Dealer Joe’s beefless bulgogi is one among their greatest vegan merchandise. These savory strips add a punch of protein and umami to stir-fries, sandwiches, and extra. For a decadent texture that’s crisp across the edges, prepare dinner within the air fryer.
The beefless bulgogi is correct close to the highest of my favorite Trader Joe’s vegan products. Offered within the frozen part for $4.99, these plant-based strips are made with textured soy protein and wheat gluten.
They’re marinated in a barely candy and savory glaze utilizing frequent bulgogi-sauce components like soy sauce, pear puree, garlic, ginger, inexperienced onions, and sugar.
This plant-based riff on Korean grilled beef has a wealthy, meaty taste and chewy texture. Good for including protein and deliciousness to stir-fries, sandwiches, wraps, and extra.
On this publish, I’m sharing my favourite cooking methodology for Dealer Joe’s beefless bulgogi, and 5 methods to make use of them in on a regular basis meals.
For extra lunch and dinner concepts, take a look at my line-up of easy Trader Joe’s vegan meals.
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Greatest approach to prepare dinner Dealer Joe’s beefless bulgogi
Anytime somebody tells me they have been underwhelmed by these bulgogi strips, I’ve to surprise how they cooked them.
My most popular methodology is utilizing the air fryer. You prepare dinner them straight from frozen till they’re beginning to look a bit charred. Air frying creates crispy edges which are irresistible and play towards the vegan meat’s chewy texture.
The air fryer directions written on the package deal aren’t lengthy sufficient. I wish to prepare dinner them about twice as lengthy and at the next temperature than what’s listed.
My air fryer methodology: Take away the bulgogi strips from the package deal. They’ll be in a stable block. Put the entire block into the air fryer basket, and prepare dinner at 400 levels for 10 to 12 minutes.
As soon as it begins to thaw, you’ll have the ability to break up the strips with a spatula. (In the event that they’re not coming aside simply, simply allow them to maintain cooking. They’ll naturally fall away if you happen to allow them to prepare dinner lengthy sufficient.)
Allow them to get a bit overdone and crunchy across the edges.
Different cooking strategies: When you don’t have an air fryer, you possibly can microwave the strips for 3 to 4 minutes or till warmed by means of. Or prepare dinner them in a non-stick skillet for 3 to five minutes or till heated by means of, flipping steadily for even cooking. (For both methodology, after all, you’ll need to take away the strips from the packaging earlier than cooking.)
Beefless bulgogi and fried rice
In all probability the obvious means to make use of beefless bulgogi is with fried rice.
Dealer Joe’s vegetable fried rice is tremendous handy because it’s already dotted with a number of veggies like edamame, corn, bell pepper, inexperienced peas, leeks, and carrots.
Need to make your personal fried rice as a substitute? See my pineapple fried rice, Brussels sprouts fried rice, or kimchi fried rice for cooking particulars.
Whereas the beefless bulgogi is cooking within the air fryer, heat the vegetable fried rice in a pan over a medium warmth.
It is rather frivolously seasoned. I like to recommend amping up the flavour by including splashes of tamari, rice vinegar, and sesame oil whereas it cooks.
As soon as the fried rice is finished, add the cooked bulgogi. Then sprinkle on a handful of roasted cashews for crunch, and chili crisp or pickled jalapenos for warmth.
Beefless bulgogi noodle stir-fry
For one more stir-fry fashion possibility, seize a package deal of Dealer Joe’s Thai wheat noodles.
I at all times maintain a field within the pantry. They’re much like Japanese udon noodles, and so they’re totally cooked. No boiling required. Simply warmth and eat. So handy!
Begin by sauteing no matter veggies you need. Listed here are some concepts to get you began:
- Chopped onion
- Minced garlic
- Shredded cabbage
- Chopped bell pepper
- Sliced mushrooms
- Chopped kale
- Broccoli florets
- Sugar snap peas
- Sliced carrots
Stir-fry suggestions: When making stir-fries, it’s greatest to stagger the cooking occasions. Cook dinner onerous greens like broccoli or carrots first, then medium ones like mushrooms, and observe with tender or delicate ones like leafy greens or minced garlic final.
Don’t overcrowd the pan. Work in batches, as wanted.
As soon as the greens are virtually to their splendid texture, open the package deal of noodles, and gently loosen them by hand as you set them into the skillet.
They gained’t come aside simply or fully. Don’t fear about that.
Add salt, splashes of tamari, rice vinegar, and toasted sesame oil. (I often go heavy on tamari, lighter on the vinegar, and only a tiny drizzle of toasted sesame oil.)
Because the noodles come into contact with the liquid seasonings and warmth from the pan, they’ll calm down and soften.
Cook dinner till warmed by means of. Then serve with a smattering of cashews, cilantro, and/or chili crisp.
Vegan steak gyros
I obtained this steak gyro suggestion from a crew member at Dealer Joe’s, and I’ve been making them ever since!
Normally after I’m making a pita pocket, I take advantage of falafel. However including cooked beefless bulgogi provides a grilled, avenue meals taste that feels a bit extra decadent.
Over the past couple minutes of air frying the beefless bulgogi, add your pita (or baladi) to heat it.
Then stuff the pita with Dealer Joe’s vegan tzatziki, child spinach (or romaine), tomato, cilantro, and pickled crimson onions.
(You can also make your personal pickled red onions or purchase pre-made pickled onions in retailer.)
The tzatziki provides cooling tang, which fantastically enhances acidic tomatoes and the grilled taste of the bulgogi.
See easy methods to make beefless bulgogi gyros
Vegan steak fajitas
Earlier than I went vegan, it at all times felt very thrilling when a restaurant had steak fajitas on the menu. Now I make a vegan model utilizing beefless bulgogi.
Whereas the beefless bulgogi is cooking within the air fryer, slice your veggies. Bell pepper and onion work nicely. I additionally get pleasure from mushrooms, zucchini, or asparagus.
When you’re brief on time, you possibly can simply toss the veggies in oil. However they’re greatest when sprinkled with cumin, ancho chili powder, paprika, and a squeeze of lime juice, like I do in my grilled vegetable fajitas recipe.
As soon as the steak strips have come aside within the air fryer (often after about 10 minutes), you possibly can add the veggies, and air fry for about 10 minutes extra, or till they’ve softened and browned.
Soften corn tortillas in a skillet. Or heat them within the microwave in 30 second bursts, flipping the stack of tortillas from prime to backside for even cooking till they’re heat and pliant.
The vegan steak fajitas are significantly scrumptious with chimichurri sauce. Dealer Joe’s chimichurri is tasty and handy, or you may make your personal cilantro chimichurri.
Vegan cheesesteak sandwich
After I was rising up, if we had grilled steak sooner or later, it was frequent to do steak sandwiches the following. Beefless bulgogi strips work fantastically to recreate that for a cheesesteak-style sandwich.
Saute peppers and onions. Then add the totally cooked bulgogi, and prime with shredded vegan cheese.
(I often use Violife Mexican shreds. Nonetheless, if you happen to’d want to make use of vegan cheese from Trader Joe’s, prime with vegan mozzarella or a Cheddar-style slice.)
Cowl the skillet with a lid, and permit the cheese to soften.
Reduce a piece of a baguette for the sandwich bread, and slice it in half. Then heat it within the air fryer or in a skillet.
Slather it with vegan mayo or mustard. Then compile the sandwich with beefless bulgogi, sauteed peppers and onions, and pickled jalapenos.
It goes completely with a pair handfuls of potato chips.
Extra methods to make use of Dealer Joe’s beefless bulgogi
Listed here are only a few extra concepts of how to make use of Dealer Joe’s beefless bulgogi.
