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Authentic and easy bulgogi recipe with sliced pork belly and Korean red chili paste. Bulgogi is great with steamed rice as a bulgogi bowl or wrapped with lettuce or Perilla leaves.
Table of Contents
Bulgogi Recipe
Bulgogi is a Korean marinated meat dish with Korean red chili paste.
This easy bulgogi recipe calls for gochujang, gochugaru (Korean red chili pepper flakes), soy sauce, sugar, onion and scallions.
Learn how to how to make dwaeji bulgogi (aka jeyuk bokkeum) using pork belly (samgyupsal). You can also use pork shoulder, pork loin, beef or chicken for this authentic recipe.
Other Korean Recipes You Might Like
- Korean Fried Chicken
- Kalbi
- Jjamppong Korean Seafood Noodle Soup
What Is Bulgogi?
Korean Bulgogi is a marinated meat dish made with thin slices of beef, usually rib eye. It is no doubt one of the most well-known Korean dishes outside of Korea.
When it’s made with pork, it’s called dwaeji (pork) bulgogi. Unlike its beef counterpart, which is traditionally marinated in a soy sauce based sauce, pork is typically marinated in a spicy gochujang sauce.
Gochujang is a fermented red chili pepper paste made primarily with gochugaru (Korean red chili pepper flakes), glutinous rice powder and fermented soybean powder.
It’s pungent, spicy, slightly sweet and salty. For an authentic Korean dish, there is simply no substitute for gochujang. Gochujang can be found in any Korean market or you can buy online!
The marinated pork can be either grilled or pan-fried. The best way to enjoy it is to wrap a bite-size piece in lettuce or a Perilla leaf and eat the whole wrap.
If you love fatty pork and spicy food, this is the perfect dish for you!
How to Make Bulgogi?
It’s easy to make this recipe at home. It calls for very simple steps.
First, cut the sliced pork belly into bite-sized pieces. Next, combine all the sauce and marinade ingredients together.
Combine the pork, marinade sauce, onion and scallions together in a big bowl. Marinate the meat for at least an hour or best overnight.
To cook, just grill or cook on a skillet.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Brand of Korean Red Chili Paste (gochujang) Should I Use?
I recommend Chungjungwon (청정원), Haechandeul (해찬들) and Sampio (샘표) gochujang.
How Do I Make Bulgogi Bowl?
It’s very easy, just place fresh steamed rice in a bowl and top the rice with bulgogi.
You may serve bulgogi bowl with banchan (Korean side dishes) such as kimchi, Asian cucumber salad and Korean spicy tofu.
How Many Calories per Serving?
This recipe is only 685 calories per serving.
What Dishes to Serve with This Recipe?
Serve this dish with steamed rice and Korean side dishes. For a wholesome Korean meal and easy weeknight dinner, I recommend the following recipes.
Japchae (Chap Chae)
Spicy Korean Tofu
Spicy Korean Chicken Wings
Korean Clam Soup
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Bulgogi
Authentic and easy bulgogi recipe with sliced pork belly and Korean red chili paste. Bulgogi is great with steamed rice as a bulgogi bowl or wrapped with lettuce or Perilla leaves.
4.55 from 22 votes
By Bee Yinn Low
Yield 4 people
Prep 5 minutes mins
Cook 20 minutes mins
Total 25 minutes mins
Ingredients
- 1 pound (500g) thinly sliced pork belly or pork shoulder
- 1/2 medium onion (thinly sliced)
- 2 - 3 stalks scallion (roots removed, cut into 2 inch (5 cm) lengths)
- 1 tablespoon oil
Bulgogi Marinade:
- 3 tablespoons Korean red chili pepper paste* (gochujang)
- 1 tablespoon Korean red chili pepper flakes (gochugaru)
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons rice wine (or [mirin])
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon grated ginger
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
Mix all Bulgogi Marinade ingredients well.
Cut the pork belly into bite size pieces, about 2 inch (5cm) length.
Combine the meat, onion and scallions with the marinade and mix well. Marinate for at least an hour, or best overnight.
Heat a grill pan or a skillet over medium high heat and add the oil. Cook the pork slices until cooked through and slightly caramelized, turning over once.
Dish out and serve immediately with steamed rice.
Notes
Recipe Contributor: Korean Bapsang
You may use thinly sliced beef to make beef bulgogi.
The quality and taste of commercially available gochujang (고추장) varies, depending on brands. Some of the major brand names available in the U.S. are Chungjungwon (청정원), Haechandeul (해찬들) and Sampio (샘표). Each brand makes different types of gochujang, depending on the types or origin of ingredients used.
Chungjungwon (청정원) is known for its Sunchang (순창) gochujang. Sunchang (순창) is a town that's famous for making the best gochujang. Some brands note the level of spiciness on the package, e.g., No. 3 is medium hot and No. 4 is very hot.
Course: Korean Recipes
Cuisine: Pork
Keywords: Bulgogi, bulgogi recipe, bulgogi sauce, Korean bulgogi
Nutrition
Nutrition Facts
Bulgogi
Amount Per Serving (4 people)
Calories 685Calories from Fat 567
% Daily Value*
Fat 63g97%
Saturated Fat 22g138%
Cholesterol 81mg27%
Sodium 575mg25%
Carbohydrates 13g4%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 7g8%
Protein 12g24%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated, using Spoonacular, for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.
