Simple Ground Beef Bulgogi

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef (1 package; can also use ground turkey or sliced protein)
• 0.25 onion (white onion)
• 0.25 Asian pear (can substitute with apple, pear, or kiwi)
• 4 cloves garlic
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp mirin (can substitute with rice vinegar + 1 tsp sugar)
• 1 tbsp gochujang
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tsp sesame seeds (plus more for garnish)
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 1 green onion (chopped; plus more for garnish)
• salt (to taste)
• black pepper (to taste)
• 1 tbsp cooking oil (for the wok)

Steps

1. 1

   Place the 1/4 onion, 1/4 Asian pear, 4 cloves of garlic, 2 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp mirin, 1 tbsp gochujang, 1 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tsp sesame seeds, and 1 tsp sesame oil into a blender.

2. 2

   Blend the ingredients until smooth to create the marinade.

3. 3

   Place the ground beef in a mixing bowl and pour the blended marinade over it.

4. 4

   Chop one green onion and add it to the bowl along with salt and pepper to taste.

5. 5

   Mix the meat and marinade just until combined; do not overwork the meat.

6. 6

   Heat a wok or large skillet over high heat until it is smoking hot. Add a small amount of cooking oil.

7. 7

   Add the meat mixture to the hot wok. Use a spatula to spread the meat out into a thin, flat layer across the surface of the pan.

8. 8

   Allow the meat to cook undisturbed for about 5 minutes. Do not sauté or stir. The juices will evaporate and the bottom will become crispy and caramelized.

9. 9

   Once the bottom is crispy and deep golden brown (some dark spots are normal due to the sugar), begin to sauté and break up the meat.

10. 10

    Finish by tossing with additional chopped green onions and sesame seeds.

11. 11

    Serve hot over rice or with lettuce leaves for lettuce wraps.

Notes

If you don't have an Asian pear, you can use a regular pear, an apple, or even a kiwi to help tenderize the meat and add sweetness. For a spicier version, increase the gochujang. The 'burnt' looking pieces are actually caramelized sugar and provide the signature Korean BBQ flavor.

Nutrition per serving

• main
• ground beef
• Korean
• dinner
• quick meal
• pan-fried
• high-protein