bulgogi

noun

bul·​go·​gi ˈbül-ˈgō-gē 

: a Korean dish of thinly sliced, marinated beef that is grilled or panfried

Bulgogi, a traditional Korean barbecue …, marries the sweetness of sugar and scallion, the spiciness of black pepper and raw garlic, and the earthiness of toasted sesame to create perfectly charred beef with the sugars caramelizing the outside of the meat. Classically, one would wrap this barbecue in lettuce leaves with more garlic, miso paste, and chili, …

—Anita Lo, The Advocate, May 2009

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Korean pulkogi, from pul "fire" + kogi "meat, beef"

First Known Use

1961, in the meaning defined above

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