Here's a recipe for gimbap (김밥), a Korean dish similar to sushi rolls, filled with vegetables, egg, and sometimes meat or fish.
Ingredients:
Main Ingredients:
4-5 sheets of seaweed (gim or nori)
2 cups cooked short-grain rice
1 tbsp sesame oil (for rice)
1/2 tsp salt (for rice)
Fillings:
1 medium carrot, julienned
1 cucumber, julienned
1/2 cup pickled yellow radish (danmuji), cut into long strips
2 eggs
1/2 cup spinach, blanched and squeezed dry
1/2 tsp salt (for spinach)
1 tsp sesame oil (for spinach)
1/4 lb beef (or ham or imitation crab), sliced into thin strips
Soy sauce, sesame oil, and sugar (for beef seasoning)
Optional Garnishes:
Sesame seeds
Soy sauce for dipping
Instructions:
1. Prepare the Rice:
In a large bowl, combine the cooked rice with 1 tbsp sesame oil and 1/2 tsp salt. Mix well and set aside to cool slightly.
2. Prepare the Fillings:
Carrot: Lightly stir-fry the julienned carrots with a pinch of salt until softened. Set aside.
Cucumber: Sprinkle a little salt over the cucumber sticks and let sit for 10 minutes, then pat dry to remove excess moisture.
Egg: Whisk the eggs with a pinch of salt. Pour into a heated, lightly oiled pan, cook as a thin omelet, then slice into long strips.
Spinach: Blanch the spinach for 30 seconds in boiling water, then squeeze out excess water. Season with 1/2 tsp salt and 1 tsp sesame oil.
Beef (or Ham/Crab): Stir-fry the beef with a dash of soy sauce, sesame oil, and a pinch of sugar until cooked through. Set aside.
3. Assemble the Gimbap:
Lay a sheet of seaweed on a bamboo mat (shiny side down).
Spread a thin layer of rice over the seaweed, leaving about an inch at the top edge.
Lay the prepared fillings (carrot, cucumber, pickled radish, egg, spinach, and beef or protein of choice) horizontally in the center of the rice.
4. Roll the Gimbap:
Starting from the edge closest to you, lift the bamboo mat and roll tightly, pressing down as you roll to keep it firm. Use a little water to seal the edge of the seaweed.
5. Slice and Serve:
Rub a little sesame oil on the roll and sprinkle with sesame seeds if desired. Slice the roll into bite-sized pieces using a sharp knife.
Enjoy your gimbap!
