Korean Beef Bulgogi Rice Bowls – the simple approach!

October 2, 2025

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Straight to the highest of my favorite fast solution to use beef mince – Korean Beef Bulgogi Rice Bowls! Utilizing floor beef slightly than expensive steaks with an genuine marinade, this has all of the flavour of actual Bulgogi at a fraction of the fee. I’ve made rice bowls, however it’s also possible to do noodles, wraps, burritos or tacos (so fashionable!).

Korean Bulgogi – the simple approach!

I satisfaction myself on discovering interesting-crazy-tasty-but-quick methods to make use of mince. It’s simply such a procuring trolley staple – economical and versatile, however generally essentially the most interesting factor to me is that there is no such thing as a meat slicing. Is it shameful for somebody who makes a dwelling sharing recipes to confess that? 😅

Bulgogi, for these new to it, is considered one of Korea’s most well-known meals exports, a marinated BBQ beef dish grilled over charcoal or tabletop BBQ till caramelised and smoky. The normal BBQ approach it’s served is with rice and banchan on the aspect (aspect dishes like kimchi, pickles, spinach) or in lettuce wrap kind.

Meat that tasty is scrumptious any approach it’s served. With this mince model, you get all of the flavour and enjoyable of Bulgogi with out the effort of slicing expensive steaks into paper skinny strips and no marinating time, with some ways to serve it.

I AM OBSESSED!

Components

Right here’s what you could make this. Don’t skip the apple and onion, it’s what units Bulgogi aside from another generic Asian soy-sugar-garlic sauce!!

Aside from the marinade, you’ll be able to mainly ignore my components checklist. 😀 There’s so many choices, substitutions and alternative ways to serve this Bulgogi beef!

1. Bulgogi marinade

Right here’s what you could make the Bulgogi marinade.

Beef – I’m utilizing beef mince right now, as a result of Bulgogi is made with beef. However this marinade can be good with any floor meat (hen, turkey, pork, lamb).
Onion and apple – As loudly acknowledged above, grated onion and apple (or nashi pear) is what makes this a Bulgogi sauce slightly than a generic Asian sauce. The grated onion provides flavour in a approach that diced onion by no means will. And the apple provides sweetness that’s a lot extra attention-grabbing than plain sugary-ness of normal sugar. Apple additionally has secret meat tenderising qualities so beef strips in conventional Bulgogi keep tender even when you overcook it, however that’s not related to us right now as we’re utilizing mince.
Garlic – Koreans love garlic! use 3 huge cloves.
Ginger – Koreans additionally love ginger! We solely use 1 teaspoon nevertheless it comes via fairly properly.
Soy sauce – Use both mild or common / all-purpose soy sauce. Don’t use darkish soy (too darkish, too intense, it’ll smash your dish) or kecap manis (too candy).
Sesame oil, toasted – Toasted sesame oil is brown and has extra flavour than untoasted (which is yellow). Default sesame oil offered in Australia is toasted, untoasted is more durable to search out.
Mirin (further ingredient, non-compulsory) – It is a candy cooking wine utilized in Japanese cooking. It’s not historically utilized in Bulgogi however as with all alcohol utilized in cooking, it provides further depth of flavour to this 20 minute dinner that elevates this barely and compensates for the absence of smokiness from grilling over a charcoal BBQ and marinating a $50/kg scotch fillet steaks for twenty-four hours. 🙂
Sugar – Simply 1 tablespoon which helps get some beautiful caramelisation on the meat. We don’t want an excessive amount of as there’s loads of pure sweetness from the apple.
Pinch of black pepper – or white pepper.

2. QUICK KOREAN DRIZZLE SAUCE

After I jumbled up the bowl to eat it, I simply felt it might be good to have just a little further sauce to pour over the whole lot as a result of all of the greens are plain. So I made a fast little drizzle sauce – I actually felt prefer it accomplished the dish. Right here’s all you want – it’s only a repeat of components above!

As famous, these are all simply the identical components above, so I received’t repeat descriptions!

3. FOR THE RICE BOWL

That is the place you get to make use of no matter you need! Glorious fridge raid – simply chop/grate/julienne/tear/cube into shapes which can be appropriate for jumbling up into the rice bowl so it may be eaten with a spoon.

Rice – any kind. Medium and brief grain rice, and jasmine rice work finest for bowls I really feel as a result of they’re just a little stickier slightly basmati and lengthy grain rice, however you’ll be able to truthfully use any kind. Brown rice, wild rice (cooking instructions in this recipe), even cauliflower rice, or quinoa!

Noodles would even be okay, although I’d go for skinny slightly than thick ones.
Contemporary greens – I used wilted child spinach, lettuce and carrots, as a result of that’s what I had. Thinly sliced cucumber, radish, tomatoes and bean sprouts additionally spring to thoughts as apparent selections, in addition to edamame (soy beans), even peas! In truth, any vegetable can be utilized – uncooked or cooked. Simply plain, the meat and sauce add flavour!
Avocado – I take advantage of this so as to add a little bit of creaminess.
Garnishes – I take advantage of white sesame seeds and inexperienced onion. Finely sliced nori (seaweed sheets), crispy shallots, crispy wonton strips, chives or parsley would even be at house right here.
Contemporary pickle pop – I used pickled ginger as a result of I had it and the pink provides good color. I wouldn’t hesitate to make use of slices of pickles as a substitute, I child you not! Kimchi would even be an apparent alternative, and you’d have seen it on my bowl if I had some. 🙂

See beneath for “How you can make it” part for different methods to make use of this Bulgogi beef apart from in rice bowls!

How you can make Simple Korean Bulgogi Beef Bowls

The distinctive step in Bulgogi is that the onion and apple is finely grated right into a juicy paste that’s combined into the marinade. A microplane or comparable tremendous grater works finest – you then simply proceed utilizing it to grate the ginger and garlic – although a field grater will work too if that’s all you’ve obtained (use the shredding aspect slightly than tiny holes).

Serving sauce – Combine the components in a bowl and put aside.
Bulgogi sauce – Use microplane to grate the apple, onion, garlic and ginger right into a bowl (no have to peel the ginger, it peels itself again as you grate!). Add remaining components and blend.

Wilt spinach – Warmth the two teaspoons of oil in a big non stick pan over excessive warmth. Add half the spinach, toss for 15 seconds or till partially wilted. Then add the remaining and toss till simply wilted. Take away into bowl.
Prepare dinner Bulgogi Beef – Warmth the 1 tablespoon of oil in the identical pan, nonetheless on excessive warmth. Add the meat and prepare dinner, breaking it up as you go.

Add sauce – When you not see uncooked beef, pour the sauce in.
Cut back and caramelise – Stir then simmer quickly, stirring every so often, till the sauce principally reduces. Preserve cooking, stirring extra continuously, till the meat will get just a little caramelisation however nonetheless has moisture from the sauce.

Assemble – Pile steaming rice into bowls. Prime with beef, then place spinach, carrot and lettuce on the aspect (I kind of tuck the lettuce in so it’s sticking a bit upright). Prime with a scoop of mushy avocado and little pile of pickled ginger. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and inexperienced onion.
Serve with the Korean Drizzle Sauce on the aspect for….err…properly, drizzling! 😂 To eat, jumble all of it up and dig in, like this! ⬇️⬇️⬇️

Some ways to eat this Simple Bulgogi Beef!

I can guarantee you that this Beef Mince Bulgogi goes to make an look once more in different types! till then, here’s a checklist of different terrific methods to take pleasure in it:

Lettuce wraps (ssam-style) – Really one of many conventional ways in which Bulgogi is eaten, assume San Choy Bows however with Bulgogi meat with lettuce – generally perilla leaves – used because the wrap. Add rice, kimchi and a little bit of spicy ssam sauce (see recipe in Pork Bossam). Fold and eat!
Noodle bowls – As a substitute of rice, use noodles and DIY toss toss toss!
Fashionable / fusion – Korean fusion turned all the fashion a few a long time in the past, and although the preliminary pleasure has considerably settled over the 12 months, it’s right here to remain and with good purpose: as a result of it’s darn tasty (when achieved proper). I’ve seen bulgogi pizzas, sliders (actually simply stuff in rolls), pasta, nachos, loaded fries!

My favorite approach is in tacos and burritos: Stuff/roll with rice and any of the rice toppings listed. I’d serve with a barely spicy creamy sauce (combine gochujang or sriracha with mayonnaise) slightly than the rice bowl drizzle sauce (which is skinny). Right here’s what they appear like – and sure, they style pretty much as good as they give the impression of being!

I’d like to know – what’s your favorite solution to take pleasure in bulgogi? Have you ever tried any enjoyable twists at house? – Nagi x

Watch tips on how to make it

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Korean Beef Bulgogi Rice Bowls – the simple approach!

Korean Bulgogi – the simple approach!