Name: Beef Bulgogi
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Asian
Ingredients: 1¾-2 pounds ribeye steaks; Heaping ¼ teaspoon baking soda; 1½ tablespoons vegetable oil, plus 2 teaspoons more for cooking; 1½ teaspoons Asian sesame oil; ¼ cup soy sauce; 3 tablespoons (packed) dark brown sugar; 2 cloves garlic, roughly chopped; 1 small shallot, roughly chopped; 1 tablespoon roughly chopped fresh ginger, from a 1-inch knob (see note); Heaping ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes; 2 scallions, dark green parts only, thinly sliced, for serving; 1 teaspoon sesame seeds, for serving

Beef Bulgogi

By Jenn Segal

Adapted from Cooks Illustrated

Add some sizzle to your weeknights with this easy beef bulgogi recipe – a Korean barbecue favorite!

Servings: 4

Prep Time: 20 Minutes

Cook Time: 10 Minutes

Total Time: 30 Minutes, plus 35 minutes to chill the meat (if time allows) and at least 1 hour to marinate

Ingredients

1¾-2 pounds ribeye steaks
Heaping ¼ teaspoon baking soda
1½ tablespoons vegetable oil, plus 2 teaspoons more for cooking
1½ teaspoons Asian sesame oil
¼ cup soy sauce
3 tablespoons (packed) dark brown sugar
2 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
1 small shallot, roughly chopped
1 tablespoon roughly chopped fresh ginger, from a 1-inch knob (see note)
Heaping ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
2 scallions, dark green parts only, thinly sliced, for serving
1 teaspoon sesame seeds, for serving

Instructions

If time allows, place the steaks on a large plate and freeze until semi-firm, about 35 minutes (this makes them easier to slice). Slice the steaks into ¼-inch-thick slices.
Combine 1½ tablespoons of water and the baking soda in a medium bowl. Add the beef slices and toss to coat. Let sit at room temperature for 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a mini food processor or blender, combine the 1½ tablespoons vegetable oil, sesame oil, soy sauce, sugar, garlic, shallot, ginger, and red pepper flakes; process until smooth. Pour the mixture over the beef and toss to coat evenly. Cover with plastic wrap and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour or overnight.
Turn on the exhaust fan. In a large (12-inch) cast iron or nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, heat the remaining 2 teaspoons of oil until very hot and shimmering. Add half of the beef slices in a single layer and cook, without stirring, until browned on one side, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir the meat and continue stir-frying until the beef is just cooked through, 1 to 2 minutes longer. Transfer the beef to a serving platter and cover to keep warm; repeat with the remaining beef (no need to add more oil to the pan), adding any marinade left in the bowl to the pan right before stirring the meat. Transfer the second batch of beef to the serving platter and sprinkle with the scallion greens and sesame seeds. Serve immediately.
Note: Check out easy guidance on how to peel, grate, and chop fresh ginger here.

Pair with

How To Steam Broccoli

Nutrition Information

Per serving (4 servings)
Calories: 707
Fat: 55 g
Saturated fat: 21 g
Carbohydrates: 14 g
Sugar: 11 g
Fiber: 1 g
Protein: 44 g
Sodium: 1,073 mg
Cholesterol: 154 mg

Gluten-Free Adaptable Note

To the best of my knowledge, all of the ingredients used in this recipe are gluten-free or widely available in gluten-free versions. There is hidden gluten in many foods; if you're following a gluten-free diet or cooking for someone with gluten allergies, always read the labels of your ingredients to verify that they are gluten-free.