Yes, I know what you’re thinking, another Korean beef recipe…
I bet you can find hundreds of Bulgogi recipes on the web. Many food bloggers have been posted their versions of this glorious Korean cow dish.
So why am I posting this? Because, I am bored out of my mind… Just kidding.
Well, I am a Korean food blogger, and I gotta have Korean beef recipe at some point to be eligible for that. Just like every housewives in Korea having their ways of making it, I have my version too, adapted from my own mother’s recipe.
What makes mine different?
As you see, mine has some juice in the dish. That is what authentic Bulgogi should be. It is supposed to be wet unlike Galbi.
Drizzle those flavorful Bulgogi juice on the rice, it will melt down your soul and makes you fall in love with the person across your table. ♥ ♥ ♥
I also prefer not to mix any vegetable with beef in the marinade. I prepare vegetables separately and use as topping.
Better taste, better presentation, and you get the credit. Here is how I make my Bulgogi.
Asian pear, sugar, soy sauce, mirin (or rice wine), sesame oil, sesame seeds, black pepper, onion, garlic, anchovies, sea kelp, and or course, the cow meat.
either slice yourself or ask your butcher to slice as thin as his humanness possible.
#1: Place a paper towel on the cutting board, and layer the beef slices on top just like that.
What in the world am I doing? You shall see…
You can skip this if you don’t care about what I just said.
My new toy in the kitchen, ho ho ho… Doesn’t the green color looks like 70th retro? Reminds me of a pair of bell bottom pants I used to wear as a child.
Let your blender do his duty.
Filtering will help create more savoring touch to your meat juice later on.
Pour the reserved pure pear onion juice over the meat in the mixing bowl.
Because they need to relax. ♪♪… ♪♪
This will help break down the fibers in their macho muscles.
Some dried anchovies and sea kelp with water, boil and simmer until you suck the life out of them.
Was the movie happy ending?
The stock, finely minced garlic, soy sauce, sugar, rice wine… etc
This time sing some Bohemian chant…, followed by a prayer.
You don’t have to follow on this but if you have the pan, why not?
If you don’t have the luxury of overnight magic, give them at least 4 hours, would ya?
Bulgogi should not cook with any oil except the sesame oil in the marinade, Period!
Overcooking will make your meat dry and tough.
You can eat the way it is with some rice or Serve with some sauteed onions and mushrooms on top if the presentation is important.
Just saute onion in a little bit of oil, season with some salt.
I sauteed with some garlic, Korean soy sauce and pepper until they get soft. Throw some chopped green onions for color.
Well…
If you are the person seeking that missing 10%,
I humbly ask you try this. You will get 98%.
Uh, where is the missing 2%?
I will leave it on your imagination.
Bulgogi
Ingredients
- 2 lb 900g beef rib eye thinly sliced, about 1/8"thick
- 1/2 Asian pear cut up
- 1/2 onion cut up
- 4-5 dried anchovies
- 2 dried sea kelp
- 1 Cup water
- soy sauce marinade
- 7 Tbsp low sodium soy sauce
- 3-4 Tbsp sugar
- 3 cloves garlic finely minced
- 2 Tbsp mirin or rice wine
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 2 tsp toasted sesame seeds
- 1 tsp black pepper freshly ground
Instructions
- Place a sheet of paper towel on the cutting board and layer beef slices (in a single layer) without overlapping. Put another paper towel on top and repeat the layering. Cover the top with towel. Let them sit for 10 minutes so the paper towel will absorb some blood.
- Puree pear and onion in the blender. Filter the puree in the coffee filter to get the clear juice, discard the fibers. Remove the paper from the beef and place the beef in a mixing bowl. Pour the pear onion juice over and mix well with your hand. Let it sit for 30 minutes in the fridge.
- Meanwhile make anchovy stock by combining anchovy, sea kelp, and water in a small sauce pan. Boil and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove the pan from heat and cool for 20 minutes. Discard the anchovies and sea kelp, reserve 1/2 cup of stock.
- Make the soy sauce marinade by combining all the ingredients.
- Pour stock and soy sauce mixture to the beef and mix everything thoroughly by hand.
- Let the meat marinade in the fridge overnight or at least 4 hrs. When ready heat skillet over medium-high heat until it gets nicely hot. Do not add any oil. Place beef and spread to cover the skillet. It will sizzle. Gently stir the meat to cook. You only need to cook for 1 or 2 minutes since the slices are very thin.
- Remember! overcooking will make your meat tough.You will see the meat releasing its juice while cooking. Serve your Bulgogi with its juice over rice immediately. Enjoy!
- Optional: Saute some onions and mushrooms with a little bit of oil, season with salt and pepper, and use as topping over meat.
I would never tire of bulgogi and yours look yummylicious!!!
Thanks sweetie. They were mighty tasty.
It looks absolutely delicious! I will make it tonight and let's see what my Korean husband has to say about it 🙂
Please let me know how he thinks. Hope he likes it.
This is the best Bulgogi I've ever had. Thanks for sharing.
this looks yummy..I'll try to cook this next time 🙂
Just went to a Korean shop today looking for dried sea kelp but found a dried sea tangle….are these two the same?
Yes.
Your blog, all of it, is food porn to me. <3
Thank you!
Hi,
I made your bulgogi recipe for a party I hosted this weekend. It was soooo delicious, and a big hit with my guests!
My husband can’t wait for me to make it again. Thank you!
Jenny
This was devine…..I think your special stock and not adding the vegies right away helped make this one of the most beautiful bulgogi ever!
thank you again
Michel
Gawd that sounds delicious… bulgogi at a Korean BBQ place is still the most delicious meat memory I’ve ever put in my mouth… yours looks divine. When I can eat again I will be trying this recipe for sure.
This looks absolutely deelish and I’m going to make it soon! I love the taste of ginger, would adding a little hurt anything?
Adding a just little bit of ginger will enhance bulgogi nicely. Go for it.
The love story you want is Sleepless in Seattle. The recipe is awesome. Can you now please give me your ssamjang recipe?
Thanks so much for the recipe. I only have regular soy sauce so for the marinade I am sure I need less. Any suggestion how many tablespoon needed and do I need to add water maybe to make it 7 tbsp?