Food Cravings - Bibimbap

Ok, I'm completly hopeless at blogging, I just realised I hadn't added anything for well over a year, maybe I should try a little harder :) I went shopping today in Zürich at a Korean store, just off Bahnhofstrasse called Yumihana at Schützengasse 7.  Really handy to get to and the lady at the counter was super nice, but it is a little more expensive than other Asian food stores in Zürich. You can also eat there - sitting at a counter, but I'm still easily shocked at Zürich prices, so 20CHF for Bibimbap seemed outrageous! I'll probably find an excuse to one day eat there - I haven't eaten Korean food for such a long, but for tonight, I'll just have to make my own....what a suprise.

So, Bibimbap (pronounced 'Bee beam bop' I think) hot rice with various toppings, and if you're lucky, "dol sot" when it's served in a sizzling hot stone bowl that makes the bottom of the rice golden and crunchy *drooling slightly* but not tonight, as I don't own any stone bowls.....yet.

Bibimbap - the egg was overcooked, and my photography skills are pretty poor!

Bibimbap is one of the most famous dishes from Korea and I used to eat it all the time at a little hole in the wall joint near the University in Canberra (I say 'hole in the wall joint' but it was actually bigger than Yumihana AND you could sit down at a real table).

So, this can be as simple or as complicated as you like, just make more or less of the suggested toppings. Generally, all vegetables are thinly sliced (julianned) and then stir-fried in a little sesame oil, garlic, and a pinch of salt. You can also make this as a vegetarian meal or use chicken, or pork instead of beef....in that case don't bother with the Bulgogi recipe, just stir fry. These amounts are only approximate as it depends on how many toppings you use, but here I'm cooking for 2-3 people. The red chilli sauce is vital (and rather addictive) I buy one from the New Asia Market here in Zürich that is quite similar. I think there is a more authentic Korean chilli sauce called gochujang that I want to try.

Ingreedients
Short grain rice - such as jasmine
2 egg yolks (or you can use whole eggs, but fry them first)
red chilli sauce

Toppings
2 Carrots
2 zuchinni
1 white radish (daikon)
dried shitake mushrooms
spinach
chopped garlic, salt and good quality  sesame oil

Bulgogi beef
250g rump steak
marinade
1/4 cup soy
1 tbl chopped garlic
2 tsp grated ginger
1 tbl brown sugar
1/4 white onion grated
2 tsp honey
1 tbl roasted sesame seeds

Cucumber salad
1/2 long cucumber
1 tsp salt
2 tbls red paste:
(2 tbs chilli paste 1 tbl honey, 1tbl cider vinegar, 1 tbl water, 2 tsp sesame oil).

Bean sprouts
200g bean sprouts
1/3 cup water
1/2 tsp salt
3 tbl chopped spring onions
2 tsp sesame oil
2 tsp roasted sesame seeds


1. Prepare the rice - wash throughly, 3-5 water changes, and I also soak the rice for 30 minutes before cooking. At the moment I'm trying to build a better relationship with the rice cooker, so I'm not going to write out any other instructions on how to cook rice. Don't cook the rice too early as it will take some time to prepare the toppings.

Sliced beef and Phoenix brand chilli sauce.

2. Prepare the bulgogi. I freeze the meat for about an hour to make it easier to slice thinly, I aim for paper thin and usually manage about 2mm. Mix together the marinade ingreedients then add the meat. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight. When ready to cook, just stir-fry.


3. Prepare the cucumber salad. How you slice this is up to you, but I would reccomend cutting the cucumber in half, scooping out the seeds and then slice each half into thin little half moons, 2mm - 5mm thick. Add the teaspoon of salt and leave for 5 minutes. Squeeze out any excess moisture and add the red paste. Mix and set aside.

4. Prepare the bean sprouts. Put the salt, water and sprouts in a saucepan and steam for 5 minutes. Drain the sprouts and add the toasted sesame seeds, sesame oil and spring onions.

5. Prepare the other vegetables. whichcever vegetables you choose, they are prepared in essentially the same way. Slice thinly into matchsticks (or a bit smaller if you can manage) and lightly stir-fry with a teaspoon of chopped garlic and sesame oil and a pinch of salt. Note that dried shitake mushrooms need to be reconstituted in hot water for about 20 - 30 minutes, the stalk discarded and then the caps finely sliced.

6. Assemble!  Divide the hot cooked rice between 2 bowls and arrange the various toppings over the rice, like the spokes on a wheel, radiating out from the centre.  If you're really keen and th ebowls are super hot you can place an egg yolk in the centre, otherwise, use a fried egg (with a runny centre).  To eat, add some chilli sauce and mix it all together :)