Super Easy Mandu (Dumpling) Bibimbap
Super Easy Mandu (Dumpling) Bibimbap
Quick & Easy Meal for One: Mandu Chinese-Style Bibimbap
Hello everyone! Today, I was really craving some Chinese-inspired food, and something spicy too! So, I decided to make a simple dish for those living alone using ingredients I had at home: Mandu Chinese-Style Bibimbap!
Main Ingredients- Mandu (dumplings), desired amount
- 1/2 Onion
- 1/4 piece Ham (e.g., Spam, sausage)
- 1/4 Green Onion
- 1/2 Tbsp Minced Garlic
Special Chinese Sauce- 1 Tbsp Gochugaru (Korean chili powder)
- 1 Tbsp Oyster Sauce
- 1/2 Tbsp Sesame Oil
- 1/2 Tbsp Sugar
- 1/2 Tbsp Doubanjiang (fermented chili bean paste) (Optional, for deeper flavor)
- 1 Tbsp Gochugaru (Korean chili powder)
- 1 Tbsp Oyster Sauce
- 1/2 Tbsp Sesame Oil
- 1/2 Tbsp Sugar
- 1/2 Tbsp Doubanjiang (fermented chili bean paste) (Optional, for deeper flavor)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, thinly slice the onion. Cut the ham into bite-sized pieces, about 0.5cm thick. Finely chop the green onion, preparing it to make green onion oil.
Step 2
Chop the frozen mandu (dumplings) into small pieces, about 1cm in size, without thawing them. This helps the sauce penetrate better and creates a richer texture when mixed with rice.
Step 3
Heat a pan with a generous amount of cooking oil. Add the chopped green onions and minced garlic, and sauté over medium-low heat. This will infuse the oil with the sweet aroma of green onions and the savory flavor of garlic, creating a delicious green onion & garlic oil.
Step 4
Once the aroma of green onions and garlic is released, add the sliced onion and chopped ham. Stir-fry over medium heat until the onions become translucent.
Step 5
When the onions start to soften, add the chopped mandu. Stir-fry everything together until the mandu pieces are lightly cooked on the surface.
Step 6
Once the mandu is partially cooked, add 1 Tbsp of gochugaru and stir-fry to infuse the mixture with the flavor of chili oil. You can also add 1/2 Tbsp of soy sauce at this stage. (If you are not using doubanjiang, adjust the seasoning here.)
Step 7
Next, add 1 Tbsp of oyster sauce and 1/2 Tbsp of sugar to enhance the umami and sweetness. Stir quickly to combine all ingredients.
Step 8
For a deeper, richer Chinese flavor, add 1/2 Tbsp of doubanjiang. It’s okay to omit it if you don’t have it, but if you enjoy its unique taste, definitely include it!
Step 9
Finally, add about 1/2 cup (100ml) of water and let it simmer and reduce until the sauce thickens slightly and coats the ingredients. Continue stir-frying for another 2-3 minutes to allow the sauce to meld with the other components.
Step 10
Serve the stir-fried mandu mixture generously over a bowl of warm rice. Finish with a drizzle of sesame oil for a complete Mandu Chinese-Style Bibimbap! You can also sprinkle some sesame seeds on top if you like.
Step 11
Using doubanjiang in this recipe brings out its characteristic deep and rich flavor, making it significantly more delicious. You’ll first notice a savory taste, followed by spiciness, and a pleasant subtle sweetness at the end. The combination of the hearty mandu and the soft dumpling wrapper pieces creates an enjoyable texture. This dish pairs wonderfully with a fried egg or a simple soup like seaweed soup, making it a perfect meal. Even without traditional Chinese bibimbap ingredients, this simple version is incredibly tasty, so please give it a try!
