What Makes Korean BBQ Unique

Are you planning your next backyard gathering? Why not make it a Korean BBQ? Gelson’s has numerous recipes to get you started and all the food products and ingredients to help make your next barbecue unique. 

Korean BBQ and American BBQ center on a similar theme ‒ food, family, and friends. Chances are, you’ve enjoyed numerous barbecues with smoky-flavored meats like pork or ribs. Beef burgers and grilled chicken are almost always the top choices. The same meats are often used in a Korean-style BBQ, but we’ll look at how iconic Korean foods and cooking styles make the experience so different.

A Brief History of Korean BBQ

Also known as “Gogi-gui”, Korean BBQ is tasteful, vibrant, and interactive. It is a cultural tradition that dates back centuries (the skewer was invented for Korean cooking when meat was cooked on flat stones over a fire). Korean BBQ gained popularity as grilling techniques evolved and the upper class and nobility caught on. 

Over time, it became a phenomenon of cultural significance in Korean society. It’s considered a social event in which people gather, share food, and strengthen social and familial bonds. Korean BBQ focuses on togetherness and shared experiences, drawing on a warm feeling of attachment between people, or “Jeong”.

Despite its cultural significance, Korean BBQ is flexible. There’s no one dish or setup you have to settle on. A meal can take many forms. You can indulge in many small dishes, focus on a select few, or serve your sides hot or cold. 

Unique Qualities of Korean BBQ

Various attributes make this style of barbecue unique. If you’re longing to experience different tastes and textures of foods in the company of family and friends, here are some of the unique qualities to think about:

Smaller Strips of Meat

Don’t wait until after your chili is cooked to add seasoning. The cooking process enhances the flavor of herbs and spices. The earlier you add seasoning, the more flavorful and balanced your chili will be. As it’s simmering, the flavors from all the seasonings blend to create a richer taste.

Tasting your chili along the way also helps. You can add seasoning as it’s cooking to get the flavor you want. This helps achieve a more balanced flavor and texture.

American BBQ centers on large cuts of meat. However, Korean dishes tend to favor smaller strips of meat, one of the most popular being Bulgogi. This thinly sliced beef is marinated (a preferred technique over the dry rub or basting used for American BBQ). Common ingredients in a Bulgogi recipe include garlic, ginger, soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil, black pepper, and pear juice. Bulgogi is an enduring cultural symbol and has been adapted in many ways.

However, there are many other types of meat used in Korean BBQ, including:

  • Galbi: This dish, which consists of marinated bone-in short ribs, is a staple of Korean cuisine. A blend of soy sauce, sugar, garlic, ginger, sesame oil, and toasted sesame seeds adds a delightful flavor to the tender meat. Considered a symbol of unity and celebration, it can be cooked over charcoal or using a modern grill.
  • Samgyeopsal: Pork belly is beloved in Korean cuisine. Since ancient times, it’s been prepared in thin slices and marinated in soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil, black pepper, garlic, and ginger. The marinade creates a balance of flavor. This of course represents many ways to cook pork at home.
  • Dak-galbi: This chicken dish has also evolved from ancient times and consists of chicken thighs cut into tender bite-sized pieces. The chicken is marinated in a blend of soy sauce and a Korean chili paste known as Gochujang. It also includes garlic, ginger, sesame oil, and honey.

Other cuts of meat used in Korean cuisine include Hanjeongsal, or pork jowl, and other thin cuts of beef such as brisket, sirloin, ribeye, and beef tongue. Chicken and seafood are less common in authentic cuisine but are growing in popularity. If you want to add seafood, consider popular choices like shrimp, salmon, or cuttlefish.

Flavorful Sauces

In Korean BBQ, meats are typically unseasoned. Instead, they are traditionally served with dipping sauces that are easy to make. Ssamjang is a seasoned soybean paste that can add a spicy, salty flavor to grilled meat. For a salty and tangy flavor, try a soy sauce and onion mixture. One of the easiest sauces to make is a blend of sesame oil, salt, and pepper (the oil adds a nutty texture). 

However, Korean BBQ is known for its sweet flavor. More sophisticated recipes may include sugar, honey, or pear. These add even more flavor to meat like Bulgogi, which is marinated with lots of spices before being cooked.

Soup

Another unique aspect of Korean BBQ is the small servings of soup. From soybean soup to seaweed soup to ramen noodle soup, there are many options. The soup not only helps the food go down but can help with digestion, especially if its ingredients are high in fiber. Its warmth also stimulates the digestive tract.

Side Dishes

Korean meals are often served with an abundance of side dishes or Banchan. Common side dishes include the following:

  • Kimchi: A spicy, fermented cabbage, kimchi is seasoned with Korean red pepper powder, garlic, and fish sauce along with some sugar and salt. It may also include radish, carrots, chives, or scallions.
  • Dried Squid: The shredded squid is seasoned with Korean red pepper paste. This side dish is also typically prepared with garlic, sesame oil, and rice syrup.
  • Spinach Salad: Blanched spinach is served with a sesame dressing, which adds a nutty taste. It also includes garlic, salt, and pepper.
  • Potato Salad: This consists of mashed potatoes blended with carrots, cucumbers, and boiled eggs. Seasonings include rice wine vinegar, rice syrup, and mayonnaise.
  • Kelp Noodle Salad: Served with cold kelp noodles and sliced carrots, this side salad dish is also seasoned with mayonnaise, rice syrup, and rice vinegar.
  • Spicy Cucumber: The cucumbers are seasoned with Korean red pepper powder. The dish typically includes sesame seeds, sesame oil, garlic, onions, and soy sauce.
  • Pickled Radish: The radish is often served cubed and provides a pleasant crunch. Its refreshing, sweet flavor helps cleanse the palate between bites of meat.
  • Bean Sprout Salad: Bean sprouts add a light, refreshing touch to your Korean BBQ experience.
  • Stir Fries: Stir-fried side dishes, called Bokkeum, can include squid, sausage, or fishcake. 
  • Seasoned Vegetables: Known as Munchim, a seasoned vegetable side dish can consist of seaweed, cucumber, radish, beansprouts, or broccoli. 

  • Eggs: A popular side for a Korean BBQ is eggs cooked to your liking. They can be steamed, made into a rolled omelet, or served as a type of custard dish.

     

Grilled Vegetables

Grilled vegetables are often served with Korean delicacies. These included grilled onions, squash, and mushrooms. However, lettuce, perilla leaves, and sliced pepper are also common and easy to prepare, but you can include just about any vegetable you like. Thinly sliced garlic is a common addition.

How to Prepare Korean BBQ

Food options are often served in an array of small dishes. Nonetheless, a popular way to eat many Korean delicacies is as a wrap. There are different ways to do this, among the more popular being the following:

  • Lettuce and Shiso Leaf Wraps: A small amount of steamed rice and grilled meat is placed in a whole lettuce leave or shiso leaf. It can be dipped in the sauce first or you can top the meat with the sauce after adding it. Then you can include toppings such as radish slices, kimchi, or garlic slices.
  • Rice Paper Wraps: A rice paper wrap is less traditional. It’s more of a Vietnamese food cuisine but easy to make. The meat is dipped into the sauce of choice and then the vegetables can be added (a slice of daikon, a crunchy root vegetable, is often included too) before the rice paper is rolled up.

Also, carefully consider your grilling techniques. Korean BBQ is often prepared using a charcoal grill, but you can also use a gas or electric grill. Thinly sliced meats are cooked quickly over high heat, while thicker cuts are cooked on low heat for a longer period to make them tender and juicy. 

With any Korean cooking, you need a well-ventilated space to keep the smoke from getting too thick. That’s why it’s best in a BBQ setting like a backyard or patio. You can do your cooking on a small, portable stove if desired. A grill plate is where you need to cook the meat and vegetables but is easy to find. 

Other items to round out the supplies you need include:

  • Tongs to prepare meat and serve salad and other sides.
  • Scissors to cut meat and veggies without a cutting board.
  • Long spoons, but you can also include chopsticks for those who prefer them.

Also, make sure you have enough bowls. These include rice bowls, small plates that easily get passed around, and shallow dipping bowls for sauces. 


Sweet Conclusion

A Korean BBQ is undoubtedly a feast. After the main courses are served, traditional Korean desserts are often a part of the meal. These include Bingsu, which is shaved ice with sweet toppings such as fruit, rice cake pieces, or red beans. Hotteok is sweet-filled pancakes made from a yeast-based dough and filled with brown sugar, cinnamon, and crushed nuts; this is often served hot. A Korean-style green tea is also often served unless you opt for Korean rice wine or Soju, a distilled alcoholic beverage.

Your Korean BBQ experience can be unique, authentic, or whatever you want it to be. The wide range of options to incorporate can yield diverse flavors. Everyone can participate in a journey filled with flavor, culture, and enjoyment of each other’s company ‒ all in the comfort of your home.


Shop at Gelson’s for All Your Korean BBQ Ingredients

If you’re looking for another backyard barbecue idea, try our Korean barbecue tacos with leftover pork. It’s another unique addition to the experience that Korean cuisine and gathering with friends and family provides. At Gelson’s, we’ve made online grocery shopping easy. You can also quickly find a store in your area for pickup or delivery. Or, if interested in our prepared meals to go or our delicious and healthy recipes, continue browsing. Contact us today for help or information.

 

Sources: 

Hatfield: Korean Barbecue vs American Barbecue

Hungry Huy: The Complete Guide to Korean BBQ at Home 

Munchery: Exploring Korean BBQ: Techniques & Recipes

Easy Korean Recipes by Chef Chris Cho: The Complete Guide to DIY Korean BBQ