4 Easy Samgyupsal Marinade Recipes (Pinoy-Style)

You've mastered the classic, plain samgyupsal and are ready to level up your K-BBQ night. The secret to that unli-BBQ restaurant exper...

You've mastered the classic, plain samgyupsal and are ready to level up your K-BBQ night. The secret to that unli-BBQ restaurant experience is the variety of marinated meats.

These four easy, Pinoy-friendly marinade recipes will turn your simple liempo into a full-on K-BBQ feast. They use simple ingredients you can find at any local supermarket.

The Base Meat: For all these recipes, start with 500g (1/2 kilo) of thinly sliced pork belly (liempo). Place the pork in a bowl, add the marinade, mix well with your hands, and let it sit in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. For best results, marinate for 2-4 hours.

Here are 4 easy marinades for your next DIY samgyupsal night.

1. The Classic: Spicy Gochujang Marinade

This is the fiery red, sweet, and spicy pork you see everywhere. It's the most popular marinade for a reason.

Ingredients:

• 3 tbsp Gochujang (Korean chili paste)

• 1 tbsp Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes) - Optional, for extra heat

• 1 tbsp soy sauce

• 1 tbsp brown sugar

• 1 tbsp sesame oil

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 tsp ginger, grated or minced

Instructions: Mix all ingredients in a small bowl until the sugar is dissolved. Pour over the pork and mix thoroughly.

Don't know what Gochujang is?

• Read our guide: [What is Gochujang? A Pinoy's Guide to Using Korea's Spicy Paste]

2. The Pinoy-Favorite: Sweet Soy "Bulgogi-Style"

This is the classic sweet and savory soy marinade, made extra tender and flavorful with a simple Pinoy hack: 7-Up or Sprite!

Ingredients:

• 4 tbsp soy sauce

• 2 tbsp brown sugar

• 1/4 cup 7-Up or Sprite

• 1 tbsp sesame oil

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 small onion, thinly sliced

• Pinch of black pepper

Instructions: In a bowl, mix the soy sauce and brown sugar until the sugar dissolves. Add the 7-Up, sesame oil, garlic, onion, and black pepper. Pour over the pork and mix well.

3. The Savory: Garlic-Soy (Maneul Ganjang)

If you're not a fan of sweet marinades, this one is for you. It's savory, salty, and packed with rich, toasty garlic flavor.

Ingredients:

• 4 tbsp soy sauce

• 2 tbsp sesame oil

• 1 whole head of garlic (about 10-12 cloves), minced

• 1 tbsp brown sugar

• 1 green onion, chopped

• Pinch of black pepper

Instructions: This is all about the garlic! Mix all ingredients in a bowl. Pour over the pork and make sure the garlic is evenly distributed.

4. The Special: Yellow Curry Marinade

This is the delicious, fragrant "wildcard" flavor you find at many K-BBQ restaurants. It's surprisingly simple and uses basic curry powder.

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp curry powder (the standard yellow kind)

• 1 tbsp vegetable oil

• 1/2 tsp salt

• 1/2 tsp brown sugar

• 1/4 tsp black pepper

• 2 tbsp water

Instructions: In a small bowl, mix all the ingredients to form a thick paste. Add the paste to the pork and mix with your hands until every slice is evenly coated in a yellow-gold color.

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With these four recipes, you can offer a variety of flavors just like your favorite restaurant.

• Need help with the grill and setup? Check our main guide: [How to Make DIY Samgyupsal at Home (A Pinoy-Friendly Guide)]

• What about the side dishes? No K-BBQ is complete without banchan: [What to Eat with Samgyupsal: 5 Easy Korean Side Dishes (Banchan)]

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