Grilling is enormously popular in Korean cuisine. I’m sure many of you have been to a smoke-filled Korean restaurant where you grill your meat at the table. I’ve shared a number of marinated Korean BBQ recipes. Here, we are grilling pork belly, samgyupsal (삼겹살).
Samgyupsal gui, (삼겹살 구이) is especially popular among young people often with alcohol drinks. It’s relatively cheap and easy to cook at home because you don’t need to prepare a marinade. My family loves it too!
You can easily find thinly sliced pork belly in Korean markets. The thickness varies from paper thin (or shaved) slices to about 1/4 to 1/2-inch thick ones.
While my family generally prefers thick cuts, grilled shaved pork belly is also delicious and melts in the mouth.
How to grill pork belly
The fresh meat is grilled without seasoning or marinating. You can cook the strips of samgyupsal in large pieces or in bite size pieces. When cooking large pieces, you can cut cooked pieces with a pair of kitchen scissors on the grill/pan.
We usually grill pork belly with other vegetables such as garlic, mushrooms, and chili peppers. Onions, scallions, kongnamul (soybean spourts), and kimchi are delicious fried with pork belly as well.
At home, we use a portable gas grill or electric grill to cook at the table, or we fire up the grill outside. Traditionally, grilling is done over wood charcoal (sootbul, 숯불), which is considered the best heat source for Korean grilling and used by many good Korean BBQ restaurants.
Korean table grills usually have a hole for the fat to drain off to a drip pan or a plate. If using a regular pan, you will need to use a paper towel to soak up the fat so it doesn’t smoke.
What to serve grilled pork belly with
Lettuce wraps are a must! We also love kkaennip (perilla leaves) as wraps. The unique flavor of kkaennip pairs deliciously with samgyupsal.
Dip a piece of cooked meat in the sesame oil sauce made with salt, pepper and sesame oil. Then, wrap it in a lettuce leaf with a dollop of ssamjang and pa muchim (scallion salad) or simply sliced scallions.
As is the case with bossam, saewujeot (새우젓), fermented salted shrimp, is always delicious with pork.
For more Korean cooking inspirations, follow along on YouTube, Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Ingredients
- 1 pound sliced fresh pork belly (samgyupsal, 삼겹살)
- 8 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- 4 green chili peppers, roughly sliced
- 3 - 4 scallions, thinly sliced (or pa muchim)
- 2 to 4 ounces mushroom caps - white, crimini, or king mushrooms - optional
- 4 chili peppers - optional
- 2 heads of red or green lettuce
- 16 perilla leaves, kkaennip (깻잎) - optional
Sesame oil sauce (per person):
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- black pepper to taste
Ssamjang (for wraps) - serves 4
- 2 tablespoons doenjang 된장 (Korean soybean paste)
- 1 tablespoon gochujang 고추장 (Korean red chili pepper paste)
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
- 1 tablespoon rice wine or mirin - optional If the sauce is too thick, use a tablespoon of water to thin it.
Instructions
- Prepare the vegetables. Mix the sauce ingredients for each sauce.
- Heat the grill (or a flat pan or grill pan). Cut the pork belly strips in shorter bite size pieces. You can also grill first and cut into bite sized pieces with kitchen scissors.
- Add the meat to the grill along with the garlic, chili peppers, and any other vegetables you are using. Grill over moderate heat until cooked through, flipping once. It's best to serve right off the grill or pan as you cook.
Nathaniel Cody says
can we also use this recipe if we use beef? I’ve tried this recipe and it tastes great. I want to try this on other meet. or will the taste change?
Hyosun says
Of course!
Krissy says
I tried making samgyupsal once at home over stovetop in a cast iron grill pan. However, my studio apartment became so oily that I spent 2 hours cleaning the whole place and had to do it 2 days in a row! Is it as oily when grilling it over an electric griddle? I am scarred and so afraid of it now. 🙁
Hyosun says
We normally grill samgyupsal in a pan with a drip hole or tray so the fat/oil can flow down. You can also absorb the fat with a paper towel as you cook so there are less oil to burn. Just being electric doesn’t help. Hope this helps.
Rob says
So that’s why my building was evacuated
Conny says
안냉하세요 HYOSUN RO씨, I recently discovered your website and am enjoying your recipes! I am also trying to learn Korean and would greatly appreciate your providing the correct spelling in Hangul for the dishes you make and Korean ingredients you use. 감사합니다!
Hyosun says
Welcome to Korean Bapsang! Okay I will try!
Madhulika says
I wanted to say a big kamsamnida for this recipe! I tried it out yesterday at lunch for my parents, sister and brother-in-law. A kilo of pork (and my father doesn’t eat much red meat), but there wasn’t a scrap left. It was delicious, thank you so much for this.
Precious says
What do you call where you grilled that pork??
Andrea says
I dated a Korean man for a while, and he made the *best* samgyupsal!
Along with the ingredients you have here, he also grilled mushroom tops, onions, peppers, and kimchi. The mushroom tops are especially good: as they grill, they become filled with their own tasty brothy moisture.
As other people have said, I loved the communal aspect of samgyupsal. He would be in charge of grilling the meat, and the rest of the diners would grill the veggies and garlic — and make wraps for the grill-tender, of course!
This recipe brought back a lot of happy memories. ^_^
Do says
It’s a fun time having samgyeopsal with family around the table. Perfect way to bond. Is there any alternative sauce for the ssamjang? Thanks
Hyosun says
Yes I couldn’t agree with you more! Are you saying you don’t have gochujang or doenjang? How about Japanese miso?
Hellen says
what kind of Korean BBQ grill (or plate ) is the best for household using?
Hyosun says
Hi Hellen – I’m not sure what’s the best, but I use a couple of different pans depending on what I cook. I took photos of them, but I don’t know how to put the photos in the comment section. See these posts. If I want grill marks, I use the first one. Otherwise, I have a cheap one from a Korean market. You can see it on the second post. Sorry this probably doesn’t help you much.
https://www.koreanbapsang.com/2012/05/samgyupsal-gui-grilled-pork-belly-and.html
https://www.koreanbapsang.com/2010/05/dweji-bulgogi-korean-spicy-pork-bbq.html
Sook says
I love Sam-Gyup-Sal! My husband hates it so I don’t get to eat these very often but when I go to Korea to visit family, I plan on eating these!! Yum! These are perfect with Kimchi Ji-gae!
Hyosun says
I know what you mean. My brother loves samgyupsal, but his wife doesn’t it pork. So he loves it when I make samgyupsal when we get together.
sUjittra soontrontip says
หมูย่างของเกาหลีวิเศษจริงๆอร่อยมากๆๆเลย
Hyosun says
Thank you!
Anonymous says
thanks for this blog, i am so addicted to korean food and korean soap. cant get enough of kimchi. its so hard to get any authentic korean recipes. i will surely try all your recipes.
Sofie Dittmann @thegermanfoodie says
“Mom”, you can cook for me any time. Will you adopt me? 🙂
Hyosun Ro says
Haha Sofie – You’re funny! I feel the same way when I visit your blog. Thanks for visiting!
Holly says
Wow, love all the food that you posted. Very well done, Hyosun. Who wouldn’t like samgyupsal wrap with lettuce? I should have some at home soon.
Hyosun Ro says
Thanks, Holly!
Judy says
Hi Hyosun, Love grilled pork belly and I love smoky-filled Korean restaurants. 😉 Thanks for the grilling round-up, it’s the perfect “go to” post! Have a great weekend!
Hyosun Ro says
Thanks, Judy! Happy grilling this summer!
Nami | Just One Cookbook says
Hi Hyosun! This is a very very nostalgic food for me. My very good Korean friend made delicious samgyopsal when we were in college and he made so many great Korean food. We rely on his cooking a lot back then… LOL. I haven’t made this for years since he left for Korea. We eat pork belly often. I think I’ll make this very soon. Thanks for the wonderful Korean recipes all the time!
Hyosun Ro says
Hi Nami! This definitely is an easy dinner for a busy mom like you. Enjoy!
Soyon says
My parents loved grilled pork belly. Personally, I never liked pork belly, but I always see people eating them on Korean dramas and they certainly make it look tempting enough for me to give it another try. Loved the dak bulgogi idea. Don’t know why I never thought to use the same marinade for chicken… duh!
Hyosun Ro says
Hi Soyon! Chicken bulgogi has been popular. Hope you try it.
Charles says
That grilled mackerel looks especially beautiful – plump, juicy flesh, with the wonderful fish oils as a back flavour… I’m feeling hungry again 😀
I remember seeing the dwaeji bulgogi before here and remember thinking how wonderful it looked – thanks for introducing us to a few of the other grill delights you’ve posted though!
Hyosun Ro says
Thanks for visiting, Charles! Hope you get to try some of these this summer.
Sissi says
The grilled pork belly sounds fabulous. Dipped in the sesame oil sauce and wrapped in salad leaves… it must be a wonderful summer meal.
Thank you for reminding us of all the excellent grilling recipes you have posted. I have made your bulgogi dozens of times (usually with pork because I love pork) and it’s always perfect. I must try the chicken bulgogi and definitely spicy marinated pork!
Hyosun Ro says
Thank you, Sissi! I’m thrilled to hear your bulgogi turns out always perfect. Happy grilling!
Katherine Martinelli says
Oh how I love and miss pork belly!!! Haven’t had it for ages. This looks delicious!! As do all your grilling recipes 🙂
Hyosun Ro says
Thank you, Katherine!
Suchi says
What a lovely spread…love the pork belly…it is so simple yet tastes so incredible….
Hyosun Ro says
Thank you, Suchi!
Vijitha says
Wow, that’s one awesome spread. We don’t eat pork but you have made me curious to try the recipe with chicken/lamb
Hyosun Ro says
Thank you, Vijitha! Chicken bulgogi is good.
Priscilla M says
I can’t even choose which one I like the best. They all look very inviting!
Hyosun Ro says
Thanks!
denise @ singapore shiok says
Oh! My word!! After seeing Biren’s grilled turmeric chicken, I had to come check out your grilled pork belly and I’m almost sorry I did. I’m on a diet and this is making me feel so sad and deprived 🙁 Now I have to console myself with rice porridge and simmered lean beef soup!
I also wanted to wish you a Happy Memorial Day and to personally invite you to participate in my giveaway to celebrate the completion of my second cookbook. It’s not a competition, just leave a comment and you’re in the running for one of three prizes! I’m so happy it’s finished and I hope you will come celebrate with me 🙂
Hyosun Ro says
Thank you, Denise! You’re so kind. Congrats on your second book!! I entered your giveaway. Hope I win! haha
Jenny @ Ichigo Shortcake says
Pork belly is literally my favourite meat. A lot of people I know take off the skin and all the fat which makes this delicious meat less than what it can taste and I think that’s always such a waste. All your meats look delicious and it’s making me very hungry!
Hyosun Ro says
It’s my son’s favorite as well. And my son will entirely agree with you on the skin and fat. Thanks for the nice words!
Katerina says
I have never tried pork belly but your photos made me really hungry. I think I must try it!
Hyosun Ro says
Hope you try it. You’ll get instantly hooked!
Sandra M. says
Absolutely stunning each and every dish that you presented! Love pork belly fresh from the grill..so crunchy and flavorful! Those ribs are making my mouth water just like everything else:)
Hope that you are having great week so far!
Hyosun Ro says
Thank you, Sandra!! Can’t beat fresh pork belly right off the grill!
Delishhh says
Just an awesome round up!! I am going here next for my dinner, but first i have to get some fresh kimchi 🙂
Hyosun Ro says
Thank you, Ewa!
Pola M says
Simple yet delicious! I love simple recipes that use just a few ingredients!
Hyosun Ro says
Thank you, Pola!
angsarap.net says
I love Korean barbecues! And is one of my favourite theme restaurant, its not just the delicious meats and side dishes, its the joy of cooking this items together at table tops
Hyosun Ro says
It’s always fun to cook and eat at the table. Thanks!
K & B says
This is my favorite thing to eat ! Thank you for another one of my favs hyosun :))
Hyosun Ro says
My family loves it too! Thanks for stopping by!
Fern @ To Food With Love says
Another great recipe Hyosun, and it looks delicious! Will definitely be trying this soon! Thanks for posting this 🙂
Hyosun Ro says
Thank you, Fern!
Andrea@WellnessNotes says
Okay, now I’ll have to grill pork belly!
Korean BBQ is the best! 🙂
Hyosun Ro says
Agree! Enjoy! Good to see you.
LK says
I’m so used to seeing Koreans eat samgyupsal grill in dramas, I had no idea how easy it was!
I have a little question: do you know the exact name of those green chili peppers? And are they extra hot? I think I’ve seen people (yes, in a drama probably lol) bite into those peppers like it was totally normal and not spicy!
Hyosun Ro says
Lk – Sorry for the late reply. These peppers were not really hot. They are just called Korean gochu, which come in varying degrees of heat level. Thanks for visiting!