The Only 4 Korean BBQ Sauce Recipes You'll Ever Need - Ingredients & Recipes

Korean BBQ sauce is a straightforward method to enhance meats, infusing them with depth and richness. It adds complexity of savoryness, sweetness and umami taste to grilled beef, pork, and chicken, elevating their flavors. It's worth noting that Korean BBQ sauce can vary alot more from what people typically expect. 

 

While the most famous sauces, often soy-sauce based, originate from Bulgogi (beef) recipes, authentic Korean meat sauces extend beyond this. Varieties include those based on red chili paste (Gochujang) or chili flakes (Gochugaru), ideal for pork and chicken barbecues. This would become what you want to try as new for dinner tomorrow. 

 

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Read on to learn four main Korean barbeque sauce recipes, as suggested by Korean cook celebrities showed on media.  

 

 

 

CONTENTS

[1] What is Korean barbecue sauce made of?

[2] Korean barbecue marinade sauce

• Korean beef Bulgogi marinade sauce
• Korean beef short ribs Galbi marinade sauce
• Korean bbq chicken Dakgalbi marinade sauce
• Korean bbq pork Jeyuk bokkeum marinade sauce

[3] Korean barbecue dipping sauce

• Korean bbq pork belly dipping sauce, Ssamjang(쌈장)
• Korean bbq dipping sauce, Seasame oil & Salt

[4] More ideas about Korean barbecue sauce

 

 

@ Pexels, Photo by Becerra Govea

 

What is Korean barbecue sauce made of?

 

Korean barbecue sauce, often used as a marinade or glaze for grilled meats, is typically made of a combination of savory, sweet, and spicy ingredients. The exact ingredients can vary based on regional preferences and personal recipes, but common components include: 

• Soy sauce: Provides the base flavor and saltiness. 
• Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps caramelize the meat. 
• Garlic: Contributes aromatic depth and flavor. 
• Sesame oil(Cham-gi-leum, 참기름): Imparts a nutty flavor and richness. 
• Red chili paste(Gochujang, 고추장): Adds heat and depth of flavor. 
• Fruit juice: Sometimes used for tenderizing and adding sweetness; pear or apple juice are common choices. 
• Rice wine for cooking(Mirim, 미림): Adds sweetness and helps tenderize the meat. 
• Ginger: Offers a bright, fresh taste. 
• Green onions: Enhances freshness and adds a mild onion flavor. 

These ingredients are mixed together to form a balanced sauce that complements various meats, such as beef, pork, and chicken, commonly grilled in Korean barbecue restaurants or at home. The sauce can be adjusted according to personal taste preferences, with some variations including additional ingredients like honey, fruit preserves, or even cola for added sweetness and complexity. 

 

Sauce ingredients ⓒ koreanrestaurant.tistory.com

 

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Korean barbecue marinade sauce

Korean beef Bulgogi marinade sauce

The most common Korean bbq sauce you can buy in supermarket comes from Bulgogi(불고기) recipes. The core components of Bulgogi-style beef marinade sauce are soy sauce, minced garlic, sugar, and sesame seed oil. The synergy among these four crucial ingredients defines the primary flavor of the beef BBQ marinade sauce, while honey or rice syrup enhances its texture and black pepper elevates the taste profile. 

 

Beef Bulgogi ⓒ koreanrestaurant.tistory.com

 

For sliced beef meat 500g(1lb)

Aiming for 1-day marinating (min 1~2hr)

 

1. Soy sauce (Jin ganjang, 진간장) 5T (50g)
2. Minced garlic 1T (20g)
3. Light brown sugar 2.5T (30g)
4. Sesame oil 3T (21g)
5. (Optional) Rice syrup(Mul-yeot, 물엿)* 1T (12g)
6. (Optional) Ground black pepper little 

※ Reference: 백종원의 쿠킹로그

Soy Sauce Selection
Every country has its own varieties of soy sauce, including several types available in Korean cuisine. This recipe is specifically crafted to complement Korean Jin-gan-jang (진간장) or Yangjo ganjang (양조간장). If, by mistake, you use Guk ganjang (국간장), typically reserved for soups, this recipe may not yield the intended results. 
※ Kikkoman soy sauce, a Japanese soy sauce brand, is also a type of Jin-gan-jang, so it can be used in Korean barbecue recipes too.

Rice syrup (Mul-yeot, 물엿)
Substitute with Acacia honey. In that case, more quantity might be needed.

 

 

Korean beef short ribs Kalbi/Galbi marinade sauce

Korean beef short rib bbq sauce is a recipe of Galbi/Kalbi(갈비), a beloved dish among Koreans, offering a symphony of sweet, salty, savory, and umami notes within beef ribs. Its sauce recipe closely resembles that of Bulgogi, where soy sauce, garlic, and sugar take the lead, while additional ingredients work to diminish any undesirable aromas from the ribs and intensify their flavor. Below, you'll find an enhanced rendition of the typical soy sauce-based "Korean BBQ Sauce" to elevate your culinary experience. 

 

@ Pexels,  Photo by Max Griss

 

For sliced beef short rib(Galbi, 갈비) 1kg

Aiming for 1-day marinating (min 1~2hr)

(Reduce water if marinade time short)

 

1. Soy sauce (Jin ganjang, 진간장) 1 cup (200g)
2. Light brown sugar 1/2 cup (80g)
3. Minced garlic 1/4 cup (40g)
4. Sesame oil 2T (15g)
5. Rice wine for cooking (Mirim, 미림 or Chungha, 청하) 1/2 cup (100g)
6. Minced ginger 1/2T (8g)
7. Ground black pepper little
8. Water 3 cup (540g) 
9. (Optional) Chopped green onion 1/2 cup (80g)
10. (Optional) Rice syrup(Mul-yeot, 물엿) or Acacia honey

※ Reference: 백종원의 쿠킹로그

Korean cooking rice wine

Mirim (미림)
Sweetened clear cooking alcohol made out of rice. Its ABV(Alcohol by volume) is 14%. Ingredients includes rice alcohol(Joojung), rice, sugar syrup, citric acid, other fructose, fermentation starter(Jongguk, 종국, Dried grain microorganisms are cultured) and water

Chungha, original flavor (청하)
A mildly flavored clear rice wine which is typically serviced chilled. It's made from rice refined three times after a process of gradual fermentation at a temperature of 12°- 15°C, it is devoid of residue flavors and smells. Amino acids contained in the liquor add to the flavor of the dish. Make sure to buy original flavor if the purpose of purchase is cooking.

 

 

Korean bbq chicken Dakgalbi marinade sauce

Dakgalbi, a beloved Korean dish, showcases marinated chicken stir-fried with vegetables in a spicy and savory sauce. Fortunately, its delectable sauce perfectly complements marinated chicken for BBQ. Below is a recipe for the delightful Dakgalbi marinade sauce.

 

Chicken Dakgalbi ⓒ  koreanrestaurant.tistory.com

 

For boneless chicken thigh 600g

Aiming for 1-day marinating (min 1~2hr)

 

1. Soy sauce (Jin ganjang, 진간장) 1/2cup (105g)
2. Korean chilli paste(Gochujang, 고추장) 1/2 cup (115g)
3. Red chilli flake(Gochugaru, 고춧가루) 1/2 cup (45g)
4. Light brown sugar 1/2 cup (75g)
5. Rice wine for cooking(Mirim, 미림 or Chungha, 청하) 1/2 cup (95g)
6. Seasame oil 2T (50g)
7. Minced garlic 1/2 cup (100g) 
8. Ground black pepper 1ts

※ Reference:  백종원의 쿠킹로그

 

Korean bbq pork Jeyuk bokkeum marinade sauce

 

Korean bbq sauce for pork follows the sauce of Jeyuk Bokkeum, a sweet&spicy chilli flavored stir-fried pork. Jeyuk is one of the Korean men's the most favorite meals. Jeyuk Bokkeum sauce is based on Korean red chilli paste Gochujang essential for creating its signature taste. If you got this paste in you fridge, it worth trying Jeyuk Bokkeum sauce for marinade pork BBQ in coming dinner gathering.

Meanwhile, the recipe featured below was showcased on a Korean TV cooking show. Initially designed for meal spoons, yet remeasured and adjusted the amount of ingredients to align with standard measuring spoon in this article.

 

Jeyuk bokkeum ⓒ Wikimedia Commonw (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jeyuk-bokkeum_4.jpg)

 

For pork shoulder 600g (thin slice)

Aiming for 1-day marinating (min 1~2hr)

 

1. Soy sauce(Jin ganjang, 진간장) 1.5T (18g)
2. Red chili paste(Gochujang, 고추장) 3+3/4T (78g)
3. Sugar 1+2/3T (23g)
4. Minced garlic 1T (28g)
5. Vinegar (7%)* 1T (16g)
6. Seasame oil 1/2 ts
7. Ground black pepper little (3 snaps)
8. Ground sea salt 1/2 ts
9. Pear nectar** 238ml

※ Original recipe reference:  TV show 편스토랑, recipe by 류수영

Vinegar 7% acidity
General Korean vinegar diluted with water to 7% acidity. In contrast, distilled white vinegar available in the the US undergoes dilution to achieve 5% acidity. When cooking Korean foods following recipe, you can make sure your vinegar has same acidity level with Korean one.

Pear nectar
This recipe utilizes canned pear juice named "Gal-a-man-deun bae(갈아만든 배)", which consists of the following ingredients:
Asian pear puree (12%), water, sugar syrup, artificial pear flavor, DL-malic acid, vitamin C 
※ Sugar content: 8.2g per 100ml 

 

 

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Korean barbecue dipping sauce

 

Korean bbq pork belly dipping sauce, Ssamjang(쌈장)

Ssamjang is a thick, flavorful paste made from a combination of fermented soybean paste(Doenjang, 된장) and red chili paste(Gochujang, 고추장), along with additional ingredients for depth of flavor. Ssamjang(쌈장) is commonly paired with ssam(쌈), which consists of leafy greens such as lettuce or perilla leaves. These are used to wrap salt and pepper grilled meats and a variety of other fillings. 

Main ingredients of Ssamjang(쌈장) is Korean dark soybean paste - Doenjang(된장) and red chilli paste - Gochujang(고추장) as mentioned, together with sesame seed oil.

1. Red chilli paste(Gochujang, 고추장) 2T
2. Soybean paste(Doenjang, 된장) 1T
3. Sesame oil(Cham-gi-leum, 참기름) 1T

More details of Ssamjang recipe is described in the other post linked below.

Korean BBQ authentic dipping sauce recipe | The Ssam-jang

 

Korean bbq dipping sauce, Seasame oil & Salt

For lean meat barbeque, sesame oil and salt is served for dipping sauce. This would be the easiest BBQ sauce to for cook. Just pour sesame oil and put salt together.

1. Sesame oil(Cham-gi-leum, 참기름) 1T
2. Ground sea salt 1ts

@Pexels,  Photo by Eva Bronzini: https://www.pexels.com/photo/sesame-seeds-in-wooden-bowl-5755517/

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More ideas about Korean bbq sauce

 

Thus far, we have read through six of Korean barbecue sauces. These include two soy sauce-based beef marinades (Bulgogi, Galbi), two sweet and spicy red chili paste-based sauces for chicken (Dakgalbi) and pork (Jeyuk bokkeum), and finally, two primary barbecue dipping sauces - one known as Ssamjang and another featuring salt and sesame oil. 

 

However, this is not all about Korean barbecue sauces. The aforementioned 6 selections serve as simple starting points for developing Korean meat sauces. Feel free to customize the suggested basic recipes by incorporating your own culinary secrets or drawing from extended Korean BBQ experiences.