Tender and Chewy Beef Bulgogi (Marinated Grilled Beef)
Beef bulgogi with a shallow broth, marinated in a pear drink and soy sauce seasoning and stir-fried with glass noodles and vegetables.
Translated from Korean by AI and not yet checked by a native speaker. Amounts and numbers are taken directly from the original recipe. Read the Korean original →
This single-dish meal for 4 features tender beef marinated in a sweet and savory sauce made with store-bought pear drink and regular soy sauce. Thoroughly patting away residual blood from the meat eliminates any gamey odor, and the beef is stir-fried with broth, glass noodles, and vegetables. The shallow, flavorful broth is delicious spooned over rice, making this dish perfect as a dinner side dish or a snack with drinks.
- Servings
- 4 servings
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Spiciness
- Not spicy
Ingredients
Ingredients
- Beef for bulgogi600 g
- Onion1 (small)
- Carrot1/3
- Garlic chives (buchu)30 g
- Large green onion (daepa)
- Sweet potato glass noodles (dangmyeon)70 g
- Anchovy broth or water1–2 cups
Seasoning
- Pear drink or grated pear1 1/2 cups
- Large green onion (daepa)5 tbsp (minced)
- Regular soy sauce (jin-ganjang) (or brewed soy sauce (yangjo-ganjang))1/2 cup
- Minced garlic2 tbsp
- Minced ginger1/2 tbsp
- Mirin (cooking rice wine)3 tbsp
- Corn syrup (mulyeot)2 tbsp
- Ground black pepper1/2 tsp
- Toasted sesame oil1 tbsp
- You can also prepare mushrooms, or Cheongyang chili peppers if you want some heat.
Steps
Prepare the ingredients
I prepared one pack of beef for bulgogi. It is 600g.
Here are the onion, carrot, garlic chives, and large green onion.
You can also prepare mushrooms, or Cheongyang chili peppers if you want to enjoy it spicy.
Prep the ingredients
Cut the vegetables into bite-sized lengths that are not too long.
Pour hot water over the sweet potato glass noodles to soak them until soft.
Remove blood from the meat
Press the beef firmly with paper towels to remove residual blood.
Residual blood can be the cause of gamey odors, so even if it feels bothersome, do not skip this step.
Make the marinade
Finely chop the white part of the large green onion to prepare about 5 tbsp, and instead of fresh pear juice, prepare 300 ml (1 1/2 cups) of store-bought pear drink.
Marinate the beef bulgogi
Add the minced green onion and pear drink, then add 1/2 cup of regular soy sauce, 2 tbsp of minced garlic, 1/2 tbsp of minced ginger, 3 tbsp of mirin, 2 tbsp of corn syrup, 1/2 tsp of ground black pepper, and 1 tbsp of toasted sesame oil. Mix them together, then add the beef.
Mix evenly, and you can let it marinate for at least 1 to 2 hours before eating.
If you put it in a container and let it mature in the refrigerator overnight, the meat becomes more tender and flavorful as the seasoning soaks in deeper.
Stir-fry
Pour the meat and its marinade into a pan, and since we will add glass noodles later, pour in 1 cup of anchovy broth or water and stir-fry.
The meat is sliced thin, so it will cook quickly.
Once the meat is somewhat cooked, add the glass noodles, onion, and carrot, and cook until the vegetables soften and the noodles turn chewy and plump.
Taste it, season with salt if it is bland, and adjust the sweetness to your liking.
At the end, add the green onion and garlic chives, cooking briefly just until aromatic to finish.
As the glass noodles swell, the broth will reduce, so just add more water so a nice amount of broth remains.
Finish
The beef bulgogi is finished.
With a shallow broth, you can enjoy the springy noodles, and spooning the broth over rice to mix is simply wonderful.
This beef bulgogi recipe can be whipped up without complicated steps, making it perfect for gatherings with the whole family.
Have a wonderful Friday.
Ppunwife's tips
- Residual blood can cause gamey odors, so even if it feels bothersome, do not skip removing it with paper towels.
- If you place the marinated meat in a container and mature it in the refrigerator overnight, the beef becomes more tender and flavorful.
- As the glass noodles swell, the broth reduces, so add a bit more water as needed to keep an adequate amount of shallow broth.
FAQ
What prep is needed to reduce gamey meat odors?
Residual blood is the main cause of gamey odors, so it is best to press the meat thoroughly with paper towels before cooking to wipe it clean.
How long should the meat marinate?
You can marinate it for at least 1 to 2 hours, but keeping it in an airtight container in the refrigerator overnight makes the texture more tender and deepens the flavor.
Can I use store-bought pear drink instead of fresh pear?
Yes, using an equal amount of store-bought crushed pear drink in place of grated fresh pear is a convenient way to add sweetness.
What should I do if the broth boils down too much while stir-frying the noodles?
The glass noodles absorb moisture, so you can pour in additional anchovy broth or water while cooking to keep a shallow amount of broth in the pan.
