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    Cook With Dana » Recipes » Korean

    Published: Apr 22, 2022 · Modified: Feb 2, 2024 by Dana · This post may contain affiliate links · 4 Comments

    Korean Pork Belly BBQ (Samgyeopsal)

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Korean Pork Belly BBQ also known as Samgyeopsal, is grilled to golden perfection and usually eaten in a lettuce wrap! The pork belly is lightly marinated and served with delicious dipping sauces (sesame oil and ssamjang)! All you have to do is grill and eat with rice or noodles for a perfect, easy meal.

    Grilled pork belly with lettuce and kimchi on the side.

    This grilled pork belly or samgyeopsal recipe is milder in flavor and meant to be dipped in sesame oil or ssamjang (spicy and savory sauce). Samgyeopsal can also be marinated in gochujang (spicy Korean chili paste), garlic sauce, sweet sauce, or even a wine marinade! I prefer to have it simple and this light marinade gives the pork belly great flavor and the alcohol helps tenderize the meat.

    Jump to:
    • What is Samgyeopsal?
    • Ingredients
    • How to Make the Samgyeopsal:
    • Expert Tips
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Check Out More Korean Recipes!
    • Korean Pork Belly BBQ (Samgyeopsal)

    What is Samgyeopsal?

    Samgyeopsal is a popular Korean dish consisting of thick slices of pork belly grilled at the table. The name “samgyeopsal” is a combination of the Korean words for three (sam) and layers (gyeop), referring to the three layers of meat and fat in each slice. It is typically served with a variety of accompaniments such as lettuce, garlic, and dipping sauces, allowing diners to create their own wraps. The communal and interactive nature of grilling the meat at the table makes samgyeopsal a social and enjoyable dining experience.

    Samgyeopsal is one of the most popular meat cuts you can get for your Korean BBQ. I recommend getting it with LA Galbi. Check out this Korean BBQ guide to learn more!

    Ingredients

    Ingredients for grilled pork belly are salt, pepper, cooking wine, and ginger.

    Here’s a look at what you need to make these Samgyeopsal at home. The highlights are here but the full ingredient list and quantities of each are in the recipe card.

    • Pork belly – the pork is sold sliced in thick slices or very thin. Traditional pork belly is very thick and it’s cut with scissors when grilled. You can buy this at korean markets or western grocery stores. I also buy mine at Costco.
    • Shaoxing cooking wine – the alcohol takes out the gaminess of the meat and helps tenderize the pork. You can substitute with sake or dry sherry.
    • Ginger – proves aromatics to the pork and helps take out the gaminess of the pork.

    How to Make the Samgyeopsal:

    Pork belly marinated in ginger, salt, pepper and cooking wine.

    Step 1: Slice thin slices of ginger and marinate with salt, pepper, cooking wine, and ginger. You can marinate for 30 minutes or marinate overnight (recommended) in the fridge!

    Cutting pork belly with scissors in the pan.

    Step 2. Take the pork belly out out of the fridge 30 minutes prior to cooking. Heat pan to medium heat and add pork belly on the pan for 4-5 minutes each side. Once seared, you will cut the meat with scissors in smaller pieces.

    Step 3: While grilling the pork belly until crispy, add some garlic and/or kimchi.

    Lettuce wrap filled with rice, roasted garlic, kimchi and pork belly.

    Step 4. Make a lettuce wrap with pork belly, kimchi, garlic or your favorite Korean side dish.

    Dipping Sauces

    The pork belly has mild flavor and is usually eaten with different sauces such as sesame oil or a ssamjang. You can dip the meat and eat with rice or noodles. I prefer to make a lettuce wrap with kimchi, garlic, ssamjang and a bite of rice. It’s optional to make the sauces, but I highly recommend doing so! See recipe card for the sesame oil sauce and ssamjang measurements.

    Expert Tips

    • Before you grill the meat, make sure to take the ginger pieces off to prevent burning.
    • If you have kimchi on hand, I highly recommend that after grilling your pork belly, you grill the kimchi as well! I recommend to throw away the excess oil but still use the same pan to grill your kimchi.
    • Add some garlic when grilling the pork belly for extra flavor and to use the garlic in your lettuce wrap.

    Recipe FAQs

    How do I serve samgyeopsal?

    Serve with white rice or Korean spicy cold noodles. You usually eat the pork with some lettuce and make a lettuce wrap with grilled garlic and kimchi. This also pairs well with Kimchi Jjigae!

    What side dishes do you recommend to eat with this?

    At Korean BBQ, they serve many different side dishes to compliment the grilled meats. I recommend to eat with a fresh salad, pickled radish, kimchi, roasted seaweed, rice, soft steamed eggs, and cucumber salad. You can check out my Top Things to Buy At Hmart to see what side dishes you can get at the Korean market.

    Check Out More Korean Recipes!

    • One Pot Bibimbap – delicious Korean vegetables and rice cooked in the rice cooker!
    • LA Galbi (Korean Shortribs) – sweet and savory beef grilled on the BBQ.
    • Korean Short Ribs Made In The Air Fryer – perfectly tender and savory short ribs grilled in the air fryer!
    • Spicy Pork Bulgogi – thinly sliced pork belly marinated in gochujang for a sweet and savory meat dish.
    • spicy pork bulogi with lettuce kimchi and white rice
      Spicy Pork Bulgogi
    • Korean chicken wings coated in spicy sauce, garnished with sesame seeds and green onions on a white plate.
      Air Fryer Korean Chicken Wings
    • Seafood Corn Cheese Dip
      Korean Corn Cheese
    • korean bossam - braised pork belly
      Korean Boiled Pork Belly (Bossam)

    Did you try this recipe? Leave a ⭐️ rating below and share it on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest!

    Lettuce wrap filled with rice, roasted garlic, kimchi and pork belly.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    5 from 1 vote

    Korean Pork Belly BBQ (Samgyeopsal)

    Korean pork belly BBQ also known as Samgyeopsal, is grilled to golden perfection and usually eaten in a lettuce wrap! The pork belly is lightly marinated and served with delicious dipping sauces (sesame oil and ssamjang)!
    Prep Time15 minutes mins
    Cook Time15 minutes mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: korean
    Servings: 2 people
    Calories: 1293kcal
    Author: Dana

    Ingredients

    Marinate Pork Belly

    • 1 pound pork belly thick slices preferred
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon black pepper
    • 1 tablespoon shaoxing cooking wine sub with sake or dry sherry
    • 1 tablespoon ginger sliced

    Sesame Oil Sauce

    • chunky salt
    • freshly cracked pepper
    • sesame oil
    • sesame seeds optional

    Ssamjang (korean spicy dipping sauce)**

    • ¼ cup doenjang (fermented bean paste)
    • 2 tablespoon red pepper paste
    • 2 tablespoon water
    • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
    • 1 garlic minced
    • 1 green onion sliced
    • 1 tablespoon sesame oil
    • ½ tablespoon honey

    Instructions

    Korean Pork Belly BBQ (Samgyeopsal)

    • Slice thin slices of ginger and marinate pork belly with salt, pepper, cooking wine, and ginger. You can marinate for 30 minutes or marinate overnight (recommended) in the fridge!
    • Take the pork belly out out of the fridge 30 minutes prior to cooking.
    • For the traditional Korean way of grilling, you will sear the pork belly on both sides for 4-5 minutes each side. Once seared, you will cut the meat with scissors in smaller pieces. Make sure you grill on all sides for a nice charred flavor! Alternatively, you can cut the pork belly in pieces after your grill.
    • Use scissors to cut in smaller pieces and enjoy with your favorite side dishes!

    Sesame oil sauce

    • There's no magic sesame oil sauce formula. Its up to your taste preference! Add chunky salt, pepper, and sesame oil in a bowl. Then, garnish with sesame seeds.

    Ssamjang

    • Mix all the ingredients to create a ssamjang! Add a little bit of sauce to your pork belly and wrap it with lettuce, garlic, & picked radish for the ultimate bite!

    Notes

    **Ssamjang is also sold in korean grocery stores if you don’t want to make your own at home. 
    Expert Tips:
    • Before you grill the meat, make sure to take the ginger pieces off to prevent burning.
    • If you have kimchi on hand, I highly recommend that after grilling your pork belly, you grill the kimchi as well! I recommend to throw away the excess oil but still use the same pan to grill your kimchi.
    • Add some garlic when grilling the pork belly for extra flavor and to use the garlic in your lettuce wrap.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 1293kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 127g | Saturated Fat: 45g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 16g | Monounsaturated Fat: 59g | Cholesterol: 163mg | Sodium: 1744mg | Potassium: 546mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 117IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 28mg | Iron: 2mg
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    Did you make this?Please give it a 5-star rating, or leave a comment to share your experience! Tag @cookwithdanaa on Instagram to show me your beautiful creations! 😊

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Sally says

      July 04, 2023 at 10:59 pm

      I’m wondering how much shaoxing cooking wine, sake or dry sherry should we use? Noticed there’s no measurement listed.

      Reply
      • Cook With Dana says

        July 10, 2023 at 5:14 pm

        Hi Sally, sorry about that! I updated to 1 tablespoon shaoxing cooking wine, sake or dry sherry.

        Reply
    2. Yvonne Kong says

      April 22, 2022 at 11:58 pm

      I love seeing all your Asian recipes!! Thank you for making it less daunting to prepare these dishes at home ♥️

      Reply
      • Cook With Dana says

        April 24, 2022 at 5:32 pm

        Aw thanks for being here! Yes!! Hoping that you can make some easy delicious food at home ◡̈

        Reply

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