Korean Beef Bulgogi Meatballs
These sweet and savory Korean Beef Bulgogi Meatballs are a unique spin on the well-loved Korean BBQ beef dish. They can be served as an appetizer, snack, or with steamed rice as a full meal!
- Prep time
- 10 min
- Cook time
- 20 min
- Yield
- 4 servings
- Difficulty
- HARD
Ingredients
Quantities are shown as originally provided.
- 1 pound ground beef
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons grated Asian pear (see notes for substitutes)
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon grated ginger
- 3 cloves garlic (minced or grated)
- Dash black pepper
- 3 tablespoons cooking oil
- Sesame seeds (for garnish)
- Chopped scallions (for garnish)
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Instructions
- 1
Pour ground beef into a medium-sized mixing bowl.
- 2
Add soy sauce, brown sugar, pear, sesame oil, cornstarch, ginger, garlic and black pepper to the beef. Mix thoroughly.
- 3
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, then allow the beef to marinate in the fridge for at least 30 minutes, or up to overnight.
- 4
Use your hands to form the ground beef mixture into meatballs. Each meatball should be about one heaping tablespoon in size.
- 5
Heat cooking oil in a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the meatballs in small batches of about 8 - 10 at a time.
- 6
To cook the meatballs: Carefully place the meatballs in the skillet, leaving adequate space between each meatball. Leave them untouched for about 2 minutes to allow the meatball to properly sear before turning them over. Keep turning them gently until fully cooked (about 5 minutes per batch).
- 7
Dipping sauce: Pour soy sauce, honey, and sesame oil into a small saucepan. Mix water with cornstarch, then add it to the saucepan. Place saucepan over medium heat, stirring frequently until it thickens and reaches your desired consistency.
- 8
Drizzle the sauce over meatballs if desired, or serve it on the side as a dipping sauce.
- 9
Garnish the meatballs with sesame seeds and chopped scallions.