Introduction

Gireumjang (기름장) is the little dish of sesame oil, salt and black pepper that sits beside the grill at almost every Korean BBQ restaurant. “Gireum” means oil and “jang” means sauce. You dip a piece of hot grilled pork belly or beef into it before eating, often alongside ssamjang and lettuce wraps. It takes 30 seconds to make, yet it is one of the most important flavors of a Korean BBQ meal.

Gireumjang at a Glance

Quick facts

• What it is: a sesame oil and salt dipping sauce
• Main ingredients: toasted sesame oil, salt, ground black pepper
• Taste: nutty, salty and peppery
• Main uses: samgyeopsal, beef BBQ, grilled beef tongue, beef tartare

What is Gireumjang Made Of?

Classic gireumjang uses only toasted sesame oil (chamgireum), salt and black pepper. Coarse or roasted sea salt is preferred because it gives little salty crunches. Some restaurants add toasted sesame seeds or a few drops of soy sauce.

Types of gireumjang

• Sogeum gireumjang: sesame oil, salt and pepper, the standard version.
• With sesame seeds: topped with kkaesogeum for extra nuttiness.
• Ganjang gireumjang: sesame oil with a little soy sauce instead of salt.
• Perilla oil version: some regions use perilla oil for a grassier aroma.

What Does Gireumjang Taste Like?

It tastes deeply nutty and salty, with a mild bite from black pepper. On fatty pork belly, the salt sharpens the flavor of the meat while the sesame oil adds a roasted aroma, so each bite tastes richer without any sweetness or spice.

Popular Korean Dishes That Use Gireumjang

Samgyeopsal

Grilled pork belly, the classic pairing. Recipe below.

Sogogi gui

Grilled beef such as chadolbaegi (thin brisket) or sirloin.

Yukhoe

Korean beef tartare is dressed with sesame oil and often served with a gireumjang-style dip.

Gopchang and teukswi

Grilled offal and specialty cuts are commonly dipped in salted sesame oil.

Easy Samgyeopsal with Gireumjang Recipe (Serves 2)

Gireumjang

• 2 tbsp toasted sesame oil
• 1/2 tsp coarse sea salt
• 2 pinches ground black pepper
• 1/2 tsp toasted sesame seeds (optional)

Ingredients

• 500 g (1.1 lb) pork belly, sliced about 1 cm (1/2 inch) thick
• 6 garlic cloves, halved
• 1 onion, sliced into rings; a few mushrooms
• Lettuce and perilla leaves for wrapping
• Ssamjang and kimchi to serve

Instructions

1. Mix the sesame oil, salt and pepper in a small dish (one per person is ideal). Add sesame seeds if you like.
2. Heat a cast-iron pan or grill pan over medium-high heat. No oil is needed.
3. Lay the pork belly in a single layer and cook 3–4 minutes per side until deeply golden and crisp and no longer pink inside. Pour off excess fat carefully as it builds up.
4. Cook the garlic, onion and mushrooms in the rendered fat at the edge of the pan.
5. Cut the pork into bite-size pieces with kitchen scissors. Dip each piece in gireumjang, then eat as is or wrap in lettuce with garlic and ssamjang.

Tip: Make gireumjang just before eating and give each person their own dish. Fresh sesame oil smells best, and separate dishes keep raw-meat tongs away from the dip.

Where to Buy Gireumjang Ingredients

United States

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Amazon
Search Korean toasted sesame oil on Amazon

H-Mart
Search sesame oil on H-Mart

Canada

Search Korean sesame oil on Amazon.ca

Europe

Search Korean sesame oil on Amazon.co.uk

How to Store Gireumjang

Gireumjang is best mixed fresh for each meal, and any dip that has touched cooked meat should be discarded afterward. Store the sesame oil itself tightly capped in a cool, dark cupboard, or in the refrigerator if you use it slowly, so it does not turn rancid.

Gireumjang FAQ

What is the sesame oil dip at Korean BBQ?

That is gireumjang: toasted sesame oil mixed with salt and black pepper, used for dipping grilled meat.

What is the difference between gireumjang and ssamjang?

Gireumjang is a thin, salty oil dip. Ssamjang is a thick paste of doenjang and gochujang used inside lettuce wraps. Many people use both at the same meal.

Can I use regular sesame oil?

Use toasted (dark) sesame oil. Light, untoasted sesame oil has little flavor and will not taste like the restaurant version.

Conclusion

Gireumjang proves that Korean BBQ sauces do not need to be complicated. Three ingredients, good toasted sesame oil and a hot pan of pork belly are all it takes. Set out a dish of gireumjang, a bowl of ssamjang and some lettuce, and you have a Korean BBQ night at home. Read more about the oil itself in our sesame oil guide.