Description
A kid-friendly, hands-on Korean beef bowl recipe featuring a sweet and savory gochujang marinade, quick pickled onions, and customizable spice levels.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound thinly sliced beef (flank steak or sirloin)
- 2 tablespoons gochujang paste
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce (low sodium recommended)
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ medium red onion, thinly sliced
- ½ English cucumber, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 4 cups steamed short-grain white rice
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
- 2 green onions, thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon neutral oil (for cooking)
Instructions
- Thinly slice the red onion and cucumber. Place them in a heat-proof bowl or jar.
- Whisk together rice vinegar, sugar, and salt until dissolved. Pour over the veggies, toss to coat, and set aside for at least 20 minutes.
- In a small bowl, whisk together gochujang, soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, and black pepper to form a thick paste.
- Place the sliced beef in a large bowl or zip-top bag. Pour the marinade over the beef and toss to coat. Let sit at room temperature for 15-30 minutes.
- Heat a large skillet or wok over high heat with neutral oil. Add beef in a single layer (cook in batches if necessary) and sear for 2-3 minutes per side until browned and cooked through.
- Fluff the steamed rice with a fork.
- Drain the quick pickles. Assemble bowls by placing rice at the bottom, topping with hot beef, adding pickles, and sprinkling with sesame seeds and green onions.
Notes
Slice beef against the grain for tenderness. Do not marinate beef for more than 2 hours to prevent mushiness. Gochujang spice levels vary by brand; adjust sugar or amount to taste. Pickles can be made up to 3 days ahead.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Korean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl per serving
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 12
- Sodium: 900
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 5
- Carbohydrates: 60
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 35
Keywords: Korean beef, bulgogi, rice bowls, gochujang, kid-friendly recipes, weeknight dinner, quick pickles, family cooking