I think the best article to make its way around the food blog world in the past few months is a list of Americas 10 Best New Sandwiches. I re-read this list about 7 times, sent it to more than 20 friends, and even visited the establishment on the list that was near my apartment in Boston!
The thing on this list that really caught my eye is the bulgogi sandwich. Appropriately created in Philadelphia, this sandwich combines the classic Philly Cheesesteak with bulgogi, the delicious Korean marinated beef. Not only did it catch my eye as the most delicious looking sandwich on the list, it also seemed to be the most accessible and easiest to make at home!
This sandwich comes together pretty quickly, and is cheap and easy to make if you already have Asian ingredients in your pantry. The one curveball ingredient is a Korean pepper paste called Gochujang. You could skip it if you want to, but it’s a great secret ingredient to have in your fridge. It lasts a long time, and a tablespoon here and there can really add dimension to marinades and stir frys. You’re not going to find it at any grocery store though – you need to go to an Asian market or buy online.
The steak is marinating in the bulgogi sauce. The sauce is easy to make by mixing some jarred Asian ingredients (listed below) with some fresh garlic and ginger.
These will be sautéed and added to the sandwich.
The meat smells so good while cooking!
This sandwich would be a nice intro to Korean flavors for people who might be afraid to try it otherwise.
Good enough to eat! Pour over rice and you have a meal on its own.
I smeared the bread with a little of the sauce from the meat pan after it finished cooking. Put some cheese on next.
That’s a huge sandwich!
I love this shot with the juicy drip. It was hard for me not to eat this immediately!
Very tasty. Reminiscent of a cheesesteak, but with bold bright Korean flavors bursting out.
Dan Whalen thinks the word Gochujang is fun to say. Check out his blog at The Food in My Beard; check Dan’s Tablespoon profile often to try his recipes with creative international spins!
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