Bibimbap Recipe

Here’s a detailed 30-minute Bibimbap recipe — quick enough for a weeknight meal but still authentic and delicious.

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🥢 Quick Korean Bibimbap (비빔밥)

Time: 30 minutes | Serves: 2–3 | Skill level: Easy

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🧂 Ingredients

🍚 For the Rice

• 2 cups cooked short-grain white rice (warm)

• 1 tsp sesame oil

• Pinch of salt

🥕 For the Vegetable Toppings

(You can substitute or simplify depending on what you have)

• 1 small carrot – julienned

• 1 small zucchini – julienned

• 100 g (3.5 oz) spinach – blanched

• 100 g bean sprouts – blanched

• 4–5 shiitake mushrooms (or button mushrooms) – sliced

• 1 tsp minced garlic (for stir-fries)

• Salt to season each veggie

• 2 tsp sesame oil (divided)

• 1 tsp roasted sesame seeds

🥩 For the Protein

(Choose one or skip for vegetarian)

• Option 1 – Beef: 150 g (5 oz) thinly sliced beef

• Option 2 – Tofu: 150 g firm tofu, sliced and pan-fried

Beef Marinade:

• 1 tbsp soy sauce

• 1 tsp sugar

• 1 tsp sesame oil

• 1 tsp minced garlic

• Pinch of black pepper

🍳 For the Egg

• 2 eggs (fried sunny side up or over-easy)

🌶️ For the Gochujang Sauce

• 2 tbsp gochujang (Korean red pepper paste)

• 1 tbsp sesame oil

• 1 tbsp sugar (or honey)

• 1 tbsp water

• 1 tsp rice vinegar (optional)

• ½ tsp minced garlic

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🔪 Step-by-Step Instructions (30 minutes total)

⏱ 0–5 min: Prep

1. Cook rice (or reheat leftover rice).

2. Julienne vegetables; slice mushrooms.

3. Mix gochujang sauce ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.

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⏱ 5–15 min: Prepare Vegetables

4. Blanch spinach:

   • Boil water, add spinach for 30 sec, drain, rinse in cold water.

   • Squeeze out water, mix with a dash of sesame oil, salt, and sesame seeds.

5. Blanch bean sprouts:

   • Same boiling water; cook 1 min, rinse, drain.

   • Toss with a pinch of salt, sesame oil, and garlic.

6. Stir-fry zucchini & carrot:

   • Lightly oil pan; sauté each separately with a pinch of salt for 1–2 min.

7. Cook mushrooms:

   • Sauté with oil, garlic, and salt until tender (2–3 min).

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⏱ 15–25 min: Cook Protein

8. If using beef:

   • Mix beef with marinade, stir-fry on medium heat for 3–4 min.

   • (If tofu: pan-fry slices until golden both sides, drizzle with soy sauce.)

9. Fry eggs sunny-side-up in a lightly oiled pan.

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⏱ 25–30 min: Assemble

10. In bowls:

    • Place warm rice at the bottom.

    • Neatly arrange vegetables and protein on top (like a color wheel).

    • Add egg in the center.

    • Drizzle with sesame oil and sprinkle sesame seeds.

11. Serve with the gochujang sauce on the side or on top.

👉 Mix everything well before eating — the colors and textures blend into the classic Korean comfort bowl.

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💡 Optional Add-Ons

• Add kimchi, seaweed strips, or cucumber for freshness.

• Use brown rice, quinoa, or cauliflower rice for a healthier version.

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🔥 Tip for Perfect Bibimbap in 30 min

• Cook rice first; prep veggies while it cooks.

• Use one large skillet — cook vegetables one after another, wiping quickly between.

• Ready-made gochujang bibimbap sauce saves a few minutes too.