Hello! Today, I’m sharing a recipe for ‘Pork Bulgogi,’ one of Korea’s most beloved dishes and a guaranteed crowd-pleaser when serving international friends.
Don’t worry if you don’t have a Korean grocery store nearby! I’ll show you how to make this using ingredients from your local supermarket, including a ‘special secret’ to use when you don’t have a pear on hand.
🛒 Ingredients (Serves 2)
1. Main Ingredients
- 400g Pork: Thinly sliced pork shoulder or loin.
- (Shopping Tip: Look for ‘Shaved Pork’ or ‘Pork Shoulder Thin Sliced’ at your local mart!)
- Vegetables: 1/2 Onion, 1/2 Green onion (Leek), a bit of Carrot, and Mushrooms (Button or Shiitake).
2. Sauce (Unit: Tablespoon)
- 4 tbsp Soy Sauce
- 5 tbsp Pear Juice (Can be replaced with ‘Pear Drink’! ⭐)
- 1 tbsp Sugar
- 1 tbsp Minced Garlic
- 2 tbsp Mirin (Cooking Wine)
- 1 tbsp Toasted Sesame Oil
- A pinch of Black Pepper
🌍 How to Find Ingredients at Local Supermarkets
Even if a Korean mart is far away, you can find these in the ‘Asian Section’ of major retailers:
- Soy Sauce: Look for ‘Dark Soy Sauce’ or standard ‘Soy Sauce’ (e.g., Kikkoman).
- Mirin: Usually labeled as ‘Mirin’ or ‘Japanese Cooking Wine.’
- Sesame Oil: Make sure it says ‘Toasted’ to get 그 고소한(nutty) aroma we all love.
👨🍳 Cooking Steps
Step 1. Tenderizing the Meat
Pat the pork with a paper towel to remove excess blood, then mix with 5-6 tbsp of pear juice (or pear drink) and let it marinate for 15 minutes.
💡 Pro Tip! When you don’t have a pear, try using a canned ‘Pear Drink’ (like ‘Crushed Pear’) from the store. It makes the meat incredibly tender and adds a deep flavor. If that’s unavailable, grated apple works great too!
Step 2. Seasoning
Add soy sauce, sugar, garlic, mirin, and pepper to the tenderized meat. Mix well by hand so the flavors soak in.
Step 3. Prepare Vegetables
Slice the onion, chop the green onions diagonally, and thinly slice the carrots and mushrooms.
Step 4. Sautéing
Heat a pan over medium-high heat and cook the seasoned meat first. Once the meat starts to brown, add all the prepared vegetables.
Step 5. Finishing Touches
When the vegetables are soft and the meat is fully cooked, finish with a drizzle of sesame oil and a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds.
💡 Tips for Enjoying Bulgogi
- Want it spicy? Add 1 tbsp of Gochugaru (Red chili flakes) and 1 tbsp of Gochujang (Red chili paste) to the sauce.
- Wrap it up: Enjoy it the Korean way! Wrap the meat in ‘Butter Lettuce’ or ‘Romaine’ for a fresh and authentic experience.
Create a special dinner time with your family with this simple method.
