Skewered Beef With Mushrooms and Carrots (Sanjeok) (4)

“Sanjeok” or skewered beef with mushrooms and carrots

By Kim Yong-ja

This used to be a dish for special occasions. But it is a very simple dish that one can make easily, so there is no need to wait for a special occasion. If "songyi" mushrooms (very highly prized, even in Korea) are not available, you can use others like shiitake or porcini (Italy) or Steinpilze (Germany).

INGREDIENTS (serves 4)

8 oz/225 g BEEF (rib eye- club steak), cut finger-sized

1 large CARROT

3 SCALLIONS

2 SONGYI MUSHROOMS or 5 large SHIITAKE MUSHROOMS

6-7 medium-length BAMBOO STICKS

VEGETABLE OIL

MARINADE:

4 tablespoons SOY SAUCE

1 tablespoon SESAME OIL

1 GARLIC CLOVE, crushed fine

1 teaspoon SESAME SEEDS

2 teaspoons SUGAR

ground BLACK PEPPER

1 Cut the vegetables into pieces the same as the meat. Combine the meat with ⅓ of the marinade.

2 Steam carrots until they are semi-cooked. Blanch the white parts of scallions, dip in ice water and drain.

3 Put the meat and vegetables on the skewers. Drizzle some oil in a heated frying pan and grill them until lightly browned on both sides.

4 Drizzle half of the marinade while cooking and let it sizzle until all the liquid evaporates. Sprinkle some more marinade before serving.

This is an excerpt from “Korean Cuisine: Healthy Food, Full of Flavor,” (Yekyong Publishing, 224 pp., 28,000 won). The book is on sale at major bookstores such as Kyobo Bookstore, Youngpoong Bookstore and Bandi & Luni’s. ― ED.