Korean recipes:

Grilled pork belly BBQ (samgyeopsal gui)

I will introduce a very popular Korean meat dish, “samgyeopsal gui,” to you today.

Samgyeopsal can be literally translated as “3 layered flesh”! Whose flesh? yes, it’s pork bacon. Samgyeopsal gui is never eaten by itself, it always comes with a variety of vegetables.

Nobody can resist the taste of samgyeopsal gui (except vegetarians)! When she or he eats the grilled pork belly and garlic, green onion salad and soybean paste dipping sauce (ssamjang) in fresh lettuce, they will be hooked! In Korea, the price of pork is much cheaper than beef, so this dish is enjoyed by many people who can’t afford to buy good cuts of beef.

I already posted my “grilled beef” recipe  a long time ago on my website, and this one is very similar. Replace beef with pork belly and the recipe is the same.

To enjoy this dish, the main 4 components will be needed

  1. pork belly(without this, what are you going to grill? : ) )
  2. pajori (green onion salad)
  3. ssamjang (soybean paste dipping sauce)
  4. grill plate (optional): It’s devised so the grease from the meat flows into a trough.

Ingredients:
for 4 servings
3 pounds of pork belly (fresh or pre-sliced frozen), green onions, carrot, green chili peppers, garlic, lettuce, mushrooms, hot pepper flakes, soy sauce, sugar, honey, hot pepper paste, soybean paste, sesame seeds, and sesame oil.

Directions:
First, slice pork belly into bite sized pieces. Put it on a large plate and keep it in the refrigerator.

samgyeopsal
Make “pajori” (green onion salad)

  1. Shred about 3 bunches of green onions to make 5 cups. Soak it in cold water.
  2. In a large bowl, combine 1/4 cup soy sauce, 2 tbs hot pepper flakes, 2 ts sugar, 1 tbs sesame seeds, and 1 tbs sesame oil. Set it aside.
  3. Drain the shredded green onion.
  4. Add the green onion to the bowl and mix it with the sauce. Set aside.

green-onions

soaked-green-onions

pajori

Make ssamjang (soybean paste dipping sauce)
Combine these ingredients in a small bowl with a spoon until mixed well:

  • 1/4 cup soy bean paste
  • 2 tbs hot pepper paste
  • 1 stalk of chopped green onion
  • 1 clove of minced garlic, 2 ts honey (or sugar)
  • 2 ts sesame seeds
  • 1 tbs sesame oil.

ssamjang

Prepare vegetables

  1. Wash and drain a head of lettuce.
  2. Cut a carrot, a green chili pepper, some mushrooms into bite size pieces and put them on a plate.
  3. Slice 2 dozen pieces of garlic and put them next to the carrot strips.
    *tip: cut each garlic lengthwise a few times

lettuce

vegetables

How to cook:

  1. Heat up your grill plate.
  2. Put a little sesame oil on the hot plate so your pork belly doesn’t stick.
  3. Cover the grill plate with belly, turn it over often so it doesn’t burn.
  4. As it gets ready to eat, take it off the plate and set it aside, or keep eating and grilling!

gui2

gui1

How to eat:

  1. Put a piece of belly on a lettuce leaf.
  2. Add a piece of garlic, some ssamjang, and a little pajori.
  3. Fold the lettuce leaf over so you have one little package.
  4. Pop it into your mouth in one shot.
    *tip: don’t bite it in half, it will break open

howtowrap

54 Comments:

  1. beomsoo
    joined February 16, 2010

    hi maangchi…

    i really want to try this samgyeopsal..
    i want to make it. but, is the ingredients are not much expensive right?

    Posted February 16, 2010 at 9:43 am | #
  2. armando

    maanchi! i made this recipe, and it was absolutely AMAZING! good thing i made it all for myself because I wouldn’t have wanted to share =D

    Posted January 1, 2010 at 10:33 pm | #
  3. Ronalyn

    Hi, i have a korean boyfriend and this is one of his favorite. Im planning to make this for him this coming christmas and for my family also because they never been try this one before..

    Im sure this video will help me alot…

    Thanks and have nice holiday!!!

    Posted December 21, 2009 at 4:02 pm | #
    • Maangchi New York City
      joined August 6, 2008

      Did you make this on Christmas? If so, I’m sure it turned out delicious!

      Posted January 2, 2010 at 3:40 am | #
  4. Thuy

    Hi Maangchi!

    I’ve been wanting to try out this recipe for awhile, but I can’t find a Korean brand soybean paste anywhere! I was wondering would it be ok if I use Miso paste instead? Would the taste differ dramatically?

    Thank you!

    Posted November 29, 2009 at 6:16 pm | #
    • snowmon

      @Thuy

      Miso paste is not intended for “dipping” as it was intended more for making soup because it has the slight sour taste to it compared to Korean soy bean taste. If you use Japanese miso, you will completely ruin the taste. That’s like using soy sauce inside Vietnamese noodle instead of Sriracha sauce it makes no sense.

      Posted December 26, 2009 at 11:27 pm | #
  5. savie

    im going to make this today for my family for thanksgiving !! my first time making it , im scared the sauces are not going to come out as planned & no one will eat it )):

    Posted November 26, 2009 at 5:40 pm | #
  6. Thank you for a great posting! I like your video with Andy as well. My husband and I also enjoy Samgyeopsal very much, but we usually have Samgyeopsal at a restaurant. Your video will help us have Samgyeopsal at home. Please check out our Samgyeopsal video ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhdDPpXwms0/). You’ll see an American family (my husband’s family) going crazy for Samgyeopsal.

    Posted November 23, 2009 at 12:57 pm | #
  7. mika

    I love samgyeopsal very much. I really enjoy eating this with my boyfriend. ^^ Thanks for all the video. You did a great job ^^

    Posted November 10, 2009 at 1:33 am | #
  8. Caleb

    Hi Maangchi!

    Thanks so much for this recipe. We had this last night for a late Thanksgiving meal (we’re Canadian expats in the UK). We’re so happy to have found the recipe for Ssamjang! We can’t get this in Leeds.

    Fantastic site, I’ll be back often!

    Posted October 18, 2009 at 7:35 am | #
    • Maangchi New York City
      joined August 6, 2008

      Thank you. I’m actually a Canadian expat living in USA, but always feel I’m Korean. ; )
      Welcome to my website!!

      Posted October 18, 2009 at 11:47 am | #
    • michael-in-england Leeds, England, United Kingdom
      joined March 9, 2010

      Hi Caleb i’m in Leeds too if you do find a good place for Korean food could you let me know ha ha thanks tlsmichaelcarroll@hotmail.com

      Posted March 10, 2010 at 6:18 pm | #
  9. rv65

    Is black hog pork belly good. Zion Market has a sale on that so I might as well use that. I’ve heard its better than regular pork belly.

    Posted October 18, 2009 at 2:53 am | #
  10. Anonymous

    Thanks for the recipe.

    Posted October 17, 2009 at 3:57 pm | #
  11. rv65

    I should probably make this as restaurant samgyeopsal is like $19.00 for the same thing. Zion market has Black hog pork belly and regular pork belly on sale.

    Posted October 15, 2009 at 4:23 am | #
  12. Janet

    Hi Maangchi,
    Thank you for this recipe! I am a 2nd generation korean in America, and right now I don’t live near a store that sells the samgyeopsal meat. Do you know what kind of pork meat I can buy at the American grocery store instead?

    Posted October 10, 2009 at 1:13 pm | #
    • Maangchi New York City
      joined August 6, 2008

      Ask your butcher “I want pork belly!” : ) I sometimes see pork belly sold in a package at a Western grocery store, too.

      Posted October 10, 2009 at 1:35 pm | #
  13. Tak

    I love your recipe. I cooked this for our family party last week. It was fun and Yummy!!! Thanks Maangchi!!

    Posted October 7, 2009 at 11:38 pm | #
    • Maangchi New York City
      joined August 6, 2008

      I agree! It’s fun to cook samgyeopsal with friends or family members. It will be strange if one person is cooking samgyeopsal on the grill plate by himself. ; )

      Posted October 8, 2009 at 12:23 am | #
  14. Hi Maangchi,

    Many thanks from Singapore. I’m Thai and my husband is Singaporean. He love Korean BBQ very much. Korean food is also popular here and a bit expensive out there. I tried your recipe last Saturday. Samgyeopsal gui, beef and pork Bulgogi rock!! Here is my homework :P

    From Food5

    Posted October 6, 2009 at 11:47 am | #
    • Maangchi New York City
      joined August 6, 2008

      Congratulation on your successful samgyeopsal gui party!

      Posted October 8, 2009 at 12:16 am | #
  15. Ivy

    I prepared this grill pork BBQ and steamboat to celebrate my Mid-Autumn Festival with my family on last sat…wow wow wow, they said it is so delicious as we r in korean restaurant and all wanna to eat this dishes and my steamboat become “side dishes”"…thx for ur recipes ..the sauce and another sauce “sesame oil, salt and black pepper”, we all love it so much….

    Posted October 4, 2009 at 10:12 pm | #
    • Maangchi New York City
      joined August 6, 2008

      What is steamboat dish? : )

      Posted October 8, 2009 at 12:17 am | #
      • Ivy

        Steamboat means put some chicken/beef/achovy fish stock soup in a
        big pot, while soup boils, put in some fish, prawn, vegi, fish ball, chicken, meats….etc, eat while cooked, with some sauces ….. is
        a quite common dish among chinese community….Anyway I’m Malaysian chinese, is also common here in Malaysia…

        Posted October 9, 2009 at 1:22 am | #
        • Maangchi New York City
          joined August 6, 2008

          oh, thank you very much! It sounds like “shabu shabu” or hot pot

          Posted October 9, 2009 at 9:50 am | #
  16. Geertjan

    Dear Maangchi, really love this latest video. Shows how great fun it is cooking together and what a fine recipe, samgyeopsal; funny word if you pronounce it the way we would do, I’m from Holland :)

    I visite your site for some time now, learned a lot and getting a little addicted. No better way to relax and get a good feeling than watch your skillfull hands doing the chopping, washing, arranging and preparing those unknown fascinating meals.
    And you are so witty!

    Posted September 30, 2009 at 8:12 am | #
    • Maangchi New York City
      joined August 6, 2008

      I’m very happy to hear that!
      You are not alone getting addicted some Korean dishes! ; )
      Thank you very much!

      Posted September 30, 2009 at 9:57 am | #
  17. Oliver

    many thanks from FRANCE.

    I’ve already use your recipes for my french friends and they are delighted by korean food.

    Posted September 30, 2009 at 8:11 am | #
  18. Hi Maangchi,
    I am a fan of you. You did a good job to introduce real Korean food to the world. I have a website http://www.cookinworld.com and have unique visitors. Could you contribute your videos to my website as well?
    Best,
    David

    Posted September 29, 2009 at 11:46 am | #
  19. Yong-Hae Lee

    안녕하세요. 우연히 봤는데 참 좋았어요. 한국인에게나 외국인에게나 삼겹살은 정말 인기있는 메뉴인것같아요. 싫어하는 사람 못봤어요. 언제까지 행복하시길 바래요… (학글로 남겨도 되나 모르겠네요.)

    Posted September 29, 2009 at 8:10 am | #
    • Maangchi New York City
      joined August 6, 2008

      Thank you very much for your nice comment! : )

      Posted September 29, 2009 at 8:26 am | #
  20. Sandy

    Maangchi! This recipe is great!! I cook this and jijyangmyun for lunch and dinner. They’re a great treat for me and my sister. Thank you very much!

    Posted September 29, 2009 at 4:45 am | #
    • Maangchi New York City
      joined August 6, 2008

      for lunch and dinner? : ) I’m so happy to hear that.

      Posted September 29, 2009 at 8:20 am | #
  21. Janet

    Omg! Watching this video makes me drool! My sister keeps asking me why did are you watching this video 10x!?

    I’ve been craving samgyeopsal so I actually went outside and ate some today >:). Samgyeopsal with some baked kimchi = yum yum.

    I will definitely have to try this recipe at home some day, when I find a grill plate!

    Posted September 28, 2009 at 10:45 pm | #
    • Maangchi New York City
      joined August 6, 2008

      You could use any frying pan. When you cook it with a frying pan, mop up the fat with paper towel.

      Posted September 29, 2009 at 8:25 am | #
  22. Deborah Toronto, ON I'm a fan!
    joined April 26, 2009

    THANK YOU MAANGCHI!!! this is the perfect excuse for me to go out to (finally) buy the grill! :)
    this is the perfect idea for me to host my dinner party!! :)

    thank you for doing this recipe.

    Posted September 27, 2009 at 10:15 pm | #
  23. Jeanie

    I loooove your recipes!! Your website is one of the first sites I check everytime I get on the internet, looking to see what your next recipe is.

    Thanks for taking the time to teach us all how to cook!!

    Posted September 27, 2009 at 4:46 pm | #
  24. Nguyen Thi Phuong

    I’m from Vietnam but I really like samgyeopsal, I ate this recipe only one time but I like it very much. I will do it for my family. Thanks a lot Ms. Maangchi.

    Posted September 24, 2009 at 9:13 pm | #
    • Maangchi New York City
      joined August 6, 2008

      Good luck with your samgyeopsal party with your family!

      Posted September 25, 2009 at 6:50 am | #
  25. josh

    yahoo!!!!!!!
    :]

    Posted September 24, 2009 at 8:27 pm | #
  26. Jess

    I have many favorite korean dishes but this is my absolutely favorite. I can really eat this all day if I could. I’m trying this tonight! Thank you!

    Posted September 24, 2009 at 6:09 pm | #
  27. Anonymous

    the best samgyobsal i ever had was in korea at a countryside with some of my friends. it was winter and freezing, but we stepped outisde, made a fire and huddled around. we constructed a grill made from empty beercans and a small piece of a metal fence and threw big manly chunks of meat on it. as a sidedish, we had the hot peppers (the small green ones… never underestimate the small green ones), ssamjang and garlic.
    so there we were, freezing, sitting on icy stones around a fire, but the combination of freezing air, clear sunshine, hot pepepper, garlic, hot meat, followed by icy soju and beer made it one of the best culinary experiences i had in my life!!!

    Posted September 24, 2009 at 1:50 pm | #
  28. I enjoyed this video so much! it put me in a good mood. Looks like you guys had a lot of fun. My students made this meal for me one day, and since then Korean food had become part of me and my families life :)
    thanks for sharing with us.

    Posted September 24, 2009 at 1:18 pm | #
  29. Ivy

    I remember tat is another plate of “sauce” look like “oil + salt +…..” May I know wat is tat and how to made while eat with grill pork belly? Thx

    Posted September 23, 2009 at 8:26 pm | #
    • Maangchi New York City
      joined August 6, 2008

      : ) yes, it’s just simple sauce. Mix 2 tbs sesame oil,1/2 ts salt, and a pinch of black ground pepper in a bowl.

      Posted September 23, 2009 at 10:31 pm | #
      • Ivy

        Thank you very much!!! I ‘ll try it

        Posted September 24, 2009 at 4:26 am | #
  30. Cam

    This looks really fun to eat! (plus very tasty) My friend has a grill plate… i foresee a samgyeopsal gui party in the future!!
    Is it usual to have a plate of pork belly only? or do people usually have a selection (like some thin beef as well)?
    Regardless, it looks delicious!
    Merci beaucoup maangchi!

    Posted September 23, 2009 at 5:23 pm | #
  31. Thaory

    UNNNIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!!!

    Ive been waiting for this recipe for so long!!!

    Omg im so excited im gonna cook this reallyyyyy soon!!

    Im so happy lol you made my day!

    I love you maangchi!

    Posted September 23, 2009 at 1:05 pm | #
    • Maangchi New York City
      joined August 6, 2008

      I love you, too! ; )
      I’m so happy to hear that you were looking forward to this recipe. Now you can have samgyeopsal party with your friends!

      Posted September 23, 2009 at 10:34 pm | #
  32. Reinier Rotterdam, The Netherlands I'm a fan!
    joined February 3, 2009

    Thanks for the new recipy! When i do this in my kitchen i usually switch off the smoke-alarm, because it will be shrieking!

    Posted September 23, 2009 at 12:39 pm | #
  33. JJ

    yum! I love eating samgyeopsal in sangchu w/ pajori!
    Thank you so much for this recipe Maangchi!

    Posted September 23, 2009 at 12:04 pm | #

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