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Korean Royal Barbecued Pork (Maekjeok : 맥적)

Thinly sliced pork is marinated in Korean soybean paste which gives it a sweet, salty and earthy flavor. One bite, and you'll understand why it was considered as food for royalty.
Servings: 2 -3
Author: Chef Julie Yoon


Ingredients

  • 1 lb thinly sliced pork butt or pork loin
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1 tablespoon mirin
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 1 tablespoon doenjang Korean soybean paste
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 scallion chopped, plus more for garnish
  • 2 teaspoons minced garlic
  • 1 teaspoon minced ginger
  • 2 teaspoons toasted sesame seeds plus more for garnish
  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil
  • Vegetable oil for cooking

Instructions

  • Mix the honey, water, and mirin together. Marinate the pork in this mixture for 5 minutes first. Combine the doenjang, soy sauce, chopped green onion, and minced garlic together in a small bowl. Add to the pork and mix well with kitchen gloves, making sure to toss the pork gently so the thin slices don’t break. Drizzle the sesame oil on top, sprinkle on the sesame seeds, and mix again. Marinate the pork for 30 minutes.
  • Place on a lightly oiled grill or in a large pan with a little oil over high heat, making sure not to crowd the pan, and cook for 3-4 minutes total, or until lightly caramelized on the outside. It will only caramelize if your pan is nice and hot. Do not overcook since the slices are so thin, and they can get dry. Garnish with more sesame seeds and chopped scallions. Serve while hot, along with rice, lettuce leaves, and kimchi!

TIP: Do yourself a favor and buy the pork from a Korean grocery store because it’s already thinly and uniformly sliced. It’s sometimes known as “Pork Bulgogi.”