Yes, it's been since June since the last post! I'll be trying to blog regularly from now on since those first three months of pregnancy are over and the nausea has subsided enough for me to return to the kitchen.
I wanted to post about my favorite Korean dish - Bi Bim Bap. Bi Bim Bap is frequently served in a hot stone bowl, in which case it would be called Dol Sot Bi Bim Bap.
It's an extremely nutritious dish - full of vegetables, with anchovies and egg as protein, served over rice. Most people eat it with a semi-sweet, slightly spicy, red pepper paste.
I'm giving the recipe for our easy home-made version. You will find many variants of this recipe, since Bi Bim Bap can really be made with a variety of vegetables, depending on your preference and what is in your fridge. In that way, it can be economical and a great way to use up raw vegetables while they are still fresh. And since this recipe is so centered around vegetables, they need to be the freshest!
Our basic recipe for two calls for:
3 or 4 carrots, julienned
One package small mushrooms (baby bellas cut into fourths or enoki mushrooms are good choices)
1 package spinach, washed
2 cups jasmine rice
myulchi bokkeum (stir-fried dried anchovies)
Korean red pepper paste
1/2 Cup soy sauce
2 Tbs Sesame oil
2 or 3 Pinches Sesame seeds
One package sliced green onion
2 eggs
For Myulchi Bokkeum (thank you, Maangchi!):
1 cup dried anchovies, 1 tbs olive oi, 1 or 2 tbs sugar, 1/2 tsp minced garlic, 2 tsp water, and 1/2 tbs corn syrup (Optional. We use canola oil instead and it turns out great!). Follow recipe through the link above - it's very easy and delicious.
1. First, put your rice on to steam in your rice cooker or pan.
2. Mix soy sauce, sesame oil, and sesame seeds in a small bowl. Add 3 tablespoons of chopped green onion. Set aside.
3. Make myulchi bokkeum, following Maanchi's recipe above.
4. Blanch your vegetables one at a time: carrots, spinach, and mushrooms. (You can also fry your mushrooms for a few minutes in 1 or 2 tbs sesame oil for stronger flavor).
5. Arrange blanched vegetables on a plate along with the extra sliced green onion.
6. Sprinkle some sesame seeds over your mushrooms. Drizzle vegetables with a small amount of sesame oil if you like.
7. Fry two eggs (we use the same pan used for the mushrooms without washing it first).
8. Fill your bowls with rice. Arrange your bi bim bap as desired - the vegetables go on top of the rice, spoon a little of the soy sauce blend over the veggies, and top each bowl with your fried egg. You can either mix your anchovies into the dish or eat them on the side. Add Korean red pepper paste to taste throughout the meal.
Enjoy!
