Bibimbap

Serves
serves 4

TODD COLEMAN

Ingredients

For the Sauce

³⁄₄ cup cup gochujang (Korean spicy red pepper paste; available here)
6 tbsp. lemon-lime soda, such as Sprite
3 tbsp. doenjang (Korean soybean paste; available here) or miso
2 tbsp. corn syrup
2 tbsp. sesame oil
2 tbsp. minced garlic
2 tbsp. minced ginger
1 tbsp. brown rice vinegar
1 ¹⁄₂ tsp. sesame seeds

For the Bibimbap

4 oz. mung bean sprouts
8 oz. baby spinach
12 dried shiitake mushrooms
6 tbsp. canola oil
3 tsp. sesame oil
2 tbsp. plus 2 tsp. minced garlic
2 ¹⁄₂ tsp. minced ginger Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste
6 oz. gosari (called bracken fern), cut into 3″ pieces (optional)
2 small Korean squash or zucchini, halved and cut crosswise into 1/4″-thick slices
2 medium carrots, julienned
¹⁄₄ small daikon radish, julienned
³⁄₄ tsp. sesame seeds
8 oz. firm tofu, cut into 1/2″-thick slabs
4 cups cooked white sushi rice
4 sunny-side-up eggs
2 leaves chicory, thinly sliced
2 leaves green-leaf lettuce, thinly sliced
1 scallion, thinly sliced

Bibimbap

This staple Korean rice dish can be made with meat or seafood and served hot, but we love this fresh-tasting cold, vegetarian version. Get the recipe for Bibimbap »

Bibimbap, the staple Korean rice dish, can be made with meat or seafood and served hot, but we love this fresh-tasting cold, vegetarian version. This recipe first appeared with Beth Kracklauer's story Seoul Food. For step-by-step photo instructions for making bibimbap, see our photo gallery.

Ingredients

For the Sauce

³⁄₄ cup cup gochujang (Korean spicy red pepper paste; available here)
6 tbsp. lemon-lime soda, such as Sprite
3 tbsp. doenjang (Korean soybean paste; available here) or miso
2 tbsp. corn syrup
2 tbsp. sesame oil
2 tbsp. minced garlic
2 tbsp. minced ginger
1 tbsp. brown rice vinegar
1 ¹⁄₂ tsp. sesame seeds

For the Bibimbap

4 oz. mung bean sprouts
8 oz. baby spinach
12 dried shiitake mushrooms
6 tbsp. canola oil
3 tsp. sesame oil
2 tbsp. plus 2 tsp. minced garlic
2 ¹⁄₂ tsp. minced ginger Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste
6 oz. gosari (called bracken fern), cut into 3″ pieces (optional)
2 small Korean squash or zucchini, halved and cut crosswise into 1/4″-thick slices
2 medium carrots, julienned
¹⁄₄ small daikon radish, julienned
³⁄₄ tsp. sesame seeds
8 oz. firm tofu, cut into 1/2″-thick slabs
4 cups cooked white sushi rice
4 sunny-side-up eggs
2 leaves chicory, thinly sliced
2 leaves green-leaf lettuce, thinly sliced
1 scallion, thinly sliced

Instructions

Step 1

Make the sauce: In a bowl, whisk gochujang, soda, soybean paste, corn syrup, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, vinegar, and sesame until smooth; set aside.

Step 2

Make the bibimbap: Bring a 4-qt. saucepan of water to a boil, and add sprouts; cook until crisptender, about 30 seconds. Transfer to a bowl of ice water, drain, and dry with paper towels; set aside. Repeat procedure with spinach (squeeze out as much liquid as possible when draining). When finished, pour boiling water into a bowl and add mushrooms; let soften for 30 minutes. Drain, remove stems, and slice 1⁄4″-thick; set aside.

Step 3

Heat 1 tbsp. canola oil and 1⁄2 tsp. sesame oil in a 10″ nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add 1 tsp. garlic, 1⁄2 tsp. ginger, and mushrooms, season with salt and pepper; cook until hot, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a bowl; set aside. Repeat procedure, using same amounts of canola oil, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger, with the gosari, squash, carrot, and radish; season each with salt and pepper. Set each aside in separate bowls, and add 1⁄4 tsp. sesame seeds to radishes. Add 1 1⁄2 tsp. garlic, 1⁄4 tsp. sesame oil, salt, and pepper each to sprouts and spinach; stir. Heat remaining canola oil in skillet, and add tofu; cook, turning once, until browned, 4–6 minutes. Transfer to a plate; cut each in half.

Step 4

To serve, place 1 cup rice each in center of 4 bowls, and top each with a fried egg. Place 1⁄4 of mushrooms in a mound in each bowl over the rice. Working clockwise, arrange 1⁄4 each squash, carrot, radish, spinach, sprouts, gosari, chicory, and lettuce. Place tofu on lettuces; sprinkle with sesame seeds and scallions. Serve with sauce on the side.