Muscle-Building Beef Bulgogi Lettuce Wraps

Bulgogi, whose name means fire meat in Korean, brings sweet-savory marinated beef to the table in a lighter wrap form. Thinly sliced steak soaks up a pear-and-soy marinade before nestling into cool lettuce leaves with brown rice.

Serves 4 · 20 min prep · 10 min cook

Estimate for one serving

• 410 cal
• 39g protein
• 24g carbs
• 16g fat
• 3g fiber

Every recipe here is free to read.

Ingredients

• 1.25 lb lean flank steak or sirloin
• 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
• 1.5 tbsp brown sugar or honey
• 1 tbsp sesame oil
• 4 garlic cloves
• 1 tbsp fresh ginger
• 1/2 Asian pear or apple
• 3 green onions
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
• 12 large butter lettuce or romaine leaves
• 1 cup cooked brown rice
• 1/2 cup kimchi
• 1/2 cucumber
• 1 tbsp gochujang
• 1 tsp rice vinegar

Instructions

1. 1Place the steak in the freezer for 15 minutes to firm it up, then slice very thinly against the grain into bite-size strips. This thin cut is key for quick cooking and tender texture.
2. 2Grate the pear or apple and the ginger; mince the garlic and slice the green onions. In a bowl whisk soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, grated pear, black pepper, and half the green onions into a marinade.
3. 3Add the beef strips to the marinade and toss well. Let sit 10 minutes at room temperature while you prep the lettuce cups and toppings.
4. 4Wash and dry the lettuce leaves thoroughly so they stay crisp. Thinly slice the cucumber into matchsticks and warm the brown rice if cold.
5. 5Heat a large cast-iron skillet or heavy pan over high heat until very hot. Working in batches to avoid steaming, add the marinated beef in a single layer.
6. 6Sear 1 to 2 minutes per side until the edges caramelize and char slightly and the meat is just cooked through. The sugars in the marinade should create glossy, sticky bits.
7. 7Transfer cooked beef to a platter and sprinkle with sesame seeds and remaining green onions. Quickly stir gochujang with rice vinegar for a spicy drizzle if desired.
8. 8To assemble, spoon a little brown rice into each lettuce leaf, top with bulgogi beef, cucumber, and a bit of kimchi. Drizzle with the gochujang mixture and wrap. Serve immediately as protein-packed handheld lunches or pack components separately for assembly at work.