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    MJ & Hungryman » Baby/Kid-Friendly Recipes

    Baby-Friendly Korean Bulgogi

    By Min On August 21, 2019, Updated August 18, 2021

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy for more details.

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    image of the bulgogi sauce ingredients on top with a cooked bulgogi in skillet below

    This baby-friendly Korean bulgogi is easy to make and perfect for your baby, toddler, and family! If you’re looking for a baby led weaning recipe and healthy kid-friendly meal on a budget, make this today!

    bulgogi served on a white oval dish laid on top of a blue and white striped towel with a baby plate served on a divided stainless steel plate

    This post contains affiliate links, meaning I earn a small commission (from the company, not by you) if you purchase the products through these links. I only promote products that I use in my own kitchen from companies I trust!

    We recently returned from spending a month in Korea and Malaysia where we walked a lot, sweated profusely, talked and laughed a bunch, and learned how to better handle an overtired, fussy toddler.

    All this led to an insatiable appetite and eat we did! Although my husband would tell you that it wasn’t enough. It’s crazy how much food the man can chow down when he’s on vacation mode.

    Like daddy like son, our 2.5 year old completely immersed himself in the food scene. I mean we love Korean food too, but I shied away from cooking it at home, especially during C’s first year of life, because all the essential condiments (e.g. soy sauce, fermented bean paste) are so high in sodium.

    You can read about why it’s important to pay attention to your baby’s sodium intake in this blog post.

    I’m definitely starting to become more lenient when it comes to C’s daily sodium intake, but I wouldn’t feel too comfortable letting him eat too much of the typical Korean food in one sitting. That’s a dilemma because my boy brings his appetite during mealtimes!

    Table of Contents
    • What Makes this Perfect for Babies
    • Ingredients
    • How to Select Meat
    • Butcherbox
    • How to Thinly Slice Meat
    • Other Baby-Friendly Asian Recipes
    • Baby-Friendly Korean Bulgogi

    What Makes this Perfect for Babies

    What’s a mama to do? Strap on her apron and come up with ways to reinvent the familiar dishes. Starting with bulgogi, one of the most well known Korean dishes. And I’m just thrilled to share this delicious, no-salt-added, baby-friendly recipe with you!

    There’s not a single drop of soy sauce, one of the main ingredients, in the marinade. Therefore, it doesn’t taste the same as the traditional version, obviously, but it’s still very tasty! And of course, you can certainly add some low sodium soy sauce if you wish.

    Ingredients

    pear apple garlic onion and sesame seeds laid on a white background
    • The measurements for the ingredients don’t have to be exact. Simply give them a rough chop and add to the blender.
    • It’s best to use Asian pear for this recipe. However, I know it can be hard to find in some places. So I actually tried it with Bartlett pear, and it worked fine.
      • But if you can get your hands on some Asian pear, buy a whole bunch. They’re so delicious to snack on too! Both the Pear and apple is used to tenderize the meat as well as to add sweetness.
    • If your child is allergic to sesame seeds, you can substitute with perilla seeds.

    How to Select Meat

    • For beef, top sirloin, beef tenderloin, and rib-eye work best.
    • While bulgogi is traditionally made with beef, you can also use chicken or turkey.  Dark meat works better, but I do tend to get white meat more often than not and marinade for longer.
    • You can also use ground meat.  It’s more convenient as you don’t have to slice it and don’t have to marinade it for as long. It’s also easier for babies to eat.

    Butcherbox

    Every month, I set a budget for groceries. Lately our money has been a bit tight due to our fertility treatments and other things that are going on. 

    I don’t mind purchasing conventional fruits, veggies, and other items but I do prioritize meat quality.

    We usually eat meat 2-3 times/week. The hubby prefers beef and I prefer chicken so we try to do both each week..doesn’t happen all the time.

    But as you may know, meat can get quite expensive, especially if its high-quality. I love that all of Butcherbox’s products are humanely-raised or wild-caught and are never given antibiotics or added hormones (fyi, federal regulations prohibit the use of hormones or steroids in poultry).

    Infographic showing the difference between 100% grass fed vs. conventional beef

    The beef that I use for this recipe (and all the others) is 100%  grass-fed, pasture-raised. You can just taste the difference. It’s extra tender and flavorful.

    It also contains more omega-3s than grain-fed beef. This kind of meat can be very difficult to find at the grocery store. And if you do, it’s quite expensive.

    With Butcherbox, the average cost is $5-6 preserving, which is actually less than what I’m paying at my local farmer’s market. AND it gets delivered straight to your door at no extra cost, which is so awesome! 

    6 individually packaged Butcherbox Ground Beef

      If interested, definitely  check them out! 

    How to Thinly Slice Meat

    You can easily find it pre-cut if you visit a Korean grocer. It will be labeled “bulgogi meat” in the fridge/freezer section. But if you want to do it yourself, here’s what I suggest. Freeze the meat for about 2 hours or so. And working with a sharp knife, slice thinly (about ⅛ inch or so) across the grain. Here's a helpful post!

    But for convenience, you can certainly use ground meat like I did here.

    finished baby friendly Korean bulgogi in a large skillet with an orange spatula

    Other Baby-Friendly Asian Recipes

    • Korean Ground Beef and Broccoli Quinoa
    • Beef Vegetable rice porridge
    • Non-Spicy Korean Tofu Soup
    • Low sodium teriyaki sauce
    • Instant Pot Korean Chicken and Potatoes
    • Easy Baked Shrimp Cakes
    • Sweet and Sour Meatball Stir-Fry
    • Asian Turkey Rice Meatballs
    • Japchae

    Did you make this baby and toddler-friendly Korean Bulgogi? Follow me on Instagram post a photo and tag me, post a photo on my Facebook page, or save it to Pinterest. I love to see what you're making! 

    finished baby friendly Korean bulgogi in a large skillet with an orange spatula

    Baby-Friendly Korean Bulgogi

    This baby-friendly Korean bulgogi is easy to make and perfect for your baby, toddler, and family! If you’re looking for a baby led weaning recipe and healthy kid friendly meal on a budget, make this today!
    4.96 from 25 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes
    Marinating Time: 30 minutes
    Total Time: 50 minutes
    Servings: 4
    Author: Min | MJ and Hungryman

    Ingredients

    For the marinade

    • ½ cup (about 50g) chopped apples, peeled
    • 1 cup (about 100g) chopped pear, peeled
    • ½ cup (about 50g) chopped yellow onion
    • 1 small garlic clove
    • 2 teaspoons sesame seeds
    • 1 tablespoon soy sauce (optional)

    For the beef

    • 1 pound meat of choice, either thinly sliced or ground (I used lean ground beef)
    • sliced or chopped vegetables of choice optional

    Instructions

    • Combine marinade ingredients in blender (or food processor) and puree until smooth. In a bowl, add the meat and marinade. Massage meat throughout, cover and marinate. For ground meat, 30 minutes – 2 hours, thinly sliced – at least 4 hours (overnight ideal)
    • Preheat skillet over medium high heat. Cook meat (and vegetables) until cooked through and caramelized.
    • serve over rice, noodles, add to pancake batter, etc.

    Notes

    • The measurements for the ingredients don’t have to be exact. Simply give them a rough chop and add to the blender.
    • It’s best to use Asian pear for this recipe, but if you can't find it, bartlett pear will work too.
    • If your child is allergic to sesame seeds, you can substitute with perilla seeds.
    • For beef, top sirloin, beef tenderloin, and rib-eye work best
    • While bulgogi is traditionally made with beef, you can also use chicken or turkey.  Dark meat works better, but I do tend to get white meat more often than not and marinade for longer.
    • You can also use ground meat. It’s more convenient as you don’t have to slice it and don’t have to marinade it for as long. It’s also easier for babies to eat.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 180kcal | Protein: 25g | Fat: 6g | Sodium: 76mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Iron: 3.5mg
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Korean
    Diet Low Salt
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Tag me @KidFriendly.Meals today!

    More Baby/Kid-Friendly Recipes

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      No Bake Oatmeal Balls (with Peanut Butter)
    • A close up shot of sliced carrot cake.
      Eggless Carrot Walnut Cake
    • Two waffles with yogurt and fresh strawberries.
      Fluffy Strawberry Waffles
    • Stacked pancakes with maple syrup dripping down.
      Easy Carrot Pancakes

    Share or Save It for Later!

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    About Min

    Thank you so much for stopping by! I am Min, a Registered Dietitian, a Christ follower, a wife, and a mom to our two miracle babies! Currently, I’m having a ton of fun feeding their tummies and sharing our baby led weaning journey! Follow me on Instagram if interested in seeing daily menu as well as tips and tricks.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Cindy Tania says

      June 15, 2022 at 9:01 pm

      5 stars
      Totally love this recipe, even my picky toddler approve it. He finish 1 serving in no problem at all. Plus I really live this hassle-free menu. It is so easy to make but taste wonderful and healthy ♥️ Thanks for the recipe

      Reply
      • Min says

        June 16, 2022 at 1:00 pm

        So happy to hear! Yes, I too love how easy it is to whip up!

        Reply
    2. Richelle says

      March 29, 2022 at 1:30 pm

      5 stars
      Just made this for my toddler, and it came out so much better than expected! We added sesame oil, ginger, and rice vinegar, and it came out great. I was in a rush and didn't peel the fruit either. After putting it through a food processor, the peel isn't noticeable at all. Thank you for this great recipe! We will definitely be making this one again.

      Reply
      • Min says

        March 30, 2022 at 3:41 pm

        I'm so glad you guys enjoyed this recipe!!

        Reply
    3. Fran says

      February 24, 2022 at 2:07 am

      Can I freeze the marinade mixture (without the meat) for future use?

      Reply
      • Min says

        February 24, 2022 at 3:13 pm

        Sure!

        Reply
        • Fran says

          February 24, 2022 at 11:30 pm

          I steamed the marinade for about 10 minutes before I froze it. Hopefully that’s ok? Thanks again 🙂

          Reply
    4. Yunyoung says

      November 10, 2021 at 1:59 pm

      5 stars
      Our whole family loves this recipe. I do add some soy sauce and agave for the adults but it absolutely does not need it! I usually grate zucchini and carrots, cook them first to remove some moisture, then add to the cooking beef mix. Another recipe that gets rotated regularly in our household. Thank you!!!

      Reply
      • Min says

        November 10, 2021 at 7:32 pm

        Love it! Thanks for sharing!

        Reply
    5. TN says

      November 10, 2021 at 11:13 am

      5 stars
      Love love love this recipe. Made this ground beef and it was sooo nice. The meat was tenderized and naturally sweet so he loved it. I made a frozen stash for future use.

      Reply
      • Min says

        November 10, 2021 at 7:26 pm

        yay!

        Reply
    6. Julia says

      November 10, 2021 at 11:09 am

      5 stars
      My daughter and the whole family loves this recipe! She's 2.5 years old and we still follow it

      Reply
      • Min says

        November 10, 2021 at 7:25 pm

        I developed this recipe when my son was 1 and he still loves it too (he's now 4..how time flies!)

        Reply
    7. Angela says

      November 06, 2021 at 9:29 am

      Hi! Thanks for the recipes! I use your site as a staple when I just can't come up with something for dinner. I'm wanting to try the bulgogi marinade, but finding it hard to find pears. In a pinch, have you tried canned pears, (in juice, not in syrup)? Or maybe have any of your readers? Also, I LOVE that you use metric measurements in your recipes! So helpful when not wanting to get a ton of dishes dirty, you just pop your bowl on the scale and you're good to go!

      Reply
      • Min says

        December 24, 2021 at 7:59 pm

        Hi! I haven't but should be fine!

        Reply
    8. Karen says

      October 30, 2021 at 11:25 am

      I'm planning to make this tonight but do you chop the carrots and do you boil it first or when you cook the ground beef you can throw the carrots in together?

      Also you mention it freezes well so would you cook all of it then freeze it in zip bags or in containers or freeze it raw and when I need to make it take it out thaw it then cook it?

      Reply
      • Min says

        October 30, 2021 at 7:33 pm

        H! Cook carrots with the beef and freeze after cooking

        Reply
    9. Rain says

      October 29, 2021 at 9:30 am

      Is this recipe good for a 6m old to try? We have slowly been introducing foods to him for BLW.

      Reply
      • Min says

        October 29, 2021 at 10:21 pm

        yes!

        Reply
    10. Steph says

      October 12, 2021 at 4:33 am

      5 stars
      Thanks so much for the recipe Min! I made this for my 9 month old and he couldn't get enough. I've freezed a few portions for the weeks to come. Look forward to trying more of your recipes!

      Reply
      • Min says

        October 12, 2021 at 9:52 am

        Yay!!! We love this one too! Hope you enjoy all my other recipes too 😉

        Reply
    11. Melanie Dupuis says

      September 06, 2021 at 12:56 pm

      Does this recipe freeze well?

      Reply
      • Min says

        September 09, 2021 at 3:39 pm

        Yes!

        Reply
    12. Tabitha says

      August 10, 2021 at 11:11 pm

      5 stars
      Made this for my 11 mo daughter and she loved it! It tastes really good even without the soy. Thanks for your recipes, we love Korean food and I've been finding hard to find low sodium Asian recipes that she could have. Love your website!!

      Reply
      • Min says

        August 11, 2021 at 9:45 am

        Yay!! It truly is amazing, right? I will try my best to continue sharing...it truly is challenging given all of our condiments are so high in sodium!

        Reply
    13. Roma says

      August 07, 2021 at 3:50 pm

      Do you peel the fruits before blending?

      Reply
      • Min says

        August 08, 2021 at 9:02 am

        Yes!

        Reply
      • Sara says

        December 15, 2021 at 6:25 pm

        Hi! I made this without reading the comments (as usual) and didn’t peel the fruits first and it turned out fine. I did use a food processor though which made a very fine pulp so it wasn’t really noticeable in the dish

        Reply
        • Min says

          December 16, 2021 at 6:33 pm

          good to know! thanks for sharing!

          Reply
    14. Ashley says

      August 24, 2019 at 2:34 pm

      5 stars
      Hi Min! I can’t wait to try this recipe with my 10 mo. Which veggies pair well to mix in? I’ve never cooked for myself so I’m not comfortable guessing which veggies to mix in. Thanks!

      Reply
      • Min says

        August 24, 2019 at 7:16 pm

        Yay!! I'm so excited for you too hehe. I like to use carrots and zucchini but you can also throw in bell peppers, broccoli, onion, etc.

        Reply
    15. Tehmina says

      August 22, 2019 at 1:07 am

      5 stars
      I am seriously interested that if baby doesnt like beef even if its grounded. he simple doesnot know what to do with it? then what should i do ? same is the case with beans . he is 8 mo. he is good at purees fruits and cereals. even pureed beef. but not lumpy or salty things. worried 🙁

      Reply
      • Min says

        August 22, 2019 at 6:17 pm

        Hi mama! It's actually pretty normal for babies to be hesitant to try textured foods. However, keep offering! They definitely need gentle pressure from us parents as we continue to move forward with texture. Check out my blog post purees vs. baby led weaning to learn why this is so important.

        Reply

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    I am MJ, a registered dietitian and a mom of 2. I truly hope you’ll enjoy all the recipes and tips that I share on what and how to feed your child!

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