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Easy Korean beef bulgogi on a black skillet
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5 from 4 votes

easy korean beef bulgogi with ssamjang dipping sauce

Easy Korean beef bulgogi with ssamjang dipping sauce is a fun meal that isn't as hard as you think it might be.
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Course: Main
Cuisine: Korean
Keyword: beef bulgogi, bibimbap
Servings: 4
Calories: 335kcal
Author: romain | glebekitchen

Ingredients

Easy Korean beef bulgogi

  • 1 lb top sirloin or striploin thinly sliced against the grain
  • 1/2 cup bulgogi sauce - see note
  • 3 tbsp vegetable oil divided
  • lettuce, rice, green onion, sesame seeds, red chili and/or sliced radish to serve

Korean ssamjang sauce

  • 3 tbsp doenjang - korean fermented soybean paste
  • 1 1/2 tbsp gochujang - korean spice paste
  • 1 1/2 tsp sesame oil
  • 2 tsp mirin
  • 1 green onion finely minced - green part only
  • 1 clove garlic - crushed (about 1/2 tsp total)
  • 1-2 tbsp apple juice or water to thin to desired consistency

Instructions

Make the ssamjang

  • Combine all the ingredients except the apple juice or water. Stir to combine thoroughly. 
  • Use the apple juice or water to thin to the desired consistency. You want it pretty thick but you also want to be able to spread it out a bit in your wrap. Like hoisin sauce if you are familiar with that. 

Make the beef bulgogi

  • Beef, sliced against the grain, is fundamental here. Buy a small roast. Chuck it in the freezer for about 20-30 minutes. That makes things easier. Use your sharpest knife. Slice against the grain. You are trying for about 1/8 of an inch thick. It's not dead easy but it's not that hard either...
  • Heat half the oil in a large skillet until it shimmers. Season the beef with a bit of salt.  Add half the beef to the pan. Resist the urge to start stirring right away. Give it a minute to brown a bit. Give it a stir and cook about another minute. Remove from the pan and set aside. It doesn't have to be fully cooked at this point. It will cook a bit more in the sauce.
  • Repeat with the rest of the oil and remaining beef. If you get a bit of browning in the pan be happy. That's fond. You will scrape that goodness up when you add the bulgogi sauce. More flavour. More better!
  • Return the first half of the beef to the pan and the bulgogi sauce. If you are lucky enough to have some fond, scrape it up so it melts into the sauce. Cook over high heat, uncovered, until most of the liquid has evaporated. This takes about 2-3 minutes.
  • Serve with lettuce, ssamjang, and condiments. Place a bit of rice (or not) on a lettuce leaf. Top with a bit of beef. Add a  light drizzle of ssamjang and sprinkle with whatever condiments you like. Eat with your hands. Or use it in bibimbap. Make a killer hoagie. Just have fun with it. 

Notes

You can buy Korean bulgogi sauce but it's much better to make your own. See here for a recipe that you can make in 2 minutes.
 
This recipe makes a lot of ssamjang. You will have extra. Half the recipe if you don't want as much. Bet you want it though. Try it with eggs. Or smear it on a sandwich. Or make more bulgogi tomorrow...
 
Gochujang and doenjang are Korean fermented soybean pastes. Like Korean miso. Gochujang is spicy and comes in a red tub. Doenjang is not spicy and comes in a brown tub. You can buy ssamjang if you don't want to make it. It comes in the green tub. Confused? You will understand when you get to the Asian market. Just remember - red is spicy, brown is not, green is ssamjang.

Nutrition

Serving: 4servings | Calories: 335kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 66mg | Sodium: 711mg | Potassium: 531mg | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 40IU | Vitamin C: 3.3mg | Calcium: 28mg | Iron: 2mg