Dak Bulgogi
Sweet-savoury marinated chicken seared hot.
Ingredients
- 700 g Chicken thighs
- 4 tbsp Light soy sauce
- ½ Asian pear
- 4 cloves Garlic
- 1 Ginger
- 2 tbsp Toasted sesame oil
- 2 tbsp Sugar
- 1 tbsp Neutral oil
- 3 Scallions (optional)
Method
- Slice the chicken; grate the pear, garlic, and ginger into a marinade with the soy, sesame oil, and sugar and toss the chicken to coat.
- Let the chicken rest in the marinade for 15 minutes.
- Sear the chicken in the oil over high heat until caramelised and cooked through, about 8 minutes.
- Scatter scallions and serve with rice and lettuce.
Tap “Start cooking” for live timers that flag what to get ahead on while something simmers.
About Dak Bulgogi
Dak bulgogi is the chicken take on bulgogi, Korea's marinated, seared meat — dak means chicken. Where beef bulgogi is the famous version, the chicken one is a lighter, everyday variation that carries the same signature sweet-savory marinade of soy, garlic, ginger, sesame oil, and grated Asian pear. That pear is the classic Korean touch: it both tenderizes the meat with natural enzymes and lends a subtle fruity sweetness that balances the salt.
Cooked over high heat, the chicken caramelizes at the edges where the sugars in the marinade meet the pan, giving that glossy, slightly charred, deeply savory finish that defines bulgogi. The flavor is sweet and rich but grounded by garlic, ginger, and toasted sesame oil's nuttiness, with scallions scattered over for a fresh green bite. This version keeps it fast — a fifteen-minute marinade is enough for thighs to take on flavor — and searing hard rather than gently is what builds the caramelization. Serve it as Koreans do, with rice and crisp lettuce leaves for wrapping, plus kimchi or ssamjang alongside.
Dak Bulgogi: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Dak Bulgogi?
A serving has about 538 calories — 31.3g protein, 13.6g carbs, 39.6g fat, 1.7g fiber. Figures are estimated from the ingredient amounts and will shift with your portions and brands.
Is it high in protein?
Each serving has about 31.3g of protein, roughly 23% of its calories.
Is Dak Bulgogi gluten-free?
As written, no — it contains Light soy sauce. You'd need a certified gluten-free swap for that ingredient to make it gluten-free.
How long does Dak Bulgogi take to make?
About 30 minutes start to finish, but only around 18 of those are hands-on — the rest is largely unattended cooking time you can step away from. In the Homecooked app the timers and parallel steps are sequenced for you so the hands-on part feels even shorter.
Do I need every ingredient to make Dak Bulgogi?
The core ingredients are essential, but you can leave out scallions — they're optional and mainly there for extra flavor or finish.
How many servings does Dak Bulgogi make?
This recipe makes 4 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.