The idea for a bulgogi burger came to me last summer when I was thinking about entering a burger grill-off/competition. Little did I know that the "Bulgogi Burger" is already a standard menu item on fast food burger joints in Korea. I was slightly disheartened, since my idea wasn't original, and scrapped it for the competition.
But I never forgot about making it myself. I've never actually tried a bulgogi burger in Korea (it's been about 15 years since I've been there), and decided that I didn't want to know how it is made in tha' Motherland. I wanted to come up with my own. Besides, someone also told me that many "Bulgogi Burgers" are not burgers at all - they are real pieces of bulgogi slapped between the buns. Who knows? I didn't care.
My Bulgogi Burger is a lighter version of the bulgogi marinade added to ground beef, then shaped and grilled just like a regular burger. Instead of cheese and the regular burger accompaniments, I used red leaf lettuce, which is often used with Korean barbecue for rolling up rice and meat, grilled onions that had soaked in some of the bulgogi marinade, and instead of ketchup, I slathered the bun with goh-choo-jahng - Korean red pepper sauce. Goh-choo-jahng is very very very spicy.
I wanted to make a kimchee "slaw" to put on top of the burger, but I didn't have any kimchee with me at the time. Next time...
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-06-2006 @ 10:55PM
dragonet2 said...
I love bulgogi, as well as kimchee (weird for a Kansas City white girl, but hey, as long as it's not so hot (spicy) that it blows my taste buds, it's okay). We have at least one good Korean restaurant.
The burger idea sounds good, I think I'd like it with kimchee on it (kinda like slaw on pulled pork).
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6-07-2006 @ 12:00AM
Bruce Dearborn Walker said...
Kimchee is great on a hamburger. I chop it fairly fine, add mayo and black pepper, a little white sugar depending on the fire of the chiles, and it's fantastic. No cheese, pickles, or other condiments needed. The mayo makes the difference.
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6-07-2006 @ 9:08AM
mella said...
This sounds soooooo good! Thanks so much for the great idea.
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6-07-2006 @ 1:08PM
Riley Porter said...
Yes, Bugogi Burgers are common in Korea. I lived there for 2 years. (just getting back a few months ago to the states) McDonalds even sells them.
But bulgogi and kemchi is the best. I am a white guy too :)
Riley
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6-07-2006 @ 5:11PM
Robyn said...
My mom makes kim chee burgers too--like just kim chee mixed into the hamburger. I didn't think this was unusual... I don't know...
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6-08-2006 @ 9:15AM
spline9 said...
A few days ago I made an amazing steak using a quick marinade loosly based on my mom's bulgogi recipe. I substituted half of the soy sauce with Yuzu Ponzu and added splash of liquid mesquite smoke and a shake of some generic steak seasoning.
The results were amazing. Honestly, the best steak ever. I'll be making it again.
On a side note, I just had a polish sausage. I wanted saurkraut on it but opted for kimchi instead. Glad I did since the spices in the kimchi added a nice spike to the tang.
I seem to appreciate my mom being Korean a little more each day.
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6-08-2006 @ 12:48PM
TheLostFan said...
If you're ever in Austin, TX try "Burger Tex" on Guadalupe Street just a block North of the University of Texas campus. They're famous for their bulgogi burger.
I'm no expert on Korean food but I do know it's pretty darn tasty.
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7-27-2006 @ 7:47AM
digi-phones said...
I go right now on the kitchen and I'll try it.
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