Ocean-Kissed and Nutritious Oyster Rice (Gulbap)
A Delightful Oyster Rice Recipe Bursting with the Fragrance of the Sea
When your appetite is low, a spoonful of our special sauce mixed into this rice bowl will reignite your hunger! This magical oyster rice features fresh oysters and chewy dried radish (moolmalengi) hidden between the grains of rice, offering a rich texture and deep flavor. Make this seasonal delicacy from the sea easily at home today!
Main Ingredients- 1 cup short-grain white rice (meppsal)
- 1 cup glutinous rice (chapssal)
- Water (for soaking rice)
- 25g dried radish strips (moolmalengi)
- 100g fresh oysters
Seasoning for Dried Radish- 1 tsp soy sauce (matganjang)
- 1/2 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1/2 Tbsp Cheongju (rice wine)
Special Sauce- 3 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp soup soy sauce (gukganjang)
- 3 Tbsp water
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 2 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- A little chopped garlic chives or wild chives
- 1 tsp soy sauce (matganjang)
- 1/2 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1/2 Tbsp Cheongju (rice wine)
Special Sauce- 3 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp soup soy sauce (gukganjang)
- 3 Tbsp water
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 2 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- A little chopped garlic chives or wild chives
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare 1 cup of short-grain white rice (meppsal) and 1 cup of glutinous rice (chapssal). Mixing these two types of rice in equal parts will result in a chewier and softer texture for your rice. Rinse the rice thoroughly and then soak it in cold water for about 30 minutes. Soaking the rice adequately ensures it cooks up fluffy and well-separated.
Step 2
While the rice is soaking, prepare the cooking liquid. You can use a broth made from anchovies and kelp, or boil a small handful of tiny dried shrimp to create a flavorful broth. Measure an equal volume of this broth as you have rice. Keep it simmering on a very low heat to extract maximum flavor. This will add another layer of depth to your oyster rice.
Step 3
Wash the 25g of dried radish strips (moolmalengi) by rubbing them vigorously in lukewarm water to remove any dust or impurities. Then, soak them in cold water for about 10 minutes until they soften. Squeeze out the excess water thoroughly. Marinate the softened radish strips by gently mixing them with 1 tsp of matganjang (flavorful soy sauce), 1/2 Tbsp of sesame oil, and 1/2 Tbsp of Cheongju (rice wine). This will give the radish a chewy texture and a savory taste that complements the oyster rice.
Step 4
Now, add the soaked rice to your rice cooker. Pour in the prepared broth (from dried shrimp or anchovy-kelp) in a 1:1 ratio with the rice. The rice-to-water ratio is typically 1:1, but you can adjust it slightly depending on the type of rice and how long it was soaked. Press the cooking button on your rice cooker to begin cooking.
Step 5
Once the rice cooker starts steaming, carefully open the lid. Evenly distribute the marinated dried radish and fresh oysters over the rice. To ensure a cleaner taste, you can gently rinse the oysters in lightly salted water beforehand. After adding the oysters and radish, close the lid. Once the cooking cycle is complete, turn off the heat and let the rice steam for about 10 minutes. This resting period allows the delicious juices from the oysters to permeate the rice, enhancing its overall flavor.
Step 6
Serve the perfectly cooked oyster rice into individual bowls. Just before eating, generously top with the special sauce (a mixture of soy sauce, soup soy sauce, water, sesame oil, toasted sesame seeds, and chopped garlic chives or wild chives). Mix everything together well. Enjoy a hearty and delicious meal with this flavorful oyster rice, a delightful combination of the sea’s freshness and aromatic seasonings!
