Korean beef bowl vibrant flavors (Print version)

Spiced ground beef with gochujang, steamed rice, and tangy pickled vegetables in a vibrant bowl.

# What You Need:

→ For the Beef

01 - 1 lb lean ground beef
02 - 2 tbsp vegetable oil
03 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
05 - 3 tbsp gochujang
06 - 2 tbsp soy sauce
07 - 1 tbsp brown sugar
08 - 1 tbsp rice vinegar
09 - 1 tsp toasted sesame oil
10 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced

→ For the Pickled Vegetables

11 - 1/2 cup carrot, julienned
12 - 1/2 cup daikon radish, julienned
13 - 1/2 cup rice vinegar
14 - 1 tbsp sugar
15 - 1/2 tsp salt

→ For Serving

16 - 4 cups cooked white rice
17 - 1 cup cucumber, thinly sliced
18 - 1/2 cup radish, thinly sliced
19 - 1 cup kimchi, chopped
20 - 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds

# How To Make It:

01 - In a small bowl, combine rice vinegar, sugar, and salt. Stir until dissolved. Add carrot and daikon radish, mix well and set aside to pickle while preparing remaining components.
02 - Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic and ginger, sauté for 1 minute until fragrant. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned and cooked through, approximately 5-6 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
03 - Stir in gochujang, soy sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, and sesame oil. Cook for 2-3 minutes, allowing sauce to thicken and coat beef evenly. Remove from heat and stir in half the green onions.
04 - Divide cooked rice among 4 bowls. Top each with generous portion of beef mixture. Arrange pickled vegetables, cucumber, radish, and kimchi around beef. Garnish with remaining green onions and toasted sesame seeds.
05 - Serve immediately while beef and rice are warm.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Quick weeknight dinner ready in just 35 minutes
  • Perfect balance of sweet, spicy, and savory flavors
  • Customizable heat level to suit your preference
  • Beautiful presentation with minimal effort
  • Incorporates traditional Korean flavors in an approachable way
02 -
  • For authentic flavor, don't substitute the gochujang - it's essential to the dish
  • Let the pickled vegetables sit at least 15 minutes for best flavor
  • Cook the rice slightly firmer than usual so it holds up well under the toppings
  • For meal prep, store components separately and assemble just before eating
  • Toast sesame seeds in a dry pan for enhanced nutty flavor
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