Korean Barbecued Beef

Prep: 20 mins

Cook: 15 mins

Difficulty: Easy

Servings: 4 Servings

Bulgogi is a beloved Korean dish of spicy grilled beef, and one of the first Korean dishes I tried — and loved. My homemade version here is an easy, weeknight riff on the classic dish. It’s become one of my husband’s very favorite, please-make-this-at-least-once-a-week meals. And that’s cool, because it’s a breeze to throw together, especially if you use a couple of my favorite weeknight shortcuts.

Ingredients

1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
1/4 cup pineapple juice
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
2 green onions, white and light green parts only, minced (reserve ends for garnish)
2 large cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds, plus more for garnish
1 teaspoon grated ginger
1 pound flank steak, cut into 1/8-inch slices against the grain (see Recipe Notes)
Neutral cooking oil, such as canola, for grilling
Cooked white rice, to serve (see Recipe Note)

Instructions

Combine the ingredients for the marinade in a mixing bowl and transfer to a sealable plastic bag. Add the beef slices, press any excess air out of the bag, and seal. Refrigerate for a minimum of 30 minutes, or overnight.
Heat a large griddle or grill pan over medium-high heat. Using a silicone brush, generously brush oil on the pan and wait until it is sizzling. Working in batches if necessary, sear the meat until deep-brown grill marks form on one side. Flip and continue cooking until caramelized and cooked through, 30 seconds to a minute. Garnish with green onions and toasted sesame seeds and serve with cooked white rice.