noodles are tender, dish the items up on to your serving dish and serve with dipping sauce. Also try with Korean green onion salad as well.

Other Korean Comfort Dishes