Beef bulgogi
Bulgogi is thinly sliced beef in a sweet-savoury pear marinade. Sear it quickly in small batches, then finish with sesame seeds and spring onions.
Additional 1 h — marinating
How to make it
Prepared 0 of 6 steps
Make thin cuts
Slice well-chilled beef across the grain about 2 mm thick. Thinly slice half the onion and reserve the other half for the marinade. Peel and core the pear.
Chop the marinade
Finely grate the pear, reserved onion, garlic and ginger. Mix with the soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil and pepper to make a fairly loose marinade with fine fruit and vegetable pieces.
Marinate the meat
Mix the beef with the marinade and sliced onion in a covered container. Refrigerate for 60 minutes. Do not leave it for several days: the fruit marinade can make thin slices overly soft.
Prepare to finish
Toast the sesame seeds in a dry frying pan for 1–2 minutes until fragrant, then transfer to a bowl. Cut the spring onions into 3 cm lengths. Heat a wide frying pan so that released liquid can evaporate quickly.
Pan-sear in batches
Divide the vegetable oil between 2–3 small batches of beef. Spread the slices loosely and cook for 3–4 minutes, turning, until 63 °C in the centre. Keep the cooked beef hot for at least 3 minutes.
Combine and serve
Return all the meat to the skillet, add green onions, and heat for 1 minute. Sprinkle with sesame seeds. Do not pour in the remaining raw marinade without boiling; the dish only needs the sauce that has already cooked with the meat.
Little hint
Choose tender beef and slice it very thinly across the grain. Overcrowding a small pan makes the meat stew in its juices instead of searing.
Frequently asked questions
What should I watch out for when cooking?
Choose tender beef and slice it very thinly across the grain. Overcrowding a small pan makes the meat stew in its juices instead of searing.
How should I prepare the ingredients?
Slice well-chilled beef across the grain about 2 mm thick. Thinly slice half the onion and reserve the other half for the marinade. Peel and core the pear.
