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  • KOREAN BBQ ANYONE?

August 2024

K-Food is booming, spurred on by the popularity of K-pop, uber successful Korean dramas and social media platforms which have brought this exciting cuisine to the attention of international audiences.


One of the most celebrated aspects of the Korean menu is ‘Korean BBQ’.

What is Korean BBQ? Traditional Korean barbecue (or ‘gogi-gui’ which translates to ‘meat roast’) is about cooking at the table, in a group setting, normally indoors. It features a selection of carefully marinated meats, such as beef, pork and seafood, together with mushrooms and vegetables, sizzled to perfection (by the diner themselves) on a charcoal or gas grill, set into the table.

Popular cuts of meat include bulgogi (thin slices of sirloin or tenderloin). Bulgogi is actually the name of the specific sweet and savoury marinade/sauce used for these meats (sirloin, rib-eye, or brisket), but it has become synonymous with the cut. Bulgogi marinade is typically made from soy sauce, Asian pear, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, sesame oil and ground black pepper. Other cuts of meat include kalbi (short ribs) and samgyeopsal (pork belly).

The meats are served with banchan – a selection of small side dishes placed around the grill for everyone to share. Popular side dishes include kimchi, potato salad, seaweed, eggs and pancakes. Rice and noodles are normally offered at the end of the meal.

Instead of burger buns and rolls, Korean meats are traditionally wrapped in lettuce and seasoned to perfection with sauces and marinade. This makes it a nutritious and healthy dining experience.

Impress your friends with the ultimate Korean-inspired BBQ this summer with our range of Sun Hee products.

Sun Hee is available from Morrisons and Tesco

Traditional Korean BBQ is typically done indoors, but can be a bit smokey, so we suggest making the best of the British Summer and taking it outside.

Sun Hee products can easily support your menu, from our Korean-inspired condiments to tips on how to perfectly marinate your meats for a succulent finish.

Condiments are an essential part of any Korean BBQ


  • • Sun Hee Ssamjang Paste is great to use in wraps or as a dip
  • • Sun Hee Gochujang, is a sweet and spicy sauce that goes great with, well, just about everything. (A bit like Thai Sriracha)
  • • Sun Hee Sesame Oil is perfect for dipping sauce and drizzling over meats
  • • Sun Hee Sesame Seeds add a great finishing touch to sprinkle and enjoy
  • • Meanwhile, Sun Hee Kimchi is the classic ‘banchan’ side dish

After condiments, perfectly marinated meats are the second most important element. Take a look at our simple recipes below:


Namsan BBQ Marinade Recipe

Sun Hee Namsan BBQ Sauce has a slight spice giving it just the right amount of heat to balance the smoky sweetness. Delicious used in a marinade for depth of flavour; but also drizzled over meats and in sandwiches.

Serves 4Ingredients:

  • - 120g Sun Hee Namsan BBQ sauce
  • - 30g Sun Hee Soy sauce
  • - 20g honey - 10g rice vinegar
  • - 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • - 5g Sun Hee Sesame oil
  • - 1g black pepper
  • - 500g chicken thighs or beef strips

Instructions:

  • In a bowl, mix Namsan BBQ sauce, soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, minced garlic, sesame oil, and black pepper until well combined.
  • Place the chicken or beef in a resealable plastic bag or shallow dish.
  • Pour the marinade over the meat, ensuring it's fully coated. Seal the bag or cover the dish.
  • Marinate in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or overnight for more flavour.
  • Grill or cook the meat as desired.

Itaewon Hot & Spicy Marinade Recipe

Sun Hee Itaewon Hot & Spicy Sauce is a tangy spicy sauce that works wonderfully in marinades, giving a warm depth of flavour to your meats and vegetables.

Serves 4. Enjoy!Ingredients:

  • - 100g Sun Hee Itaewon Hot & Spicy sauce
  • - 20g Sun Hee soy sauce
  • - 15g honey - 10g lime juice
  • - 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • - 10g vegetable oil
  • - 1g Sun Hee chilli flakes (optional for extra heat)
  • - 500g chicken thighs or beef strips

Instructions:

  • In a bowl, mix Itaewon Hot & Spicy sauce, soy sauce, honey, lime juice, minced garlic, vegetable oil, and chilli flakes until well combined.
  • Place the chicken or beef in a resealable plastic bag or shallow dish.
  • Pour the marinade over the meat, ensuring it’s fully coated. Seal the bag or cover the dish.
  • Marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour, or overnight for more intense flavour.
  • Grill or cook the meat as desired.

Create a delicious Kimchi salad that is a tangy accompaniment to cut the richness of cooked meat. Its fresh, it’s tangy and it’s a palate cleanser


Kimchi Salad

Serves 4Ingredients:

  • - 200g kimchi, chopped
  • - 150g cucumber, thinly sliced
  • - 100g carrots, julienned
  • - 100g red pepper, thinly sliced
  • - 50g spring onions, chopped
  • - 20g Sun Hee sesame seeds, toasted

Dressing:

  • - 15g Sun Hee soy sauce (1 tablespoon)
  • - 10g Sun Hee sesame oil (2 teaspoons)
  • - 5g rice vinegar (1 teaspoon)
  • - 5g honey (1 teaspoon)

Instructions:

  • Chop the kimchi, slice the cucumber, julienne the carrots, and slice the red pepper. Chop the spring onions.
  • In a large bowl, combine the chopped kimchi, cucumber, carrots, red pepper, and spring onions.
  • In a small bowl, mix together soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, and honey.
  • Pour the dressing over the salad and toss everything together. Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds.
  • Enjoy immediately or refrigerate for a short time before serving.

Smoky, savoury, meaty and delicious we hope you enjoy your Korean BBQ experience, as much as we enjoy bringing Korean classics to your fingertips, with our Korean-inspired store cupboard staples.