Tender and Savory Beef Jeon (Korean Pan-Fried Steak)
How to Make Delicious Beef Jeon Using Sirloin Cap
I used to think that Beef Jeon was only a dish for special occasions or traditional family gatherings. The difficulty of sourcing good quality beef specifically for Jeon also made me hesitate to make it at home. However, I recently bought a pack of sirloin cap (Hongdukkae-sal), and after using some for a spicy stir-fry, I had a bit left over. I thought, ‘This would be perfect for making Jeon!’ Let’s make some cost-effective and incredibly tasty Beef Jeon using sirloin cap!
Main Ingredients- 10 slices of Sirloin Cap (thinly sliced)
- Flour or Sweet Rice Flour, as needed
- 2 Eggs
Beef Seasoning Ingredients- 2 Tbsp Soy Sauce
- 1 Tbsp Cheongju (Rice Wine)
- 0.5 Tbsp Mirin (Sweet Cooking Wine)
- 0.5 Tbsp Sugar
- 0.5 Tbsp Sesame Oil
- Pinch of Black Pepper
- 2 Tbsp Soy Sauce
- 1 Tbsp Cheongju (Rice Wine)
- 0.5 Tbsp Mirin (Sweet Cooking Wine)
- 0.5 Tbsp Sugar
- 0.5 Tbsp Sesame Oil
- Pinch of Black Pepper
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, to remove any excess blood, place the thinly sliced sirloin cap on paper towels. Gently press down to allow the towels to absorb the blood. Removing the blood is key to a clean, fresh taste without any gamey odor.
Step 2
Next, let’s prepare the seasoning for the beef. In a small bowl, combine 2 Tbsp soy sauce, 1 Tbsp cheongju, 0.5 Tbsp mirin, 0.5 Tbsp sugar, 0.5 Tbsp sesame oil, and a pinch of black pepper. Stir well until the sugar is completely dissolved. Your beef seasoning mixture is ready!
Step 3
Gently coat both sides of the sirloin cap slices with the prepared seasoning. Be careful not to rub or knead the meat too vigorously, as this can cause it to tear. Pat the seasoning onto the meat to ensure it adheres well without damaging the slices.
Step 4
After seasoning, lightly coat each slice of beef with flour or sweet rice flour on both sides. Gently tap off any excess flour. This thin coating ensures a delicate crust rather than a thick batter, leading to a more refined Jeon.
Step 5
In a separate bowl, whisk 2 eggs, breaking the yolks and ensuring no stringy bits remain. Then, dip the flour-coated beef slices into the beaten egg, ensuring a light, even coating of egg wash.
Step 6
Now it’s time to cook! Heat a frying pan over medium heat and add a generous amount of cooking oil. It’s crucial to cook over medium heat; high heat can cause the egg coating to burn before the beef is cooked through.
Step 7
Since the beef slices are thin, they don’t require long cooking times. Place the egg-coated beef slices in the heated pan. Pan-fry for about 1-2 minutes per side, or until both sides are golden brown and cooked through. Beef Jeon is best enjoyed immediately while warm!
