Korean Style Budget Steak
Korean marinade that transforms budget-friendly thin-cut steaks into tender, flavorful meat. The marinade doubles as a delicious sauce that is reduced and served over rice.
Servings: 4 steaks
Ingredients
For the Marinade
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup white wine
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 4 cloves garlic finely diced
- 1 tablespoon red pepper flakes optional
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
For Grilling
- 4 thin-cut steaks budget cuts like thin rib-eye
- Steamed rice for serving
Instructions
- Place steaks in a zip-top bag.
- Add all marinade ingredients to the bag with the steaks.
- Mix everything together in the bag until sugar dissolves.
- Marinate for at least 30 minutes.
- Pour marinade out of bag into a saucepan.
- Bring marinade to boil, then reduce heat to simmer.
- Simmer until mixture reduces by 1/3 (about 10-15 minutes).
- Preheat grill to medium-high heat.
- Place steaks directly over heat and grill 2-4 minutes depending on thickness.
- Flip steaks and grill another 2-4 minutes.
- Check doneness and remove from grill.
- Let steaks rest for 3-5 minutes before serving.
- Serve steaks over steamed rice and drizzle with reduced Korean sauce.
Notes
This Korean marinade is perfect for budget-friendly or thin cuts of meat that might not have the quality marbling of premium steaks. The marinade tenderizes the meat while infusing it with rich Korean flavors. The dual use of the marinade as both a tenderizing medium and a finishing sauce makes this recipe economical and flavorful. For best results with thin cuts, do not use this marinade technique on premium cuts of steak - save those for other preparations. Equipment needed: grill, saucepan, zip-top bag, rice cooker or steamer.