Savory and Satisfying Kimchi Rice (Kimchi Bap)
A Delightful Homemade Kimchi Rice Recipe
Discover a unique and flavorful rice dish that’s different from kimchi fried rice! This ‘Kimchi Bap’ is gently seasoned and clean yet packs just as much deliciousness. It’s a perfect way to use up ripe kimchi for a hearty and satisfying meal. Unlike stir-fried rice, the kimchi flavor is infused directly into the rice grains, making it exceptionally special. This recipe is detailed step-by-step, ensuring even beginners can achieve success. Let’s get cooking!
Main Ingredients
- 1 cup rice (approx. 200g)
- 1 and 1/4 cups water (approx. 250ml)
- 200g well-fermented kimchi
- 150g pork (stew cut or ground pork)
- 3 Tbsp perilla oil (deulgireum)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, finely chop the kimchi into bite-sized pieces (about 1-1.5cm). Prepare the pork by cutting it into stew-sized pieces or using ground pork. Heat a frying pan over medium heat, add 2 tablespoons of perilla oil, and then add the chopped kimchi and pork. Sauté until the kimchi softens and the pork is cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. This process mellows the kimchi’s tartness and enhances its savory flavor.
Step 2
While the kimchi and pork are cooking, rinse the 1 cup of rice thoroughly. Rinse the rice gently 2-3 times, discarding the water each time, to avoid stripping away nutrients. Drain the rinsed rice in a sieve to remove excess water.
Step 3
Now, prepare to cook the rice. Place the drained rice into the inner pot of your rice cooker, and add the 1 and 1/4 cups of water. If using your rice cooker’s ‘white rice’ setting, you might want to reduce the water slightly from your usual amount. Evenly spread the sautéed kimchi and pork mixture over the rice. Cooking the rice with the kimchi and pork on top allows the flavors to meld beautifully into every grain.
Step 4
Close the lid of the rice cooker and select the ‘White Rice’ or ‘Cook’ function. Cook the rice as you normally would for white rice. Once cooking is complete, resist the urge to open the lid immediately. Let the rice steam for an additional 5-10 minutes; this resting period helps the rice grains become fluffier and more delicious.
Step 5
After the steaming time, open the rice cooker and gently fluff the rice with a rice paddle. Drizzle the remaining 1 tablespoon of perilla oil over the rice. Carefully mix everything together, ensuring the rice grains are separated and coated. The nutty aroma of the perilla oil will enrich the overall flavor. You can serve it immediately or garnish with roasted seaweed flakes or sesame seeds for an extra touch of flavor.
