Ocean’s Delight: Fresh Sea Squirt Bibimbap Recipe
Preparing Fresh Sea Squirt for a Healthy and Delicious Bibimbap
Experience the invigorating aroma of the sea with this delightful Sea Squirt Bibimbap, harmoniously blending fresh sea squirts with crisp vegetables. Made with pre-prepared sea squirts, it’s a quick and easy dish perfect for a healthy and satisfying meal. This bibimbap is a fantastic springtime or summer treat, showcasing the wonderful combination of fragrant sea squirts and vibrant vegetables.
Sea Squirt Bibimbap Ingredients
- 200g prepared sea squirt
- 2 bowls of warm rice
- 1/3 carrot (approx. 30g)
- 1 leaf red cabbage (approx. 20g)
- 1/2 onion (approx. 50g)
- 5 perilla leaves
- 1 Korean green chili pepper (optional)
Sea Squirt Bibimbap Seasoning Sauce
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp cooking wine (mirin)
- 1/2 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp red chili flakes (gochugaru)
- 1/2 tsp toasted sesame seeds
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp cooking wine (mirin)
- 1/2 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp red chili flakes (gochugaru)
- 1/2 tsp toasted sesame seeds
- 1 tsp sesame oil
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Let’s start by preparing the sea squirt. Nowadays, you can easily find pre-cleaned sea squirts at supermarkets or local markets, which makes preparation very convenient. Please have your fresh, cleaned sea squirts ready. (The photo indicates that pre-cleaned sea squirts were purchased.)
Step 2
Gently rinse the prepared sea squirts once under running water. To preserve their delicate, ocean-fresh flavor, avoid washing them for too long or multiple times. After rinsing, place them in a colander to drain any excess water completely.
Step 3
Once the sea squirts are drained, use kitchen scissors to cut them into bite-sized pieces. If the sea squirt pieces are too large, they might not distribute evenly in each spoonful of bibimbap. Cutting them smaller ensures that you can savor the rich flavor of the sea squirt uniformly with every bite.
Step 4
Prepare the sea squirts by cutting them into these bite-sized pieces. (The photo shows the prepared sea squirts.)
Step 5
Now, let’s prepare the vegetables for the bibimbap! Finely chop the fragrant perilla leaves into about 1cm lengths.
Step 6
For a delightful crunch, julienne the carrot into thin, fine strips. Cutting the carrots thinly will help them blend better with the other ingredients.
Step 7
Julienne the vibrant red cabbage into thin strips, similar in thickness to the carrots.
Step 8
Onions will add sweetness and depth of flavor. Julienne them to a thickness comparable to the carrots. Be mindful not to cut them too thick, as raw onion can have a strong texture.
Step 9
Julienne the aromatic perilla leaves thinly, just like the other vegetables. Since the sea squirts are cut small, it’s best to cut all accompanying vegetables thinly as well for a harmonious texture and taste. Feel free to add other vegetables you have on hand (e.g., cucumber, lettuce) for extra flavor and variety!
Step 10
If you enjoy a bit of heat, finely mince the Korean green chili pepper and add it. Its spicy kick will elevate the overall flavor of the bibimbap. If you are sensitive to spice or preparing this for children, you can omit the chili pepper or adjust the quantity accordingly.
Step 11
Time to make the delicious seasoning sauce! In a small bowl, combine 1 Tbsp soy sauce, 1 Tbsp cooking wine (mirin), 1/2 tsp sugar, 1 tsp red chili flakes (gochugaru), 1/2 tsp toasted sesame seeds, and 1 tsp sesame oil. Stir well until all ingredients are thoroughly mixed. Your flavorful seasoning sauce is ready!
Step 12
Add the minced Korean green chili pepper and 2 tablespoons of the prepared seasoning sauce to the sea squirts. (You can adjust the amount of sauce to your preference.)
Step 13
Gently mix the sea squirts with the seasoning sauce using a spatula or spoon. Mix gently to avoid damaging the fresh texture of the sea squirts.
Step 14
Now it’s time to assemble the bibimbap! In a large bowl, spread the warm rice evenly. Then, generously top the rice with the chopped perilla leaves for added aroma and texture.
Step 15
Arrange the julienned vegetables (carrots, red cabbage, onion, etc.) attractively on top of the perilla leaves and rice. The colorful array of vegetables will make your bibimbap look even more appetizing.
Step 16
Drizzle the remaining seasoning sauce over the arranged vegetables. Adjust the amount of sauce according to your taste.
Step 17
Place the seasoned sea squirts in the center of the bowl. If you pile on plenty of sea squirts, you’ll create a wonderfully abundant and impressive Sea Squirt Bibimbap.
Step 18
Voila! Your delicious Sea Squirt Bibimbap is ready, bursting with the fresh flavor of the sea and a colorful medley of vegetables. Enjoy this bountiful dish generously topped with sea squirts. Feel free to add more of the remaining sauce when mixing to enhance the flavor even further.
