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 this 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 rolls. 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 packed meal for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Most of time, people make gimbap for picnic, outdoors or gathering events.
What are the ingredients in kimbap (김밥) recipe?
The first time I was introduced to kimbap when I was in elementary school that my Korean classmate bought his mother homemade kimbap for lunch. The ingredients in gimbap usually is 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
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 of 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 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 in room temperature. If the weather is cooler, no more than a day. Most of time, I wrap kimbap in tinfoil or plastic wrap, so can keep rice moist and will not dry off fast.
Instructions on how to make gimbap Korean sushi rolls:
1.Wash and drain 3 cups of rice very well. Then, put into instant pot and add 3 cups of water. Make sure the rice is level off and soak in the water.
Close the lid and vent. Push manual button and adjust the time for 6 minutes and natural release.
After that, put the cooked rice into a mixing bowl, add 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1 tablespoon of sesame oil and mix them well. Set it aside and let it cool off.
2. Peel and cut carrots into strips and stir-fried them by adding 1/2 tablespoon of vegetable oil and 1/8 teaspoon of salt into a pan. Cover the lid and cook the carrots until it’s soft.
3. Beat the eggs, add 1/2 tablespoon of vegetable oil into a non-stick pan and turn on medium small fire to pan-fried the eggs. Then, cut the eggs into strips.
4. Wash and soak 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 1/8 teaspoon of salt, 1 teaspoon of sesame oil and mix them well.
5. Cut yellow pickled radish into long strips
6. 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.
7. Brush or wipe some sesame oil around Korean sushi rolls.
8. Slice kimbap rolls into bite sized
Enjoy this kimbap recipe and check out these homemade kimchi, vegan kimchi tofu soup, Korean japchae glass noodles and ginseng chicken soup Korean recipes too!
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Kimbap (김밥)
Ingredients
- 1 piece Yellow pickled radish (big piece)
- 7 sheets Nori/ Seaweed sheets nori
- 1/2 teaspoon Sesame oil (Brushing the rolls before cutting)
Rice
- 3 cups Calrose rice (uncooked)
- 3 cups Water
Rice Seasoning:
- 1/2 teaspoon Salt
- 1 tablespoon Sesame oil
Beef
- 1 pound Top round steak
Steak Seasoning:
- 1/2 teaspoon Garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons Soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon Brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon Sesame oil
Spinach
- 1 bunch Spinach
Spinach Seasoning:
- 1/8 teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Sesame oil
Carrot
- 2 pieces Carrot (small one)
Carrots stir fried:
- 1/2 tablespoon Vegetable oil
- 1/8 teaspoon Salt
Egg
- 3 Eggs
Eggs pan fried:
- 1/2 tablespoon vegetables oil
Instructions
How to make Kimbap Korean sushi rolls
- Wash and drain 3 cups of rice very well. Then, put into instant pot and add 3 cups of water. Make sure the rice is level off and soak in the water. Close the lid and vent. Push manual button and adjust time for 6 minutes and natural release. After that, put the cooked rice into a mixing bowl, add 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1 tablespoon of sesame oil and mix them well. Set it aside and let it cool off.
- Peel and cut carrots into strips and stir fried them by adding 1/2 tablespoon of vegetable oil and 1/8 teaspoon of salt into a pan. Cover the lid and cook the carrots until it’s soft.
- Beat the eggs, add 1/2 tablespoon of vegetable oil into a non-stick pan and turn on medium small fire to pan fried the eggs. Then, cut the eggs into strips.
- Wash and soak 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 1/8 of teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon of sesame oil and mix them well.
- Cut yellow pickled radish into long strips
- Now, 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.
- Brush or wipe some sesame oil around Korean sushi rolls.
- Slice kimbap rolls into bite sized
Video
Notes
COOKING TIPS FOR HOW TO MAKE KIMBAP ROLL:
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