Korean Sloppy Joe Recipes

KOREAN-INSPIRED SLOPPY JOES AND QUICK PICKLES

Steps:

• Gather your ingredients.
• For the pickles: Thinly slice the cucumber 1/4 to 1/8-inch thick. In a bowl, whisk up rice wine vinegar, sugar, chili flakes, salt and sesame oil. Add sliced cucumbers and toss.
• For sloppy joes: Peel and grate the pear on a wide tooth of box grater. Peel and chop the onion and slice or grate the garlic and ginger.
• Heat a skillet over medium-high to high heat. Add the oil, 2 turns of the pan, then add the meats and brown and crumble. Season with salt and pepper. Add pear, onions, garlic and ginger and stir a couple of minutes to soften. Add soy sauce, Worcestershire, chili paste, stock, sugar and sesame oil. Bring to a bubble and reduce heat to simmer, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Serve beef on rolls with scallions and fresh or pickled chili peppers and quick pickles.

KOREAN SLOPPY JOE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix the beef or pork, ginger, garlic, gochuang, sesame oil, sugar, soy sauce and black pepper. Cover and marinate, in the refrigerator, at least 2 hours and preferably overnight.
• Heat a large heavy-bottomed pan or cast-iron skillet over high heat with the vegetable oil. When shimmering hot, saute the diced onions for about 4 minutes, stirring constantly, or until soft. Add the marinated meat and saute, stirring, just until fully cooked through, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain any residual fat, if needed.
• While the meat cooks, toast the buns.
• Divide the meat and place it into the buns. Serve, ideally with pickles and shredded iceberg lettuce.
• Make the cure mix: In a small bowl, stir together the salt and 1 1/2 teaspoons of the sugar.
• Make the kimchi marinade: Add the pear, gochugaru, fish sauce, garlic, ginger and remaining 2 tablespoons sugar to a blender and blend until smooth.
• In a large pickling jar or lidded container, combine the cucumber and the cure mix; let sit for 15 minutes. Drain excess liquid, then add 1 cup of the kimchi marinade, stirring to coat. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours. This kimchi will keep up to 1 week in the refrigerator.