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Paleo/Whole30 Korean BBQ Beef (Bulgogi)

Probably one of the most popular barbecue meats, bulgogi is a traditional Korean dish known for its addictive sweet and salty combo. The trick is to slice the meat paper thin so it can soak up as much of the delicious marinade as possible. You can probably find these meats pre-sliced at a local Korean grocery store, but if not, you can easily do this at home with the simple trick of freezing the meat slightly first. 

Course dinner
Servings 4 servings
Author Jean Choi

Ingredients

  • 1 pound top sirloin, (or any other tender cuts that are well marbled)

Marinade

  • 6 tablespoons coconut aminos
  • 1/2 medium pear (preferably Korean pear) cut into chunks
  • 2 teaspoons sesame oil
  • 1" fresh ginger, peeled
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1/4 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 medium white onion, peeled and sliced
  • 2 green onions, sliced into 1" pieces
  • 1 carrot, peeled and sliced
  • 1 tablespoon favorite cooking oil
  • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds, for serving
  • green or red leaf lettuce for wraps

Instructions

  1. Place the beef in the freezer for 30 minutes, then take it out and slice it thinly, about 1⁄16 to 1⁄8 inch (1 to 3 mm) thick.

  2. Place the coconut aminos, pear, sesame oil, ginger, garlic, apple cider vinegar and black pepper in a high-powered blender. Blend well until liquified.

  3. Combine the sliced beef and the marinade in a large bowl. Toss and massage together with your hand until all the beef slices are covered in the marinade. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for 1 hour to overnight.

  4. When you are ready to cook the beef, remove it from the marinade, shaking off the excess drippings. Slice the onion, green onions and carrot, and combine the vegetables with the meat.

  5. Heat the cooking oil over high heat in a large skillet. Working in batches so you don’t overcrowd the pan, add the beef and vegetables and stir-fry together until the meat is browned and cooked through, about 5 to 7 minutes.

  6. Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds before serving. You can eat Bulgogi on its own or in a lettuce wrap.