Korean Beef Bowl Gochujang (Printable)

Seasoned ground beef in spicy gochujang sauce over rice with pickled vegetables and kimchi.

# What You'll Need:

→ For the Beef

01 - 1 lb lean ground beef
02 - 2 tbsp vegetable oil
03 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
05 - 3 tbsp gochujang
06 - 2 tbsp soy sauce
07 - 1 tbsp brown sugar
08 - 1 tbsp rice vinegar
09 - 1 tsp toasted sesame oil
10 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced

→ For the Pickled Vegetables

11 - 1/2 cup carrot, julienned
12 - 1/2 cup daikon radish, julienned
13 - 1/2 cup rice vinegar
14 - 1 tbsp sugar
15 - 1/2 tsp salt

→ For Serving

16 - 4 cups cooked white rice
17 - 1 cup cucumber, thinly sliced
18 - 1/2 cup radish, thinly sliced
19 - 1 cup kimchi, chopped
20 - 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds

# Directions:

01 - In a small bowl, combine rice vinegar, sugar, and salt. Stir until dissolved. Add carrot and daikon radish, mix well, and set aside to pickle while preparing remaining components.
02 - Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic and ginger, sauté for 1 minute until fragrant. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned and cooked through, approximately 5-6 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
03 - Stir in gochujang, soy sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, and sesame oil. Cook for 2-3 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken and coat the beef. Remove from heat and stir in half the green onions.
04 - Divide cooked rice among 4 bowls. Top each with a generous portion of beef mixture. Arrange pickled vegetables, cucumber, radish, and kimchi around the beef. Garnish with remaining green onions and toasted sesame seeds.
05 - Serve immediately while the beef is warm and components are at optimal texture.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It comes together in under 35 minutes, making it perfect for weeknight dinners when you want something that tastes like you spent hours on it.
  • The interplay of spicy, tangy, and fresh keeps your palate dancing—no bowl ever feels boring or one-note.
  • You can prep components ahead and assemble right before eating, which means less stress if you're feeding a group.
02 -
  • Don't skip draining excess fat from the beef after browning—the sauce will coat it better and won't leave a greasy finish on your tongue.
  • Toast your sesame seeds in a dry pan for thirty seconds before sprinkling; the difference between raw and toasted is the difference between bland and deeply nutty.
03 -
  • If your gochujang paste is thick, whisk it with a little warm water before adding to the beef so it distributes evenly rather than clumping.
  • Sesame oil is potent—resist the urge to add more than specified, as the flavor can flip from delicious to overwhelming in seconds.
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