50-Garlic Clove Beef Bulgogi Onigiri

A bold fusion of Korean and Japanese flavors, these onigiri are stuffed with tender, sweet-savory beef bulgogi and enveloped in fragrant garlic-infused rice. Each triangle is wrapped in nori for a portable, flavor-packed bite that's crispy, chewy, and meaty all at once. Perfect for a quick snack, packed lunch, or flavorful dinner twist.

Instructions

1. 1

   Make the garlic rice: Place the room-temperature avocado oil and garlic in a nonstick skillet. Place the skillet over high heat, and cook, stirring constantly, until garlic turns amber color, 7–10 minutes.

2. 2

   Immediately pour the fried garlic mixture through a fine mesh strainer into a heatproof bowl; discard the oil. Transfer the fried garlic to a paper towel to absorb any excess oil. Stir about half of the crispy garlic into the hot cooked rice until evenly combined. Set aside the remaining crispy garlic.

3. 3

   Make the beef bulgogi: Place the pear, soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, gochujang, garlic, ginger, and 2 tablespoons of the canola oil in a blender. Process on high speed for 2–3 minutes, until you achieve a smooth consistency.

4. 4

   Place the beef and marinade in a large bowl, and stir to coat the meat. Cover with plastic wrap, and let marinate at room temperature for 30 minutes or up to 2 hours in the fridge.

5. 5

   Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon canola oil in a large skillet over high heat until it shimmers. Add the marinated bulgogi to the skillet, and cook for about 4 minutes, or until browned. Flip and cook for 1–2 minutes, until browned on the other side and fully cooked through. Transfer the bulgogi to a plate, and let cool for about 5 minutes.

6. 6

   Wet your palms with water. Take a handful of the garlic rice, and make an indentation in the middle. Place a little bit of beef bulgogi in the indentation. Wrap the rice around the beef, and use your hands to form the rice into a triangle shape. (If using an onigiri mold, place the rice mixture in the mold, press lightly, and release for a perfect triangle.)

7. 7

   Place the reserved crispy garlic on a plate. Roll the outer edges of each rice triangle in the garlic. Wrap a strip of nori around the rice triangle. Repeat the process with the remaining ingredients.

8. 8

   Enjoy!

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