Memorial Weekend (Korean-Style)

If you’re looking for an alternative to your usual grilling routine, I recommend a nice heaping plate of Bulgogi. It’s a delicious meal, and is one of the primary ways meat is consumed here. Bulgogi restaurants are like the Starbucks of Korea, one on every corner. By the way, there are Starbucks in Korea.

Necessary equipment: a grill of any kind (I guess, you could cook it in a skillet, but it just wouldn’t taste the same.)

Bulgogi
servings: 6
calories: ?
Ingredients:
1.25 lbs sirloin or rib steak
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon + 2 teaspoons sesame oil
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
4 scallions, white part only, cut in 2-inch long julienne strips
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon Korean red pepper powder
1 teaspoon sugar
1 tablespoon sesame seeds
10 large lettuce leaves
3 cloves garlic, sliced thin

Cook:    Cut steaks into thin slices, 3 inches long and 2 inches wide (easier if the steak is half frozen). Mix steak with salt, 1 tablespoon sesame oil and the pepper; rub seasoning into meat.  Set aside for 15 minutes.

Soak scallion slices in ice water for 15 minutes and drain well. Mix together remaining 2 teaspoons sesame oil and soy sauce, toss with scallion slices.  Set aside.
Mix red pepper powder, sugar and sesame seeds together.  Rub this seasoning on the inside curl of the lettuce leaves. set aside.  Grill steak according to taste.

Eat: Take 1 lettuce leaf, put 1-2 slices of steak in the center, add about 1 tablespoon
of seasoned scallions, a sliver or two of garlic. fold the lettuce like a taco and
eat.  Usually served with rice and a couple of sides.

YUMMY!

P.S. Works with ground meat, too.