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Gimjaban
Gimjaban (김자반): toasted laver crumbled and fried with sesame oil, sugar and seeds into a crunchy rice topping
Korean children grow up eating gimjaban scattered over rice or rolled into jumeokbap rice balls, and a little tub of it is the easiest way to make a plain dosirak exciting. It is laver seaweed toasted, crushed and stirred in a pan with sesame oil, a little sugar and plenty of sesame seeds until crisp and savoury-sweet. The common mistake is adding the soy sauce while the pan is very hot, which turns the flakes soggy and clumped. Chef's tip: mix the soy and sugar into the oil first, then toss in the crushed seaweed off the heat and return it to a gentle flame just to dry out.
- Total time
- 13 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 8
Ingredients
- 10 unseasoned laver (gim) or nori sheetsfull size
- 2 tbsp toasted sesame oil
- 2 tsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Toast 10 unseasoned laver (gim) or nori sheets one sheet at a time over a low gas flame or in a dry pan for a few seconds each side, until it turns greener and crisp.
3 minStep 2: Put the sheets in a large food bag and crush them into small flakes with your hands.
Step 3: In a large frying pan off the heat, stir together 2 tbsp toasted sesame oil, 2 tsp soy sauce and 1 tbsp sugar. Add the seaweed flakes and toss with your fingers or chopsticks until every flake is coated.
Step 4: Set the pan over a low heat and stir for 4–5 minutes, until the flakes feel dry and crisp again and the sugar has melted.
5 minStep 5: Stir in 2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds, cool completely and keep in an airtight jar for up to 2 weeks. Sprinkle over dosirak rice or mix into rice balls.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 45 kcal
- Protein
- 1 g
- Carbs
- 3 g
- Fat
- 3 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does gimjaban take?
- About 13 minutes in total: 5 minutes to prepare and 8 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 8 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- What can I use instead of toasted sesame oil?
- Toasted sesame seeds ground with a little vegetable oil.
- What can I use instead of soy sauce?
- Tamari, same amount (gluten free).
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