Bibimbap
비빔밥 · Jeonju-style rice bowl with seasoned vegetables, a fried egg and sweet-hot gochujang sauce
Bibimbap (비빔밥) means 'mixed rice': a bowl of warm rice topped with small heaps of separately seasoned vegetables, a fried egg and a spoonful of gochujang sauce, all stirred together at the table. The city of Jeonju in North Jeolla province is famous for it and serves it with a dozen or more toppings; this home version keeps five that are easy to find. Each vegetable is cooked on its own so it keeps its colour and texture, and the sauce brings sweetness, heat and a nutty sesame finish. Serve with kimchi and a light soup. Chef's tip: season every vegetable on its own, lightly, and taste each one. If each heap is good alone, the mixed bowl will be balanced; if they are all dressed alike, the bowl tastes flat.
- Total time
- 45 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the rice
For the vegetables
For the gochujang sauce
To serve
Method
0/11 doneStep 1: Rinse 14 oz short-grain white rice in cold water three or four times, swirling with your hand, until the water is nearly clear. Drain, put in a heavy pan with 2 cups water and leave to soak for 20 minutes.
20 minStep 2: Bring the rice to the boil over a high heat, then cover, turn the heat to its lowest and cook for 15 minutes. Turn off the heat and leave it covered for 10 minutes more; don't lift the lid.
25 minStep 3: While the rice cooks, stir 4 tbsp gochujang (Korean chilli paste), 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil, 1 tbsp sugar, 1 tbsp rice vinegar, 1 tbsp water and 1 clove garlic together until smooth. Set aside.
Step 4: Bring a pan of water to the boil with a pinch of the ¼ tsp salt. Blanch 7 oz spinach for 30 seconds until just wilted, lift it out with tongs, rinse under cold water and squeeze out as much water as you can. Keep the water boiling.
2 minStep 5: Cut the spinach into 5 cm lengths and toss with a third of the ⅞ cloves garlic, half the 1 tsp soy sauce and a third of the ⅞ tsp toasted sesame oil.
Step 6: Add 7 oz soybean sprouts to the boiling water, cover and cook for 5 minutes until tender but still crunchy. Keep the lid on the whole time so they don't taste beany. Drain well and toss with half the ½ tsp salt, another third of the ⅞ cloves garlic and another third of the ⅞ tsp toasted sesame oil.
5 minStep 7: Heat a third of the ⅝ tbsp neutral oil in a frying pan over a medium-high heat. Stir-fry 1 carrot with a pinch of the remaining salt for 2 minutes until just soft. Tip onto a plate.
2 minStep 8: Add another third of the ⅝ tbsp neutral oil and stir-fry 1 courgette with the last of the ¼ tsp salt for 2 minutes until bright green and barely soft. Put it next to the carrot.
2 minStep 9: Add the last of the ¾ tbsp neutral oil and fry 6 shiitake mushrooms with the rest of the garlic for 3 minutes until soft and browned. Add the rest of the 1 tsp soy sauce and the last of the 1 ¼ tsp toasted sesame oil and toss for 30 seconds.
3 minStep 10: Wipe the pan, heat 1 tbsp neutral oil over a medium heat and fry 4 eggs for 3 minutes until the whites are set and the edges are crisp but the yolks are still runny.
3 minStep 11: Divide the rice between four wide bowls. Arrange the vegetables in neat heaps around the rice, put an egg in the middle and scatter with 2 tsp toasted sesame seeds and 1 sheet roasted seaweed (gim). Serve with the sauce; each person stirs in as much as they like and mixes everything before eating.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 610 kcal
- Protein
- 19 g
- Carbs
- 92 g
- Fat
- 19 g
- Fibre
- 6 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does bibimbap take?
- About 45 minutes in total: 25 minutes to prepare and 20 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Is it very spicy?
- It has some heat. Use less chilli for a milder version, or more if you like it hot.
- What can I use instead of short-grain white rice?
- Any long-grain rice, same amount.
- What can I use instead of carrot?
- Parsnip or sweet potato, same weight.
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