Ground Beef Bulgogi Recipe from "Learning Korean"

Name: Ground Beef Bulgogi from "Learning Korean"
Prep time: 8 min
Cook time: 8 min
Total time: 256 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 1 pound ground beef; 1/2 medium yellow onion, sliced; 2 cloves garlic, chopped; 2 scallions, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces (white andlight green parts); 1 tablespoon soy sauce; 1 tablespoon sesame oil; 1 teaspoon kosher salt; 1 tablespoon maple syrup; 1 teaspoon vegetable oil

Ground beef gets a bad rap from snobby foodie types, but since it’s something I grew up eating, I prefer to see the positive—it’s an incredibly affordable and versatile starting point for families looking to save money (a.k.a., all families). It’s all about what you do with it.

In this recipe, we’re using it to prepare a version of bulgogi, one of the most popular dishes in Korean cuisine, both in restaurants and in homes. Typically prepared with fancier cuts of beef, bulgogi rests in a mild, balanced marinade for hours (ideally overnight) before getting crispy and caramelized on the grill. This recipe delivers all that flavor on a hamburger budget. Sweet and salty, it’s a flexible base that can be served with lettuce wraps, rice, noodles, or rolled up into homemade Kimbap.

Read our interview with Peter Serpico about his book, "Learning Korean", and his journey as an American chef understanding his Korean roots through food.

Ground Beef Bulgogi from "Learning Korean"

Prep Time 8 mins

Cook Time 8 mins

Marinating time 4 hrs

Total Time 4 hrs 16 mins

Servings 4 servings

90/10 ground beef is what I prefer.

Skipping marinade time is fine, but the flavor is deeper with proper marinade time.

1 pound ground beef (see recipe note)
1/2 medium yellow onion, sliced
2 cloves garlic
2 scallions, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces (white and
light green parts)
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1 teaspoon vegetable oil

Marinate the ground beef 4 to 8 hours:

Combine all ingredients except vegetable oil in a bowl and mix together well. Allow the beef to marinate, covered in the refrigerator, for a minimum of 4 hours, ideally overnight.
Cook the beef, then serve:

The next day, heat the vegetable oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat and cook the ground beef thoroughly, stirring occasionally to break up any large chunks.

Serve the bulgogi hot, with lettuce or cabbage wraps and steamed rice.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
373	Calories
24g	Fat
6g	Carbs
31g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories	373
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 24g	31%
Saturated Fat 8g	40%
Cholesterol 101mg	34%
Sodium 639mg	28%
Total Carbohydrate 6g	2%
Dietary Fiber 0g	2%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 31g
Vitamin C 2mg	12%
Calcium 49mg	4%
Iron 3mg	19%
Potassium 505mg	11%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.