Quick Easy Bulgogi (Korean BBQ Beef)
Tender, succulent beef marinated in a sweet and savory sauce with a smoky flavor! This easy bulgogi recipe beats takeout and is made with simple ingredients in little time compared to other recipes! Great as a main for a busy weeknight meal or for meal prep!
Ingredients
- 1 lb pre-sliced rib eye beef or sub with Top Sirloin, Tenderloin, or Flank steak and follow Step 1 to slice yourself
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil or any neutral oil
- 1 green onion finely chopped for garnish
- 1.5 teaspoon sesame seeds for garnish
Beef Marinade
- 1 ¼ cup Asian Pear peeled (or sub with a Bosc pear or any pear/apple)
- ½ cup onion peeled
- 3 cloves garlic peeled
- ¼ cup regular soy sauce
- 2 tablespoon brown sugar
- 2 tablespoon mirin
- 2 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon honey
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- If you're using pre-sliced beef, skip this step. If you're using a whole steak, freeze it exposed to the cold air for 45-60 minutes and this will make it easier to thinly slice it. Use a sharp knife to slice the steak on an angle against the grain.
- Into a blender or food processor, add marinade ingredients as listed and blend on high until you have a smooth purée. (If you don’t have a blender, finely grate the onion and pear and mince the garlic with a knife. Then combine with other marinade ingredients in a medium bowl).
- In a large bowl, add thin slices of beef and pour the marinade over top. Gently mix until the marinade has thoroughly coated the meat - do not be rough or the beef can break apart. Marinate for 30 minutes at room temperature. For best flavor, marinate for 1 hour or overnight, covered, in the fridge.
- Heat vegetable oil or any neutral oil in a large pan on medium-high heat. Remove the marinated meat from the bowl and shake off excess marinade before frying in small batches in a single layer. Tip: Do not over crowd the pan.
- Cook beef through, about 3 minutes - stir frying as needed. If you prefer it more browned on the edges, cook for another 1-3 minutes on medium heat.
- Garnish with sesame seeds and green onions. Remove off heat and enjoy!
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Nutrition
Calories: 404kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 69mg | Sodium: 950mg | Potassium: 457mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 61IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 3mg