Authentic Seoul-Style Bulgogi: The Golden Recipe for Marinating Beef
The Ultimate Seoul-Style Bulgogi Marinade at Home: Revealing the Golden Ratio for Rich Flavor and Perfect Tenderization!
Easily recreate tender and delicious Seoul-style Bulgogi at home that the whole family will love. This recipe offers a golden ratio marinade that’s incredibly appetizing, along with tips for making the beef extra tender and flavorful, all explained in detailed, step-by-step instructions suitable for beginners. Enhance your meal with a generous mix of vegetables, chewy mushrooms, and optional glass noodles for a truly satisfying experience.
Main Ingredients- Beef for Bulgogi (thinly sliced) 600g ~ 1kg
- 1 bunch Enoki mushrooms
- 1 stalk Green onion
- 1/2 Onion
- 8-10 Tbsp Soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp Corn syrup (or rice syrup)
- 1 Tbsp Sugar
- 1 tsp Minced garlic
- Pinch of Black pepper
- 1 tsp Sesame oil
- 200ml Water (or more as needed)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, let’s prepare the ingredients for a delicious Seoul-style Bulgogi. You’ll need thinly sliced beef, about 600g to 1kg for Bulgogi. Also, prepare enoki mushrooms and green onions, and an onion if you like. For the marinade, have soy sauce, sugar, corn syrup, and minced garlic ready.
Step 2
Here’s the first secret to making your beef extra tender and flavorful! Marinate the beef with sugar and corn syrup. Add 1 teaspoon of sugar and 2 tablespoons of corn syrup to the thinly sliced beef and mix well. This initial marination helps the main sauce penetrate better and makes the meat incredibly tender, resulting in a much more delicious Bulgogi.
Step 3
Cover the beef marinated with sugar and corn syrup with plastic wrap and let it rest in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes. While the beef is marinating, let’s prepare the main sauce ingredients. Finely chop half an onion. Also, prepare 1 teaspoon of minced garlic and 8 tablespoons of soy sauce. It’s best to start with 8 tablespoons of soy sauce and adjust later to your taste, as everyone’s palate is different!
Step 4
Finely chop half an onion using a blender or a knife. If using a blender, be careful not to over-process it into a paste. Mix the chopped onion, 1 teaspoon of minced garlic, and 8 tablespoons of soy sauce to create the main marinade sauce.
Step 5
Now, we’ll prepare to cook the marinated beef. You can stir-fry it immediately, but for a more authentic Seoul-style Bulgogi, letting it marinate in the refrigerator for an additional 20 minutes will deepen the flavors. If you have the time, this extra step will yield even better results.
Step 6
Lightly oil a pan and add the marinated beef over medium heat. Use chopsticks or a spatula to separate the meat as it cooks, preventing it from clumping. Stir-fry until the beef is mostly cooked through.
Step 7
The hallmark of Seoul-style Bulgogi is its savory broth! When the beef is almost cooked, add about 200ml of water. You can add a bit more if it looks too dry. Adding water might dilute the flavor initially, but as it simmers, the broth will reduce and naturally concentrate the seasoning. If it’s still too bland, add a little more soy sauce. If it’s not sweet enough, add a touch more sugar to adjust. Slice and add the prepared enoki mushrooms and green onions to simmer together. Adding vegetables like baby bok choy or napa cabbage would also be delicious!
Step 8
Once the beef and vegetables are cooked and the seasoning is just right, turn off the heat. Finish by drizzling with sesame oil and a sprinkle of black pepper for an aromatic touch. For an even heartier dish, consider adding cooked glass noodles, as they are a traditional component of Seoul-style Bulgogi!
Step 9
Serving this delicious Bulgogi over rice and mixing it all together is pure bliss! It’s not spicy, making it a perfect Bulgogi recipe for everyone, from children to adults. This recipe is part of a series published for the ‘Good Parent Master Widget Mission’.
