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Slideshow of Korean BBQ Beef on Crispy Wonton Chip

Fundraising events these days usually include children hawking stuff I don’t need (enough magazines already!) athletic events (can’t I just drive that 5K?) or food and wine events (oh yeah, sign me up baby!) These folks who run food and wine festivals sure got the formula right. Have a bunch of local restaurants dish out samples of their food, wine and beer companies dole out unlimited pours. All they need to complete this formula is maybe a few tour buses, you know, the good ones that have reclinable seats and drive you around town and let you sleep off that gorge-and-glug fest.

A couple of weeks ago, I attended the Florida Aquarium’s SeaGrapes event. Tables and tables of vendors snaked in and out, around and about the aquarium. Over 800 people sipped and snacked their way through the event. It was a record year, they netted over $87,000. People were bidding like crazy at the silent auction! These silent auctions are such a smart thing, get a bunch of people happy-drunk and let them compete with each other to bid on prizes. Love it.

At the Florida Aquarium SeaGrapes event, almost every restaurant vendor served seafood. You know I love my fish…but it was just sorta weird to be waving hi to Nemo while enjoying one of his mates on my plate. But then I found Chef Rick from Publix Apron Cooking School who made a Korean BBQ Beef on Crispy Wonton Chip appetizer that my meat-lovin’ husband just raved about. I’ve modified their recipe a bit, making it easier for the home cook.

The flank steak is marinated in Korean-style sauce. While technically this isn’t “Korean BBQ” it does use similar ingredients in the marinade and the secret ingredient….grated pear.

The pear does 2 things. It sweetens the marinade and it also tenderizes the beef. It’s the secret ingredient of authentic Korean BBQ beef. You’ll grate the pear with a large-holed grater. Traditionally, an crispy Asian pear is used, but you can really use any type of pear.

Korean BBQ Beef on Crispy Wonton Chip Recipe

serves 6 as appetizer

2 green onions, finely chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 pear, peeled and grated
4 teaspoons toasted sesame seeds
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup mirin (Japanese sweet rice wine)
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1/2 teaspoon cornstarch
1 1/2 pounds flank steak
1 package wonton wrappers, cut into triangles
oil, for frying
1/2 cup apricot marmalade, warmed

Place the first 8 ingredients in a large ziplock bag and mix well. Add the steak and seal the bag, squeezing out all the air. Refrigerate overnight.

Thirty minutes before grilling, remove steak from the marinade (reserve the marinade) and set on counter take off the chill. In the meantime, make the wonton chips. Heat 2 inches of oil in a wok, saute pan (or use your deep fryer) until 375F. Slide the wonton wrapper triangles into the oil and fry for 1 minute each side until crisp. Drain and cool on a rack.

Pour the reserved marinade in a small pot. Bring to a boil, then turn heat to low. Cook for 5 minutes until sauce is thickened.

If grilling outside, pre-heat your grill. If cooking indoors, you can set your broiler on high and place the rank 3 inches below the heat source. Cook 5-6 minutes each side, until medium rare. Let rest for 5 minutes on cutting board. Slice the steak very thinly ACROSS the grain. Combine the steak slices with the thickened and cooked marinade (sauce).

To serve, place a couple slices of the beef onto a wonton chip. Top with a spoonful of warmed apricot marmalade.

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More Korean BBQ Beef…

Korean BBQ Kalbi (Short Ribs) and Bulgogi Recipe

or how about Korean noodle dish to go with it?

Korean Glass Noodles – Chap Chae/Jap Chae