Bulgogi (Korean BBQ Beef)

Bulgogi is Korean marinated beef. It is one of Korea's most famous and popular dishes. It is made of tender cuts of beef marinated in soy sauce and sugar. It can be cooked with vegetables in a wok or char-grilled. No matter which way you cook it, it is delicious!

Ingredients

800g (1.76 pounds) thinly sliced sirloin (or any tender prime beef cut)

1 large yellow onion, peeled (130g, 4.6 ounces)

2 stalks green onion (55g, 2 ounces)

1/2 medium carrot, peeled (55g, 2 ounces)

1 Tbsp sesame oil

1 Tbsp sesame seeds

1 Tbsp cooking oil (I used rice bran oil)

Marinade sauce (mix all together in a small bowl):

6 Tbsp soy sauce (I used Kikkoman soy sauce)

3 Tbsp brown sugar

2 Tbsp rice wine (mirin)

2 Tbsp grated yellow onion (This is equivalent to

1/2 large onion – 80g, 2.8 ounces)

1 Tbsp minced garlic

5 Tbsp grated red apple (This is equivalent to 1 medium apple– 155g, 5.5 ounces, I used royal gala. Pink lady or fuji apples are ok to use as well.)

1 tsp minced ginger

1/8 tsp ground black pepper

*1 Tbsp = 15 ml

Remove the blood from the meat with kitchen paper. (This can be done by placing the kitchen paper on the cutting board. Then put one slice of meat and layer another piece of kitchen paper on top of the meat. Gently press it down to soak up the blood.) Place the meat into a large mixing bowl for marinating.

Pour the marinade sauce onto the bowl and mix well with the meat. Add the sesame oil and gently mix it into the meat. (I prefer adding the sesame oil separately as opposed to mixing it in marinade sauce. I read somewhere that the oil can prevent the other sauce getting absorbed effectively into the meat.) Cover the bowl with food wrap (or move the meat into a glass container with a lid) and marinate the meat for at least 4 hours in the fridge. (If you have more time, you can also marinate it overnight for an extra enhanced flavour).

Prepare the vegetables. Thinly slice the onion, carrots and green onion.

Preheat the wok/skillet on the stove on medium high heat and once heated add the cooking oil and spread it well with a spatula.

Add the meat and vegetables and stir. Cook them on high heat for 3 to 5 mins until the meat is starting to turn brown. Stir occasionally (every 30 seconds) and reduce the heat gradually as the meat & vegetables cook.

When the meat is nearly cooked toss in the sesame seeds. By now the heat should be very low. Stir them quickly and turn off the heat.

Serve the Bulgogi onto a plate and enjoy.

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