Summer is well and truly here, which means it is time to have a good ol’ barbecue with your friends and family. I’m going to show you how to easily DIY Korean BBQ at home.
I know, it seems intimidating from all the components Korean BBQ has, but its a lot easier than you think!
Table of Contents:
Kitchen Utensils Featured
You don’t need my help with the usual bowls and stuff, but you might want to get the following:
Huddling over the stove in the kitchen isn’t exactly safe or practical if you have a large group.
Pop a portable butane stove on the table and place a non-stick grilling pan on top. You’re ready to start grilling!
So... what's Korean BBQ?
Korean BBQ is essentially grilling different cuts of meat and having them with a selection of banchan (side dishes), wraps and other dishes like rice or soup.
You typically have a wide range of items, which makes this meal perfect for gatherings. Korean BBQ is a social event as much as it is a type of meal.
Because of the many different types of dishes you typically get for Korean BBQ, most people choose to have it outside at a specialised restaurant. However, you can easily have it at home if you have the space and the equipment.
Meats
The centre piece of the barbecue is going to be the meats you grill. There are a lot of different cuts and you can choose whatever you like. However, going to a Korean butcher is a sure way of getting the cuts you find at Korean BBQ restaurants. (Which is optimal for grilling)
Fun fact: butchers in different countries make different cuts to suite the local cuisine. So you might not find a flat iron steak in a Korean butcher, and you most likely won’t find Galbi (short ribs) cut the right way at a normal butcher.
We got our meats at my favourite butcher for Korean BBQ, Samsung Butchery in Chatswood.
Side dishes (Banchan)
Korean food always comes with banchans. Banchans are mostly fermented side dishes that, in my point of view, help you eat more.
Starting to feel full?
Have some more banchan, and you instantly have room for more.
Banchans are spicy, tart, sometimes slightly bitter and peppery. Appetising flavours that bring out your appetite and cuts through the fat from the meat perfectly.
Maybe I’m the only one, but I had major culture shock the first time I had Korean food at a restaurant. I was told all the banchan could be refilled for free. There was almost 6 different types of banchan, which was already a meal in itself!
Or so a thought, before I discovered how much more you’re capable of eating with the help of these yummy side dishes.
We got our Banchan at PBS Chicken. They have a great 3 for $10 deal. We got 6 for $20.
Greens
Korean barbecue typically comes with lettuce to create wraps. You grab a leaf and sort of burrito wrap some meat, ssam jang sauce, garlic and kimchi.
You can also add perilla leaf if you’re able to find it near you. Rice if you want. Actually anything you want, but the classic combo is a lettuce leaf, then perilla leaf on top, then some ssam jang, meat, kimchi and raw garlic.
You can also get pumpkin sliced thinly, corn kernels, mushrooms and onions to grill.
We got the rest of our food items at Asiana Korean grocery store in Chatswood.
Carbs
Kimchi fried rice is typically served last after Korean barbecue to make absolute sure everyone is walking away from the table with a food baby.
You make the fried rice by first leaving some of the animal fat on the pan in (you should be getting rid of it as you cook or you’ll find it pooling, making your meat sort of fry instead of grill!) Then grill some kimchi, cut some spring onions and enoki mushrooms in. Let that cook a bit before adding in white rice.
Mix it all well and let it cook for a bit so the rice gets a little crispy at the bottom. And there you go! Kimchi fried rice that’s way better than making it in a wok.
WATCH THE VIDEO
