The K-food that Enchanted the World!
Korea has plenty of tasty dishes, but if Koreans had to pick one as their
soul food, nine times out of ten, it will be gimbap. From childhood
memories of their moms preparing it for picnics, to cheap yet filling fast
food when they were students, gimbap has come a long way.
The versatility of gimbap has also allowed it to spread worldwide, with frozen vegetable gimbap available at Trader Joe’s in America quickly selling out. Keep reading to learn more about this tasty food, including top restaurants and foods that go great with gimbap.
Gimbap that captured the world
In simple terms, gimbap is a food made by rolling rice and a variety of ingredients in a sheet of laver before slicing into bite-sized pieces. Because the ingredients are highly customizable, gimbap can be made to anyone’s taste, whether it’s beef gimbap, tuna gimbap, or even vegetable gimbap. This last one is especially popular among vegetarians because there is no meat included.
Gimbap to your taste
The flavor of gimbap can easily be changed depending on the
ingredients used, the amount of rice, and even if there is a sauce or
not. Have you found your favorite gimbap flavor or gimbap shop
yet?
Vegetable gimbap
This basic gimbap is filled with vegetables like carrot,
spinach, cucumber, ueong (burdock root), and pickled radish. Some
shops will put in more exotic vegetables like broccoli or avocado. No
matter which vegetables are added, the crunchy texture of the
vegetables makes this gimbap variety stand out.
Tuna gimbap
The main ingredient in this gimbap is tuna mixed with
mayonnaise. The savory taste of the tuna goes great with the strong
flavor of perilla leaves, with many shops layering this ingredient
between the tuna and the rice. The salty tuna is balanced out by the
other fillings, making tuna gimbap a steady-seller.
This gimbap sees the addition of a cheese ingredient, such as
cheddar cheese or cream cheese. The creamy texture of cheese makes this
gimbap special. If you get the chance, be sure to try mozzarella cheese
gimbap when it’s warm; the cheese melts all through the ingredients for
a burst of flavors.
Egg gimbap
This gimbap stands out from the rest by using egg in place of the rice. This simple change replaces carbohydrates with protein, making this a great choice for people following a Keto diet. The thick egg wraps around the other ingredients for a tasty bite that is extremely filling.
This gimbap stands out from the rest by using egg in place of the rice. This simple change replaces carbohydrates with protein, making this a great choice for people following a Keto diet. The thick egg wraps around the other ingredients for a tasty bite that is extremely filling.
Korean’s go-to meals with gimbap
1) Enjoy with ramyeon or udong
Gimbap goes especially great with noodle dishes with a broth, like ramyeon or udong. The broth especially helps keep your mouth from feeling dry when eating rice. Many gimbap restaurants also provide udong broth free of charge. Ramyeon can provide a bit of spice that’s missing from eating gimbap alone.
2) Dip in tteokbokki sauce
Like dipping tortilla chips in salsa, Koreans enjoy dipping gimbap
in tteokbokki sauce. The spiciness of tteokbokki soaks into the rice
for a deep flavor.