Name: Savory Mushroom and Ground Beef Ssam
Yield: Serves 2 to 4
Cuisine: Korean
Ingredients: ½ cup [20 g] chopped fresh cilantro leaves and stems; 1 lb [455 g] ground beef; Ssamjang (Korean spicy dipping sauce), for serving; Toasted sesame seeds, for garnish; Cooked rice, for serving; Lettuce or any leafy vegetables, for serving; 3 Tbsp soy sauce; 1 cup [240 ml] neutral oil, such as vegetable or canola; ¼ cup [12 g] chopped green onions (about 2); 3 garlic cloves, minced (about 1 Tbsp); ¼ cup [60 g] chili crisp; 1 Tbsp tomato paste; 1 Tbsp rice wine vinegar; 8 oz [230 g] shallots; 8 oz [230 g] fresh shiitake mushrooms, chopped into bite-size pieces; 1 tsp granulated sugar; 1 medium yellow onion, sliced

Preparation info

Serves
2 to 4

Difficulty
Easy

Appears in

Chili Crisp

By James Park

Published 2023

About

Ssam, meaning “wrapped” in Korean, refers to a popular style of eating in Korean cuisine. It’s typically made with any type of leafy vegetables, like lettuce and perilla leaves (kkaetnip), wrapped around a piece of meat (or many other fillings). What makes a good ssam depends on what goes in it, and this savory mushroom and ground meat combination makes each bite delightfully satisfying. Shiitake mushrooms already have a meaty texture, so they seamlessly blend with ground beef. And t