Best Beef Bulgogi

Korean food is rapidly becoming one of America’s favorite ethnic cuisines and it is no surprise given its bold, spicy flavors.  Korean barbecue beef known as bulgogi is a particular favorite.  This bulgogi recipe is so good it will become habit-forming.  Grilling the beef instead of pan-frying it gives it that bit of barbecue flavor along with lovely grill marks.  My favorite way to serve bulgogi is with rice and a side of mac salad or green salad, kimchi and homemade takuan (plate lunch!) but it is equally delicious stuffed in a banh mi with a generous amount of do chua pickles.  It’s just beautiful.

After a quick soak in this flavorful marinade you’ll have the best barbecued bulgogi.  Melt in your mouth super thin slices of lean, tender beef thrown on the grill is ready in just a few minutes.  The original recipes calls for flank steak but I much prefer to use the more tender filet mignon or top sirloin.  Thanks to TNCouch for sharing the recipe via allrecipes.com.

Best Beef Bulgogi

Adapted from allrecipes.com

Serves 4

Ingredients

1 pound filet mignon or top sirloin, slightly frozen for easier slicing, sliced very thin

5 tablespoons soy sauce

2 1/2 tablespoons white sugar

1/4 cup chopped green onions

2 tablespoons minced garlic

1 tablespoon roasted sesame seeds

2 tablespoons sesame oil

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

Preparation

Thinly slice partially frozen beef and place in a shallow bowl. Combine soy sauce, sugar, green onion, garlic, sesame seeds, sesame oil, and ground black pepper in a small bowl.  Pour over beef.  Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour, turning once halfway through marinating time.

Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat, and lightly oil the grate.

Quickly grill beef on hot grill until slightly charred and cooked through, 1 – 2 minutes per side.