Kimbap

Kimbap or gimbap (김밥) is a classic Korean sushi rolls. This kimbap recipe is not only delicious, but also colorful. Kimbap is a healthy sushi roll with carbohydrate, vegetables and protein. Also, I like to pick colorful and healthy ingredients to make these beautiful and attractive kimbap rolls, so kids want to eat them too.

Like Korean food? Looking for more Korean dinner night ideas check out these homemade kimchi, vegan kimchi tofu soup, Korean japchae glass noodles and ginseng chicken soup recipes as well.

What is kimbap (김밥) or gimbap?

Gimbap is a popular Korean style sushi roll. Gim means dried seaweed sheet (nori). Bap means cooked rice. Now, people commonly spell kimbap instead of gimbap.

When do people normally eat gimbap?

Kimbap is a popular Korean take out food. People like to eat kimbap as a packed meal for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Most of the time, people make gimbap for picnics, outdoors or gathering events.

What are the ingredients in kimbap (김밥) recipe?

The first time I was introduced to kimbap was when I was in elementary school that my Korean classmate bought his mother homemade kimbap for lunch. The ingredients in gimbap usually are rice, nori, meat, vegetables, eggs, yellow pickled radish, imitation crab meat and etc.

For this kimbap recipe, I used some basic ingredients such as rice, nori and the fillings are beef, spinach, egg strips, yellow pickled radish and carrots.

Cooking tips for how to make kimbap rolls: 

Rice:

• Make sure the rice is level off and soak in the water.
• Wait until the cooked rice is cool off before wrapping on a seaweed.

Spinach:

• Wash and soak the spinach very well because spinach has lots of sand.
• Boil the spinach, drain the water and rinse under cold water.
• Squeeze extra water from boiled spinach.

Wrapping and rolling Korean sushi rolls:

• Put a plastic wrap around the bamboo sushi roll mat, so it won’t get dirty and easier for cleaning.
• Lay a thin layer of rice on nori.
• Remember to leave some space at the top of nori around 1-1.5 inch.
• Put little more filling, but not too much enough for folding and rolling.
• Brush or wipe some sesame oil on the rolls before slicing.
• Slice into bite sized pieces.

FAQS :

What is the difference between Japanese sushi and Korean kimbap rolls?

In fact, they are very similar. The main difference is the rice seasoning. Japanese sushi is seasoned with rice vinegar which is vinegar with salt and sugar. Korean sushi roll’s rice is seasoned with salt and sesame oil.

What kind of rice do you use for making kimbap?

Normally, I use Japanese sushi rice for making sushi and kimbap. They are short and wider rice.

In the states, calrose brand rice is very popular and easy to find in most regular grocery stores and I like to use it to make sushi and gimbap Korean sushi rolls.

Can you refrigerate gimbap overnight?

Yes, you can. However, I don’t recommend it because when you refrigerate it, the rice will be harder and doesn’t taste as good as fresh make. The best is to consume them the same day as you make it.

How long can you keep kimbap out?

Few hours at room temperature. If the weather is cooler, no more than a day. Most of the time, I wrap kimbap in tin foil or plastic wrap, so it can keep rice moist and will not dry off fast.

Instructions on how to make gimbap Korean sushi rolls:

Rice:

1.Wash and drain 3 cups of rice very well. Then, put into an instant pot pressure cooker and add 3 cups of water. Make sure the rice is level off and covered in the water.

Close the lid and vent. Push the manual button and adjust the time for 6 minutes and natural release.

After, put the cooked rice into a mixing bowl, add ½ teaspoon of salt, 1 tablespoon of sesame oil and mix them well. Set it aside and let it cool off.

Fillings:

Beef:

2. Cut 1 pound of beef round steak into strips.

After that, put the beef into a container and add ½ teaspoon garlic powder, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 tablespoon brown sugar and 1 tablespoon sesame oil. Mix it well and let it marinate for at least 15 minutes.

Next, stir fry the beef until it changes color.

Carrots:

3. Peel and cut 2 small carrots into strips.

And, stir fry them by adding ½ tablespoon of vegetable oil and ⅛ teaspoon of salt into a pan. Cover the lid and cook the carrots until it’s soft.

Eggs:

4. Beat 3 eggs in a bowl. Then, pour ½ tablespoon of vegetable oil into a non-stick pan and turn on medium small fire to pan fry the eggs.

Then, cut the eggs into strips.

Spinach:

5. Wash and soak 1 bunch of spinach very well. Then, boil them in water.

After that, drain the water and rinse it under cold water. Remove excess water by squeezing the spinach.

Put the cooked spinach in a container, add ⅛ teaspoon of salt, 1 teaspoon of sesame oil and mix them well.

6. Cut 1 piece of yellow pickled radish into long strips.

Rolling:

7. Now, kimbap filling ingredients are ready. Let’s wrap kimbap.

First, put a nori on a bamboo sushi roll mat. Second, put a thin layer of seasoned rice on nori. Remember to leave some space at the top around 1-1.5 inch.

Third, add fillings and roll the gimbap with a bamboo sushi mat. See the details in the video.

8. Next, brush or wipe some sesame oil around Korean sushi rolls.

9. Then, slice kimbap rolls into bite sized pieces.

Enjoy this kimbap recipe! Also, check out these steamed garlic shrimp, how to make chili oil and red bean mochi recipes. 

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE THESE RECIPES:

• HAM FRIED RICE
• BAKED PORK CHOPS AND RICE –HONG KONG STYLE (港式豬扒焗飯)
• JAPANESE CURRY
• MAPO TOFU RECIPE

Subscribe Oh My Food Recipes to get our new recipes delivered straight to your inbox! Follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all the latest updates.