Nutritious Winter Radish Rice (Mubap) Cooked in a Pot
[Winter Radish Recipe / Pot Rice] Mubap: Easy-to-Digest and Savory Pot Rice
It’s the season when radish is at its peak sweetness and flavor. This Mubap (radish rice) is not only easy on the stomach, aiding digestion, but also packed with vitamins. Simply shredding fresh winter radish, lightly sautéing it, and placing it on top of rice while it steams magically transforms the rice into a more moist and savory dish. Enjoy the natural sweetness that makes the rice delicious on its own with this hearty autumn pot rice, and nourish your body at the same time. Be warned, it’s so delicious it might become your favorite – and you’ll likely crave second servings!
Main Ingredients- 3 cups rice
- 3 cups water
- 1 sheet dried kelp (kombu)
- 1/5 – 1/2 Korean radish (approx. 200-300g)
- 3-4 sprigs of aromatic herbs like Korean chive or garland chrysanthemum (for garnish)
Seasoning Sauce- 2-3 Tbsp Korean soy sauce (jin-ganjang)
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp kelp broth or water used to soak kelp
- 1 pinch red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 Tbsp minced green onion
- 1/2 minced spicy green chili (optional)
- 1 Tbsp minced red bell pepper (for color)
- 2-3 Tbsp Korean soy sauce (jin-ganjang)
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp kelp broth or water used to soak kelp
- 1 pinch red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 Tbsp minced green onion
- 1/2 minced spicy green chili (optional)
- 1 Tbsp minced red bell pepper (for color)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
1. Prepare all your ingredients. Wash the rice thoroughly and have it ready. Shred the radish. For the garnish on top of the rice, choose aromatic vegetables like garland chrysanthemum, Korean chive, garlic chives, or green onions, according to your preference. I’m using fragrant Korean chives today.
Step 2
2. Shred the radish. Cut the radish into strips about 0.5 cm thick, ensuring there’s a pleasant bite to it. The green part of the radish peel is sweeter and more flavorful, so if washed well, you can use it with the peel on.
Step 3
3. Start cooking the rice. Rinse the rice 2-3 times gently and soak it in water for 20-30 minutes. This helps the grains cook evenly, become glossy, and achieve a moist texture. For freshly harvested rice (haepssal), you can reduce or skip the soaking time. The ideal rice-to-water ratio is slightly less than usual, around 1:0.9. Since the radish will release moisture, reduce the water by about 1-2 tablespoons from your normal amount.
Step 4
4. Add the rinsed rice and water to your pot or rice cooker. Place the sheet of kelp on top, followed by the shredded radish. This steaming process will infuse the rice with a subtle kelp aroma, and the radish will release moisture and sweetness, making the rice exceptionally delicious. Cover and cook the rice.
Step 5
5. Prepare the garnish and seasoning sauce. When the rice is almost done cooking, finely chop the aromatic vegetables (Korean chives, green onions, etc.) that will be used as a garnish. Finely mince the green onions, chili peppers, and red bell peppers for the seasoning sauce; this makes assembly quicker.
Step 6
6. Let the rice steam. Once most of the cooking water has been absorbed, reduce the heat to very low, or if using an electric rice cooker, switch to the ‘warm’ or ‘low heat’ setting and let it steam for about 10 minutes. This allows the moisture to distribute evenly within the grains, resulting in a softer texture.
Step 7
7. Add the aromatic garnish. During the final steaming stage, evenly sprinkle the prepared chopped aromatic vegetables (like Korean chives) over the rice. Close the lid again and let it steam for another 10 minutes to allow the fragrant flavors to meld with the rice.
Step 8
Your moist, savory, and delicious radish pot rice (Mubap) is ready! It’s delicious enough to eat on its own, but with the seasoning sauce, it becomes an even more delightful meal.
Step 9
8. Mix the seasoning sauce. Combine the Korean soy sauce, sesame oil, kelp broth, red pepper flakes, minced green onion, minced chili, and minced red bell pepper in a small bowl. Mix well to create a flavorful sauce to serve alongside your Mubap. Mixing this sauce into the rice is absolutely delicious!
