Beef Yakiniku Japanese Barbecue (Printable view)

Tender grilled beef with caramelized vegetables in a traditional Japanese marinade.

# What You'll Need:

→ Beef

01 - 1.1 pounds ribeye or sirloin beef, thinly sliced

→ Marinade

02 - 3 tablespoons soy sauce
03 - 2 tablespoons mirin
04 - 1 tablespoon sake
05 - 1 tablespoon sugar
06 - 1.5 tablespoons sesame oil
07 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
08 - 1 teaspoon ginger, grated
09 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
10 - 1 green onion, finely sliced

→ Vegetables & Accompaniments

11 - 1 small onion, sliced
12 - 1 bell pepper, sliced
13 - 3.5 ounces shiitake mushrooms, sliced
14 - 1 zucchini, sliced
15 - Cooked white rice, for serving

# Steps:

01 - Combine soy sauce, mirin, sake, sugar, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, sesame seeds, and green onion in a mixing bowl. Whisk thoroughly until sugar dissolves completely.
02 - Add sliced beef to the marinade, ensuring each piece is coated evenly. Let stand for at least 10 minutes at room temperature, or up to 1 hour in refrigerator for deeper flavor penetration.
03 - Preheat grill pan or tabletop grill over high heat until surface is smoking hot. Proper temperature ensures quick searing and caramelization.
04 - Place marinated beef slices on hot grill. Cook for 1–2 minutes per side until just cooked through and edges develop a slight char. Avoid overcooking to maintain tenderness.
05 - Arrange onion, bell pepper, mushrooms, and zucchini on grill. Cook alongside meat until vegetables are tender-crisp with light char marks, approximately 3–4 minutes.
06 - Transfer grilled beef and vegetables to serving platter. Accompany with steamed white rice. Serve immediately while hot for optimal texture and flavor.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The marinade creates that perfect restaurant quality balance of sweet and savory that you usually have to go out for
  • Everything cooks in minutes, so you spend more time eating and less time prep work
02 -
  • Dont overcrowd your grill or the beef will steam instead of sear, work in batches if necessary
  • The beef cooks incredibly fast because it is sliced so thin, stay right by the grill and don't walk away
03 -
  • If you can find it, lightly wagyu beef will take this dish to another level of richness
  • Set up everything within arms reach of your grill before you turn on the heat

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