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Kimbap

Roll seasoned rice, colorful vegetables and protein in seaweed to make Korean kimbap, the perfect grab-and-go picnic or lunchbox bite.

45 min Medium Coreana 2 servings
Kimbap

The story behind

Picnic food, school outing, portable lunch: kimbap is the Korean roll made for eating away from home, easy to carry and easy to eat by hand. At a glance it resembles Japanese sushi, but the differences are real and worth spelling out plainly. Kimbap rice is seasoned with sesame oil and salt rather than rice vinegar, which gives it a nutty, toasted flavor instead of a tangy one and lets it hold up well at room temperature through a day out. The fillings tend to be cooked or cured rather than raw: egg omelet, sauteed carrot, spinach, ham, or pickles. The rolling technique calls for pressing firmly with the bamboo mat as you go, so the gim seaweed wraps tight and the roll won't fall apart when sliced. One key trick: brush a little sesame oil over the finished roll before cutting, which adds shine and aroma and keeps the knife from tearing the seaweed. Each slice reveals a tight mosaic of color, scented with toasted sesame.

Instructions

  1. 1
    Prepare the rice and season lightly with sesame oil and a pinch of salt.
  2. 2
    Lay out a seaweed sheet and spread a thin, even layer of rice over it.
  3. 3
    Place the ingredients (egg, carrots, cabbage, crab sticks, and greens) horizontally across the rice.
  4. 4
    Roll tightly using a bamboo mat to ensure the fillings are compact.
  5. 5
    Slice the roll into roughly 2 cm rounds using a sharp, slightly damp knife.
  6. 6
    Serve on a plate for a professional and clean presentation.

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