Beef Bulgogi Bowls With Carrots, Pickled Cucumber & Sriracha Crema

Step 1

• Wash and dry all produce. • In a small pot, combine rice, ¾ cup water (1½ cups for 4 servings), and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce to a low simmer. Cook until rice is tender, 15-18 minutes. Keep covered off heat until ready to serve. • Meanwhile, trim and thinly slice scallions, separating whites from greens. Trim and peel carrot; grate on the largest holes of a box grater.

Step 2

• In a medium bowl, combine half the vinegar (you’ll use the rest later), ½ tsp sugar (1 tsp for 4 servings), and a pinch of salt. • Trim ends from cucumber. Using a peeler, shave cucumber lengthwise into ribbons, rotating as you go, until you get to the seedy core; discard core. Stir ribbons into bowl with vinegar mixture. Set aside, tossing occasionally, until ready to serve.

Step 3

• Heat a drizzle of oil in a large, preferably nonstick, pan over medium-high heat. Add carrot and cook, stirring, until tender, 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper. Turn off heat; transfer to a plate.

Step 4

• Heat another drizzle of oil in same pan over medium-high heat. Add scallion whites and cook until fragrant, 1 minute. • Add beef* and a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook, breaking up meat into pieces, until browned and cooked through, 4-6 minutes. • Stir in half the sesame seeds (save the rest for serving) and remaining vinegar. Cook for 30 seconds, then stir in bulgogi sauce. Bring to a simmer, then immediately turn off heat. Season again with salt and pepper.

Step 5

• While beef cooks, in a small bowl, combine sour cream with sriracha to taste. Stir in water 1 tsp at a time until mixture reaches a drizzling consistency. Season with salt.

Step 6

• Fluff rice with a fork. Stir in 1 TBSP butter (2 TBSP for 4 servings) and season with salt and pepper; divide between bowls. • Arrange beef, carrot, and pickled cucumber on top. (TIP: Drain any excess liquid from cucumber before adding.) Drizzle crema over everything. Garnish with scallion greens and as many remaining sesame seeds as you like and serve.