Dak Bulgogi (Korean BBQ Chicken)

If you like sweet and savory bulgogi flavor but don't like red meat, this one's for you! Bulgogi is a marinated meat dish made with thin slices of beef. Dak bulgogi is a variation made with chicken. Dak means chicken. For the chicken version, I like to add a bit of lemon flavor. It certainly gives the dish a tasty spark! I used boneless chicken thigh, but you can use boneless breast or a combination of both parts. The bite size chicken pieces marinate and cook quickly, making this dish a good option for a weeknight meal. You can enjoy the chicken in lettuce wraps with a dollop of ssamjang or doenjang (soybean paste). It will be equally delicious simply served with your choice of salad or a side dish, such as sigeumchi (spinach) namul or watercress namul, along with a bowl of rice. Enjoy!

2 - 3 servings
Ingredients:
1 pound boneless chicken thigh and/or breast.

Marinade:
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon honey (or 1-1/3 more tablespoons brown sugar)
1 tablespoon rice wine (or mirin)
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon grated ginger
1 tablespoon sesame oil
pinch black pepper
1 teaspoon sesame seeds

Rinse chicken pieces. Trim off excess fat. Cut each of the chicken pieces into small sizes (about 2-inch long and 1-inch wide).

Mix the marinade ingredients in a bowl until the sugar has dissolved.

Coat the chicken pieces with the marinade. Marinate for about 30 minutes in the refrigerator.

Preheat a skillet over medium high heat. Add the chicken pieces, reserving the marinade. Cook until cooked through and slightly caramelized, about 2 minutes each side. (The sugar and honey in the marinade will burn easily, so watch it carefully and add the reserved marinade by tablespoon when the pan gets dry. You can slightly reduce the heat to avoid burning, if needed.)