Bulgogi

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Bulgogi

Korean name

Hangul	불고기
Revised Romanization	Bulgogi
McCune-Reischauer	Pulgogi

Bulgogi (pronounced [pulɡoɡi] in Korean), a variety of barbecued beef, is one of Korea's most popular meat dishes.

1 Overview
2 History
3 Popularity
4 Ingredients
5 See also
6 Reference
7 External links

[edit] Overview

Bulgogi is made from thin slices of sirloin or other prime cut of beef. The meat is marinated with a mixture of soy sauce, sugar and other ingredients such as scallions and mushrooms, especially white button mushrooms or shiitake. Sometimes, cellophane noodles are added in the dish which varies by region and specific recipe. It is marinated to enhance the flavor and its tenderness.

Bulgogi is traditionally grilled, but broiling or pan-cooking is common as well. A practice common at Korean BBQ, whole cloves of garlic, sliced onions, and chopped green peppers are often grilled or cooked at the same time. This dish is sometimes served with a side of lettuce or other leafy vegetable, which is used to wrap a slice of cooked meat, often along with a dab of ssamjang, or other side dishes, and then eaten as a whole.

Bulgogi literally means "fire meat" in Korean (this refers to it being cooked over a flame, rather than if it were spicy.) The term is also applied to variations such as dak bulgogi (chicken dish) or dweji bulgogi (pork dish), although the seasonings are different.

There is also a bulgogi fast-food hamburger sold at many Korean fast food restaurants. The hamburger patty is marinated in bulgogi sauce and served with lettuce, tomato, onion, and sometimes cheese. It is similar to the teriyaki burger in flavour.

[edit] History

Exact history concerning bulgogi does not exist. It was called "Neobiani(너비아니)"^[1] especially for the king during Joseon dynasty.

[edit] Popularity

Bulgogi is one of the most popular dishes for foreigners with kimchi. Some people do not like the spicy taste of kimchi. However, bulgogi is well-served with western-style dishes and keep its flavors as Korean cuisine. Just over a quarter of the foreign respondents in 2007 chose bulgogi as their favorite Korean food.^[2]

Bulgogi with Banchan

Bulgogi

Casserole Bulgogi

[edit] Ingredients

Basically, beef is the most important ingredient for bulgogi, along with sugar (1 T), Cheongju (wine), and pear juice. Pear juice has an effect on making its taste more attractive. Aside from its main ingredients, spices are quite important in enjoying its excellent flavor. The following recipe is used to make bulgogi marinade.

Soy sauce : 5 T
Chopped garlic : 2 T
A leek : small one is more recommended. Just one is enough.
Beef stock : soup of boiled beef. The soup plays a role in making the marinade taste more soft and tidy.
Black pepper
Powdered sesame mixed with salt
Brown sugar : 1 T