Dipping Sauce for Bulgogi

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 garlic clove, crushed
  • 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
  • 1 tablespoon finely minced scallion
  • 1/2 tablespoon Korean chili paste (gochu jang)
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds
  • 1 tablespoon rice wine
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce


DIRECTIONS:
Sprinkle the garlic with a little salt, and mince to a paste. Place the garlic paste in a mixing bowl, add all the remaining ingredients, and blend well. Serve immediately or keep in the refrigerator for a few days.

Bulgogi is the classic Korean barbecue dish: strips of marinated beef grilled over a smoky fire. Each diner gets a small bowl filled with an extremely tasty dipping sauce for the beef strips. There's moderate heat in the following version; up the amount of Korean chili paste (gochu jang) if you want it hotter. If you can't find gochu jang, substitute the more widely available Chinese chili paste. Makes about 1/2 cup