Here’s Why Korean Bibimbap Is Trending the World Over—Plus, One Gut-Healthy Recipe to Try

So why would possibly bibimbap recipes, particularly, be surging in recognition as of late? “Bibimbap is consolation meals, and everybody loves consolation meals,” shares Maggie Moon, RD, a Korean–American dietitian and mind well being vitamin skilled for MIND Weight-reduction plan Meals. “Individuals are interested by international flavors, and bibimbap is a beginner-friendly option to discover Korean delicacies.”

As a result of you’ll be able to combine and match leftover components and pantry and fridge staples, bibimbap can also be interesting for its sensible and accessible nature. In different phrases, bibimbap gained’t solely take your style buds on a culinary journey to the Far East, however it additionally lets you add your individual spin to the dish and helps lower down on meals waste.

Forward, study extra about this nutritious and extremely customizable Korean dish. Then, learn to whip it up at dwelling with Moon’s personal bibimbap recipe.

What’s bibimbap?

“Bibimbap means combined rice,” Moon explains, with bap being the Korean phrase for rice. “After rice, the preferred components embrace veggies like spinach, bean sprouts, carrots, and mushrooms, however I’ve additionally had bibimbap with zucchini, fernbrake, and bellflower roots,” she says. Subsequent up, Korean sauces, usually primarily based in gochujang (spicy fermented purple chili paste), are non-negotiable. As long as you embrace these foundational components, you’ll be able to just about direct your individual foodie journey from there.

“Bibimbap will be tailored to no matter leftovers you may have in your fridge,” Moon continues. For instance, you’ll be able to add no matter greens you may have readily available and varied sources of protein, whether or not from animals (meat and/or an egg) or vegan-friendly sources.

Well being advantages of bibimbap

As a result of bibimbap contains quite a lot of greens and entire grains, you will get a range of vitamins with every recipe you whip up. “Bibimbap is a good automobile for entire grains. This may be any form of rice, however brown rice or a multigrain rice is an effective way so as to add antioxidants and gut-friendly dietary fiber to the dish,” says Moon.

The colourful veggies additionally make it a simple option to eat the rainbow (or not less than a number of completely different hues) and attain the final word purpose of consuming 30 crops per week—the best goal for a wholesome intestine microbiome, in response to analysis by the American Intestine Challenge. Sadly, just one in 10 American adults devour the quantity of produce really helpful by the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention. However a single serving of bibimbap, relying on the way you construct it, could make a serious dent on these quotas.

“The number of colours means you’re getting quite a lot of polyphenol antioxidants that shield the physique from dangerous molecules. Analysis exhibits {that a} weight loss program excessive in anti-inflammatory polyphenols is related to higher psychological and cognitive well being,” Moon explains.

For those who’re an omnivore, throwing in a small serving of meat can strike a super ratio of crops to animal meals. “Bibimbap will be made with thinly sliced lean beef or floor turkey as one of many toppings—often seasoned and cooked with some garlic and inexperienced onions,” Moon shares. She additionally calls out the deserves of together with an egg, which not solely offers six grams of protein but in addition the antioxidant lutein and memory-supporting choline.

5 Tricks to make your individual bibimbap recipe

There are numerous methods to arrange your individual bibimbap recipe at dwelling, however listed here are some suggestions that will help you get began, together with Moon’s recipe under.

“There are 10+ crops on this one-bowl balanced meal, together with 5 out of the ten really helpful brain-boosting MIND meals: entire grains, leafy inexperienced greens, extra greens, olive oil, and beans,” she says. Nonetheless, she invitations you to change the recipe relying by yourself dietary preferences and no matter you may have readily available.

1. Swap up the veggies

The perfect bibimbap bowl has not less than three colourful greens, that are sliced into brief matchsticks or different small shapes, Moon says. “A pared down model of this recipe [below] is simply as scrumptious and nutritious with spinach, carrots, soybean sprouts, mushrooms, and an egg along with the rice and the sauce,” Moon says. Another colourful veggies she suggests including into the combination embrace chopped broccoli, matchstick bell peppers, and cucumbers.

2. Substitute plant-based protein

Although topping bibimbap with an egg is frequent and Moon makes use of it in her recipe, she additionally suggests including braised black beans, soybean sprouts, and/or seasoned tofu for added plant-based protein.

3. Diversify your grains

You should utilize brown or multigrain rice to construct your bowl. Moon recommends utilizing 5- or 7- or 9-grain blends, which yow will discover at Korean grocery shops.

4. Add extra Korean flavors

Whether or not you make or purchase extra Korean staples—particularly banchan (Korean facet dishes) and different seasoned toppings—together with them in bibimbap is an excellent option to get pleasure from them. As an example, you’ll be able to at all times embrace some fermented fare like kimchi—the mouth-puckering nationwide dish of South Korea—to double down on the gut-friendly advantages, courtesy of fiber and probiotics.

5. Go all in with the dishware

Bonus factors go to those that make their bibimbap in a dolsot (stone bowl), which is able to toast the underside of the rice. “The toasted rice will be loved as-is or mixed with sizzling water to make a no-waste impromptu end-of-meal tea,” Moon shares.

A Plant-Ahead Bibimbap Recipe

Yields 4 servings

Elements

4 cups cooked brown rice (or any entire grain rice)

For the greens:
1 massive carrot
8 oz mung bean sprouts
1 Tbsp + 1.5 tsp sesame oil, divided
10 oz spinach
1 tsp olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced, divided
1 medium zucchini
8 oz shiitake mushrooms

For the jang (fermented paste):
1/3 cup gochujang
3 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 Tbsp sesame oil
1 tsp sesame seeds

For the mu saengchae (spicy radish salad):
5 oz Jeju radish (or daikon radish)
2 tsp brown rice vinegar (or any gentle vinegar)
1 tsp gochugaru (Korean purple chili flakes) or sub crushed purple pepper flakes
Minced garlic
Salt and pepper, to style

4 massive eggs
Optionally available garnishes: inexperienced onion, sesame seeds, dried seaweed strips

1. Cook dinner the rice: Make rice in response to bundle instructions, on the range prime, or in a rice cooker. For the greens, fill a medium pot about midway full with water and warmth till boiling.
2. Prep the produce: Whereas the rice cooks and water boils, wash, dry, and prep all of the produce. Peel the radish, and scrub or peel the carrots. Julienne lower the zucchini, carrot, and radish. Set zucchini in a paper towel-lined high quality mesh strainer. Squeeze and drain extra liquid after 10 minutes. Minimize mushrooms into 1/4-inch slices. Measure out all the opposite components.
3. Make the jang: In a small bowl, combine collectively gochujang, apple cider vinegar, sesame seed oil, sesame seeds, and put aside for not less than 10 minutes. Stir often.
4. Make the mu saengchae: In a medium bowl, mix Jeju radish, brown rice vinegar, gochugaru, and half of minced garlic, tossing gently to mix. Alter the quantity of chili flakes, relying on how spicy you’d prefer it to be.
5. Blanch the carrot and bean sprouts: As soon as water is boiling, put together a big ice bathtub in a big bowl with ice and water. Blanch carrots in boiling water for 1-3 minutes or till simply barely cooked, then switch to ice bathtub and agitate for 30 seconds or till cool. Put aside to dry. Squeeze and drain extra liquid earlier than including to a small bowl with 1/4 teaspoon of sesame oil. Season with salt to style.
6. Within the boiling water used for the carrots, blanch the bean sprouts for 3-5 minutes till simply cooked. Switch to the ice bathtub and repeat the remaining steps used for carrots.
7. Sauté the spinach, zucchini, and mushrooms: Warmth a medium pan over medium-high warmth with 1 tsp olive oil. Add spinach and the opposite half of minced garlic. Season flippantly with salt and pepper to style. Sauté for 60-90 seconds or till wilted. Squeeze and drain extra liquid, lower into 2- to 3-inch items, toss with 1/4 teaspoon of sesame oil, and put aside.
8. In the identical pan used for the spinach (add slightly olive oil if the pan is dry), sauté the zucchini for 60-90 seconds or till simply cooked. Squeeze and drain extra liquid, toss with 1/4 teaspoon of sesame oil, put aside.
9. In the identical pan used for the spinach and zucchini, warmth 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil till sizzling however not smoking. Add mushrooms, season with salt to style. Sauté till browned, about 3-5 minutes. Drain extra liquid and put aside.
10. Assemble your bowl of bibimbap: Divide rice amongst 4 bowls. Prepare spinach, carrots, mushrooms, zucchini, and sprouts so they’re every seen and lay from the middle of the bowl out, like spokes of a wheel.
11. Cook dinner the eggs: In a non-stick pan, warmth slightly olive oil till sizzling however not smoking, then prepare dinner sunny-side up eggs till the tops of the egg whites are set, about 2-3 minutes. High every bowl with a freshly cooked egg. Add any optionally available garnishes, if utilizing. Get pleasure from!