
Bulgogi
The famous Korean marinated beef: thin slices caramelized in a sweet-savory sauce with nashi pear and sesame.
Préparation
20 min
Cuisson
10 min
Portions
4 servings
Difficulté
Easy
Préparation
- 1
Slice the beef
Place the meat in the freezer for 30 minutes to firm it up. Cut into 2-3mm thick slices against the grain. The thinner the slices, the better the marinade will penetrate.
If you buy pre-sliced beef at an Asian grocery (sukiyaki style), skip this step.10 min
- 2
Prepare the marinade
In a large bowl, mix the grated pear, soy sauce, brown sugar, mirin, sesame oil, garlic and ginger. Whisk until the sugar dissolves.
5 min
- 3
Marinate
Add the beef slices and sliced onion to the marinade. Gently massage the meat with your hands to coat it well. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, ideally overnight.
Nashi pear contains enzymes that naturally tenderize the meat.5 min
- 4
Cooking
Heat a large pan or wok over high heat with a drizzle of oil. Remove the meat, letting excess marinade drain off. Cook in a single layer without stirring for 1-2 minutes until caramelized. Flip and cook another 1-2 minutes. Work in batches.
Don't overcrowd the pan, or the meat will steam instead of sear.10 min
- 5
Serving
Arrange the bulgogi on a warm plate. Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds. Serve with rice and lettuce leaves for making ssam (wrapped bites).
5 min
Conseils
- Korean soy sauce (ganjang) is milder than Japanese. If unavailable, use reduced-sodium soy sauce.
- The sugar contributes to caramelization: don't skip it.
- If you don't have nashi pear, use grated kiwi but reduce marinating time to 1 hour.
Variantes
Dak Bulgogi
Chicken version with boneless thighs.
Spicy Bulgogi (Maekjeok)
Add 2 tbsp of gochugaru for a spicy version.
Bulgogi Jeongol
Hot pot version where the meat cooks in broth with vegetables.
Conservation
Raw marinated meat keeps 2 days in the refrigerator. Cooked, it keeps 3 days. Can be frozen for 1 month.