How to Make Korean BBQ

Korean barbecue, also known as KBBQ, is a popular meal where meat, seafood, and vegetables are grilled right at your table. Known for its savory and slightly sweet flavor profile, Korean BBQ is a fun, interactive dining experience. With a few key ingredients and some simple techniques, you can recreate delicious Korean barbecue right in your own home.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Making Korean barbecue at home requires just a handful of essential ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need to get started:

Meat and Seafood

• Thinly sliced beef short ribs or bulgogi beef – These are the most popular Korean BBQ meats. Pork belly or pork shoulder work well too.
• Marinated chicken or shrimp – Thin slices or butterflied.
• Thinly sliced lamb or duck

Vegetables and Sides

• Sliced onions, zucchini, squash, mushrooms, potatoes, sweet potatoes, peppers, eggplant, etc.
• Lettuce leaves like romaine or butter lettuce
• White rice or lettuce wraps for serving
• Kimchi and other banchan (side dishes)

Sauces and Seasonings

• Gochujang (Korean red chili paste) – For heat and signature flavor
• Soy sauce
• Brown sugar
• Sesame oil
• Minced garlic and ginger
• Rice wine or mirin
• Asian pear or apple – Grate for natural sweetness
• Black pepper
• Sesame seeds
• Green onions

Equipment

• Gas or electric grill, grill pan, tabletop grill, or hot pot
• Metal chopsticks and/or tongs
• Scissors to cut meat
• Small dipping bowls for sauce

Prep the Meat and Vegetables

Before you begin grilling, you need to prep all the proteins and vegetables:

Slice the Meat Thinly

• Partially freeze meat for 30 mins before slicing to make it easier to cut paper-thin slices. Slice against the grain.
• Common cuts: Flanken-style short ribs, bulgogi beef, pork belly, chicken breasts or thigh meat.
• Cut slices about 1⁄8 inch thick so they cook quickly on the grill.

Marinate the Meat (Optional)

• For added flavor, marinate meat for 30 mins – overnight.
• Quick marinade: 1 tbsp each soy sauce, sugar, oil, minced garlic/ginger.
• Authentic Korean marinades have pear, onions, sesame, garlic, soy sauce, sugar, and Korean chili.

Slice the Vegetables

• Slice vegetables and potatoes fairly thin so they cook faster.
• Cut lettuce into individual leaves.
• Leave mushrooms whole or slice thick.
• Parboil hard vegetables like squash, carrots or potatoes first.

Make the Dipping Sauces

The dipping sauce is essential for Korean BBQ. Here are some easy sauce ideas:

Gochujang Sauce

• Mix 3 tbsp gochujang, 2 tbsp water, 1 tbsp vinegar, 1 tsp sesame oil, 1 tsp sugar.
• For spicier sauce, add more gochujang. For sweeter, add honey or more sugar.

Ssamjang Sauce

• Combine 3 tbsp gochujang, 1 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tsp sesame oil, 1 tsp minced garlic, and 1 tbsp chopped green onions.

Soy Dipping Sauce

• Mix 3 tbsp soy sauce, 1 minced garlic clove, 2 tsp rice wine, 1 tsp sugar, and 1 tsp sesame oil.

Ponzu Sauce

• Mix 3 tbsp ponzu sauce, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tsp sesame oil, and sliced green onions.

Heat up the Grill

There are several options for indoor grilling:

• Stovetop grill pan – Easy to use indoors. Won’t fit as much food at once.
• Electric tabletop grill – Larger grilling surface with adjustable temperature. Still compact.
• Portable butane gas grill – More authentic BBQ flavor. Needs ventilation.
• Hot pot with grill plate – Allows simmering soup/stew along with grilling.

Grill Tips

• Heat grill on medium high. Lightly oil the grates.
• Avoid overcrowding. Cook meat in batches.
• Use metal chopsticks or tongs to flip meat. Don’t use forks.
• Cook meat pieces quickly, just until lightly charred. Don’t overcook.
• Move cooked pieces to a plate and let rest while you grill the next batch.

Start Grilling Korean BBQ

Once your grill is hot, you can start cooking the Korean barbecue:

Cook the Meat First

• First add thin slices of beef, pork, chicken, or seafood.
• Cook for just 1-2 mins per side until lightly charred.
• Resist overcooking. Meat should still be pink inside.
• Let meat rest on a plate when done.

Add Vegetables and Side Dishes

• After cooking meat, start adding vegetables, mushrooms, kimchi, etc.
• Cook briefly until tender-crisp.
• Wrap ingredients in lettuce leaves with rice and sauce. Enjoy!

Regulate the Temperature

• Adjust heat as needed. Lower heat if food is burning.
• For electric grills, use a lower temperature setting for vegetables and a higher one for meats.
• On gas grills, raise or lower the flame. Turn off sections when not in use.

Combine with Soups and Stews

• For hot pot style, add Korea stew or kimchi stew to cook while you grill.
• Dip grilled items in the simmering broth for added flavor.
• Cook eggs, tofu, fish cakes, noodles and more in the broth.

BBQ Menu Ideas

There are endless possibilities when it comes to Korean BBQ ingredients. Here are some menu ideas:

Classic Korean BBQ

• Bulgogi beef
• Kalbi or L.A. galbi short ribs
• Spicy pork belly
• Chicken thighs
• Mushrooms
• Scallions
• Lettuce wraps
• Kimchi
• Rice

Seafood BBQ

• Shrimp
• Squid
• Scallops
• Mahi mahi or halibut
• Vegetables
• Mushrooms
• Noodles
• Dipping sauces

Spicy Korean BBQ

• Marinated bulgogi with gochujang
• Spicy chicken wings or drumettes
• Pork shoulder steaks
• Squash and peppers
• Kimchi
• Rice cakes
• Lettuce wraps

Vegetarian Korean BBQ

• Marinated tofu
• Portobello mushrooms
• Zucchini
• Eggplant
• Sweet potatoes
• Broccoli
• Rice
• Lettuce wraps

Kids Korean BBQ

• Chicken strips
• Beef strips
• Meatballs
• Zucchini slices
• Corn on the cob
• Potatoes
• Carrots
• Lettuce wraps
• Rice

Full Recipe

Here is a complete start-to-finish recipe for classic Korean BBQ at home featuring bulgogi beef short ribs:

Ingredients

• 1 lb flanken style beef short ribs, thinly sliced
• 1 small Asian pear, peeled and grated
• 3 tbsp soy sauce
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 3 minced garlic cloves
• 1 tbsp minced ginger
• 1 sliced onion
• 8 oz mushrooms
• 2 medium zucchinis, sliced
• Lettuce leaves
• Fresh cilantro
• Cooked rice
• Gochujang sauce

Marinade

1. In a bowl, mix soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, and grated Asian pear.
2. Add beef slices and onion. Mix well to coat beef.
3. Marinate for 30 mins up to overnight.

Cook

1. Heat grill to medium high. Lightly oil grates.
2. Drain beef from marinade, reserving marinade.
3. Working in batches, add beef slices to grill. Cook 1-2 mins each side.
4. Move cooked beef to a plate. Repeat with remaining beef.
5. Add zucchini slices, mushrooms, and onions to grill. Cook 2-3 mins each side until tender.
6. Return beef to grill to quickly reheat if needed.

Serve

1. Place lettuce on plates. Top with rice, grilled beef & vegetables.
2. Garnish with cilantro. Drizzle with reserved marinade.
3. Serve with side dishes like kimchi. Dip ingredients in gochujang sauce and enjoy!

Grilling Tips for Perfect Korean BBQ

Here are some handy tips to help you nail delicious Korean barbecue every time:

• Choose uniformly thin slices of meat for quick, even cooking.
• Let meat come to room temp before grilling for faster cooking.
• Clean grill grates well so meat doesn’t stick. Brush with oil for extra insurance.
• Avoid constant flipping. Just flip meat once halfway through grilling time.
• Keep a close eye on thin meat slices. They can overcook very quickly.
• Let meat rest a few mins after grilling before serving or slicing further.
• Brush with a bit of sesame oil while grilling for extra Korean flavor.
• Parboil hard vegetables first before grilling to help them cook faster.
• Use 2 spatulas or chopsticks to cleanly lift delicate meat slices off the grill.
• Have all sauces and sides ready before you grill the meat for seamless serving.

FAQs

Still have some questions about making Korean BBQ at home? Here are answers to some frequently asked questions:

What is the best meat for Korean BBQ?

Thinly sliced beef short ribs are the most popular and classic choice. Pork belly, pork shoulder, chicken, or shrimp also work very well. Lean beef slices like bulgogi are great too.

What sides go with Korean BBQ?

White rice, lettuce leaves, kimchi, banchan pickled vegetables, and other Korean foods are classic accompaniments. Grilled vegetables like mushrooms, onions, zucchini and squash are also delicious.

How do you prepare meat for Korean BBQ?

Slice meat thinly against the grain, about 1⁄8 inch thick. Partially freezing meat makes slicing easier. You can optionally marinate for added flavor. Quick marinades take just 30 mins.

What do you dip Korean BBQ in?

The traditional dipping sauce is ssamjang, made of gochujang, soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, and scallions. You can also use store-bought gochujang on its own. Other sauces like ponzu also pair well.

How do you grill thin meat without overcooking?

Use medium-high heat and cook the meat in batches, just 1-2 mins per side. Resist flipping constantly. Let the meat rest before serving. These steps prevent overcooking.

What is the best indoor grill for Korean BBQ?

Electric tabletop grills are great for indoor Korean BBQ. Their large surface lets you cook meat and veggies simultaneously at the adjustable temperature needed for perfect results.

Conclusion

Korean barbecue is fun to make at home once you have the essential ingredients and techniques. Thinly slice quality meats like beef ribs and pork belly, prepare some classic banchan sides, make dipping sauces, and fire up your grill. Cook the meat quickly over high heat for the perfect caramelized exterior while keeping the interior moist and tender. Mix together complementary proteins, vegetables, rice, lettuce, and sauces for an interactive and flavorful meal. Grill with care, adjust the heat as needed, and enjoy the savory, slightly smoky flavor of Korean BBQ with family and friends any night of the week.