Pop! Herring Roe Bibimbap
Pop! Herring Roe Bibimbap: A Rice-Thief Dish with Bursting Roe
This is a bibimbap recipe featuring fresh herring roe purchased from Oepohang Port in Ganghwa. A sprinkle of seaweed flakes and a good mix create a ‘rice thief’ dish, where the savory flavor of the fermented roe and the delightful popping texture of the herring roe come together to make you finish your bowl in no time. It’s so simple that even cooking beginners, those living alone, or people eating solo can easily follow along and make a delicious one-bowl meal.
Ingredients
- Warm cooked rice
- Salted herring roe
- Seaweed flakes (store-bought or homemade)
- Sesame oil
- Finely chopped green onion (or minced chili pepper, optional)
- A pinch of toasted sesame seeds
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
For the seaweed flakes, you can use store-bought ones, or for an extra nutty flavor, lightly toast regular seaweed sheets in a pan and then crumble them. When crumbling, it’s nice to leave some texture rather than making them too fine.
Step 2
Prepare warm, cooked rice. Using multi-grain rice, brown rice, or rice with beans makes for a healthier and tastier meal. While white rice looks visually appealing in photos, multi-grain rice is recommended for its nutritional benefits.
Step 3
On top of the warm rice, generously add the prepared salted herring roe, seaweed flakes, and toasted sesame seeds. If you like a bit of a kick, you can also add some finely chopped green onion or minced chili pepper for a hint of spiciness.
Step 4
Finally, drizzle about one tablespoon of sesame oil to add a rich, nutty aroma. Just opening the sesame oil bottle releases a wonderful fragrance that will whet your appetite.
Step 5
With these simple steps, your delicious one-bowl meal, Herring Roe Bibimbap, is ready! Serve it with fresh kimchi or crunchy radish kimchi for an even more satisfying meal. It’s a truly easy and delicious way to enjoy a quick meal.
Step 6
The salted herring roe is savory and full of umami, making it exceptionally delicious when mixed with warm rice. The roe itself has a pleasant saltiness, and the texture of what seems like nuts inside adds to its nutty and rich flavor profile.
Step 7
Beyond being enjoyed as bibimbap, salted herring roe can also be used as a savory paste for wraps, adding a burst of flavor, or as a filling for homemade rice balls for children. Explore the versatility of salted herring roe in various delicious ways.
