Bulgogi Beef Lettuce Wraps

Ultra crispy and smothered in a soy-based sauce studded with rich brown sugar, sweet mirin wine, and brimming with heat from Sambal Oelek, these Beef Lettuce Wraps are my new favorite way to do lettuce. With easy-to-find ingredients, and minimal prep and cook time, they're also the perfect way to get dinner on the table without much effort.

Course Main Course

Cuisine Asian

Keyword lettuce wraps, beef lettuce wraps, bulgogi beef

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 20

Total Time 25

Servings lettuce wraps

Calories 181kcal

Author Nicole

Cost $25

Equipment

Wok or Non-stick Skillet

Ingredients

1 tbsp sesame oil
1 lb ground sirloin
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 medium onion, sliced
1 pear, grated
4 large garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup soy sauce
3 tbsp dark brown sugar (light is fine too)
3 tbsp mirin
2 tbsp sesame oil
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 tbsp gochujang or sambal oelek
4 green onions, sliced
1 large head butter lettuce
1/2 cup julienned carrots
1/2 cup julienne red peppers
1 tbsp sesame seeds

Instructions

Heat a large wok or non-stick skillet over a heat heat. Add 1 tablespoon sesame oil. Swirl to coat the pan. Add ground beef. Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Working quickly, use a wooden spoon to break up the beef into small pieces. Continue to brown the beef until it starts to turn very crispy on the outside. This should take about 6-8 minutes. Be sure to keep breaking up the beef with the wooden spooon.
While the beef cooks, slice the veggies if you haven't already. Add the soy sauce, brown sugar, mirin, remaining sesame oil, black pepper, and sambal oelek to a jar with a lid. (You can also use a small bowl and whisk, just make sure to whisk until all the brown sugar has dissolved.) Shake the jar until the brown sugar has dissolved and all ingedients are combined.
Once the beef is cooked through, and most of it is crispy, add the onion and pear. Cook for another 4-5 minutes until onion has completely softened. Add garlic. Cook for 1-2 minutes until softened.
Sprinkle the beef with sauce and sprinkle with green onion. Continue to cook, stirring frequently until the beef is coated and the sauce has thickened, another 3-4 minutes.
Spoon into lettuce. Top with peppers and carrots. Sprinkle with sesame seeds.

Nutrition