Colorful Homemade Gimbap Creation
Craft Your Own Gimbap with Your Favorite Fridge Ingredients
Unlike in Korea, gimbap ingredients aren’t typically sold together abroad. This means you have the freedom to create your personalized gimbap using your favorite ingredients from the fridge – a truly homemade delight! This recipe encourages you to get creative and make your own unique rolls.
Main Ingredients- 1 pack Gimbap seaweed sheets
- 2 medium carrots
- 10 sticks Gimbap ham
- 2 sheets fish cake (oden)
- 4 eggs
- 4 heads baby bok choy
- 10 pieces pickled radish (danmuji)
- 5 sticks imitation crab meat
- 10g butter
- Shredded dried squid (juneuhchae) – optional
- Anchovies – optional
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
1. Prepare the Carrots: Wash 2 carrots thoroughly and julienne them into thin strips. In a pan, melt 10g of butter with a little cooking oil. Sauté the carrot strips with a pinch of salt until slightly tender and lightly browned. 2. Prepare the Baby Bok Choy: Wash the baby bok choy leaves well. Blanch them in boiling water briefly. Immediately transfer them to a bowl of cold water for about 5 minutes. This helps retain their crispness and mellows their flavor.
Step 2
3. Sauté the Fish Cake: Cut the 2 fish cake sheets into strips suitable for gimbap. In a pan, add 1 tablespoon of soy sauce and a pinch of salt. Lightly sauté the fish cake until it absorbs a light color. Be careful not to overcook, as it can become tough. 4. Make the Egg Omelet: Whisk the 4 eggs in a bowl until well combined. Heat a non-stick pan over low heat and cook thinly. A smooth, evenly cooked omelet will make your gimbap look neat.
Step 3
5. Season the Rice: In a bowl of warm cooked rice (about 2-3 cups), mix in 10g of salt, 1 tablespoon of soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of sesame oil, and 2 tablespoons of sesame seeds. Blend gently with a rice paddle, ensuring the rice grains don’t clump together for even flavor distribution.
Step 4
6. Assemble the Gimbap: Spread the seasoned rice thinly and evenly over a sheet of gimbap seaweed. Avoid making the rice layer too thick, as this can cause the roll to burst or be difficult to slice. Arrange your prepared ingredients – the sautéed carrots, ham, fish cake, egg omelet, baby bok choy, pickled radish, and imitation crab meat – neatly in a line on top of the rice. Don’t overfill, or your gimbap might unravel.
Step 5
7. Add Extra Fillings (Optional): For a unique twist, consider adding seasoned shredded dried squid (juneuhchae). This adds a chewy texture and savory depth, creating a ‘Juneuhchae Gimbap’ that’s truly special.
Step 6
8. Your Custom Gimbap is Ready!: You can also make ‘Anchovy Gimbap’ by adding anchovies along with the rice. This brings a nutty, umami flavor. By incorporating your favorite fridge ingredients and a touch of creativity, you’ll create your very own, delicious, one-of-a-kind gimbap!