Tender and Delicious Bulgogi
The Golden Recipe for Tender Beef Bulgogi at Home
Marinating the beef for over 30 minutes will result in a bulgogi so tender it melts in your mouth. Create a hearty and delicious home-cooked meal with simple ingredients!
Main Ingredients- Beef (thinly sliced for bulgogi) 500g
- Enoki mushrooms 1 pack
- Onion 1/2 medium
- Carrot 1/3 medium
- Green onion 1/3 stalk
- Sesame oil 1 Tbsp (for finishing)
- Sesame seeds, a pinch (for garnish)
Marinade Ingredients- Soy sauce 5 Tbsp
- Fish sauce 1 Tbsp (for extra umami!)
- Onion 1/2 medium (grated)
- Cooking wine (Mirin or similar) 2 Tbsp
- Plum extract 1 Tbsp
- Sugar 2 Tbsp
- Black pepper, a pinch
- Minced garlic 1 Tbsp
- Sesame oil 1 Tbsp (for marinade)
- Soy sauce 5 Tbsp
- Fish sauce 1 Tbsp (for extra umami!)
- Onion 1/2 medium (grated)
- Cooking wine (Mirin or similar) 2 Tbsp
- Plum extract 1 Tbsp
- Sugar 2 Tbsp
- Black pepper, a pinch
- Minced garlic 1 Tbsp
- Sesame oil 1 Tbsp (for marinade)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare thinly sliced beef suitable for bulgogi. Pat the surface of the beef dry with paper towels to remove excess blood, which helps eliminate any gamey odor and results in a cleaner taste. Slice the dried beef into bite-sized pieces.
Step 2
In a bowl with the beef, sprinkle 2 tablespoons of sugar evenly over the meat. Sugar acts as a tenderizer, making the beef exceptionally soft.
Step 3
Wearing disposable gloves, gently massage the beef to ensure the sugar is evenly distributed. Be careful not to mash the meat; handle it with care.
Step 4
Let the beef marinate in sugar for about 15 minutes to allow it to absorb the sweetness.
Step 5
Trim the tough, dirty ends off the enoki mushrooms. Rinse them briefly under running water, then gently separate them into smaller strands by hand.
Step 6
Peel and wash half an onion, then slice it into strips about 0.5 cm thick.
Step 7
Peel and thinly julienne the carrot. Slice the green onion diagonally. These vegetables will add flavor and moisture as they cook with the beef.
Step 8
Now, let’s make the marinade. In a blender, add half an onion and blend until smooth to create the marinade base. Grating or blending the onion into the marinade helps it penetrate the meat more effectively, contributing to a tender texture.
Step 9
Next, prepare the bulgogi marinade. Add the blended onion to the bowl containing the beef that was marinating in sugar.
Step 10
To this, add 5 tablespoons of soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of fish sauce, 2 tablespoons of cooking wine, and 1 tablespoon of plum extract. Generously sprinkle in some black pepper, then add 1 tablespoon of minced garlic and 1 tablespoon of sesame oil to complete the marinade.
Step 11
Put on a fresh pair of disposable gloves and gently massage the marinade into the beef, ensuring every piece is coated. This helps the flavors penetrate deeply.
Step 12
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to let the marinade work its magic. For an even deeper flavor, you can marinate it for an hour or longer. This marinating process is key to achieving tender, flavorful bulgogi.
Step 13
Now it’s time to cook. Heat a pan over medium heat. Add all the marinated bulgogi to the hot pan. Be prepared to separate any clumps of meat as it starts to cook.
Step 14
Arrange the sliced onions, green onions, and julienned carrots evenly over the bulgogi in the pan. The moisture released from these vegetables will help keep the beef tender and juicy.
Step 15
Stir-fry the beef and vegetables over high heat. Use chopsticks to break apart any clumps of meat and ensure even cooking without burning. Cooking quickly over high heat helps to minimize the loss of juices.
Step 16
When the beef is more than half cooked (no longer pink), add all the prepared enoki mushrooms to the pan. Enoki mushrooms cook very quickly, so it’s best to add them towards the end.
Step 17
Reduce the heat to medium and continue to stir-fry until the beef, vegetables, and mushrooms are thoroughly cooked. Ensure all ingredients are tender and the flavors have melded together.
Step 18
Finally, drizzle 1 tablespoon of sesame oil over the mixture for a rich, nutty aroma. Stir gently to combine. Adding sesame oil off the heat preserves its fragrance.
Step 19
Sprinkle a pinch of sesame seeds over the top for an extra touch of nutty flavor. Your delicious Beef Bulgogi is now ready!
Step 20
Serve hot with rice for an even more satisfying meal. Enjoy your delicious Bulgogi!
