10 Popular Korean Foods Made From Rice
Rice is a staple food ingredient in Korea so it’s not unusual to see so many popular meals made from rice. It is also used as a base ingredient for making baby food and also for the sick. Interestingly, most Korean ladies use rice water to wash their faces as a beauty procedure. It’s clear that you cannot take rice away from there Korean culture
We will take a look at 10 popular Korean meals made from rice. Each meal is unique in its way, so read through to find out which one you will be trying out soon.
- Bibimbap
- Dakjuk
- Kimchi Mari (Cold kimchi rice)
- Gimbap
- Tteokbokki
- Injeolmi
- Jumeokbap (rice balls)
- Nurungji
- Kimchi Fried Rice
- Kongnamul-gukbap
OK! Let’s dig in already!
1. Bibimbap
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This has to be one of the most popular Korean foods within and outside the country. Bibimbap means mixed rice because it is made up of different ingredients including:
● Cucumber
● Spinach
● Egg
● Carrots
● Soy sauce
● Sesame oil
● Olive oil
● Garlic
● Beef
● Sesame seeds
● Gochujang (red chilli pepper paste), etc.
Locally, this Korean food is made with cooled cooked rice and later garnished with the rest of the ingredients. It is a convenient and delicious way of using up leftovers. Bibimbap comes in vegetarian and non-vegetarian options.
There are different bibimbap variations like the following:
Hoedeopbap: This is bibimbap served with seafood (sashimi). Here, the fish is added raw to the meal, and a sweet-sour gochujang is used instead of the plain option.
Dolsot Bibimbap: This variation comes in a hot stone pot which makes the rice turn brown at the bottom.
Jinju Bibimbap: Originating from Jinju, this variation is another distinctive option that you should try out. Cooked rice is combined with about five vegetables and raw meat. If you want to enjoy this delicious Korean food, then go to Cheonwang Restaurant or any other top restaurant in Jinju.
Jeonju Bibimbap: This variation is particular to Jeonju. Here, people cook rice in bean and beef broth. Other vegetables are added and properly mixed.
Tongyeong Bibimbap: For this variation, seafood is used in place of meat. The seafood is put in boiling water first before it is seasoned.
2. Dakjuk
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Dakjuk is one traditional dish Koreans enjoy. Dakjuk, literally meaning chicken porridge, is a Korean chicken rice porridge.
There are different recipes that can be used to prepare Dakjuk, having rice and chicken bone broth as the main ingredients.
The rice used to prepare Dakjuk could be short-grain rice or sweet rice.
The chicken porridge is made with pulled chicken meat and chicken stock.
Chopped vegetables are also added to Dakjuk. The vegetables used depend on one’s preferred recipe.
The meal is simple to prepare, yet so satisfying. Dakjuk comes with a whole lot of health benefits. Dakjuk is not spicy and is easy to digest. The meal is gluten-free.
Dakjuk is prepared more often during winter, because of the comfort it gives when eaten hot.
3. Kimchi Mari (Cold kimchi rice)
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This kimchi rice dish is very delicious. Indigenous to North Korea, Kimchi Mari is cool rice mixed into kimchi soup with some seasoning.
Easy to prepare, Kimchi Mari does not require much procedure, only the rice is cooked.
Kimchi Mari is perfect for hot summer days when you want to cool off.
4. Gimbap
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This is a traditional Korean delicacy made from rice wrapped in seaweed and filled with different vegetables.
There are different filling variations for this meal. You can settle for any of the following:
Kimchi gimbap: This is made from pickled vegetables like radish or cabbage. The pungent spice it gives the gimbap makes it exceptional.
Beef gimbap: This variation has beef strips as the main ingredient.
Yachae gimbap: This is a combination of different vegetables.
Samgak gimbap: If you want to enjoy the taste of deliciously steamed rice balls topped with savoury fillings, then this is the one for you.
Tofu gimbap: This is achieved by simply adding strips of tofu to the gimbap dish. It also tastes great as well.
Chung-mu gimbap: This is a thinner version of their original gimbap. It is filled with just rice and is accompanied by kimchi, dipping sauce, and salad.
Seafood gimbap: This variation is perfect for seafood lovers. This particular meal is made with fresh or canned tuna, crab, fish, or any other available seafood.
Pork tonkatsu gimbap: If you love pork then this is for you. Deep-fried pork slices are added to the gimbap.
Mayak gimbap: This is a favourite variation of gimbap. The major difference here is that it is not sliced.
Inside-out gimbap: Also known as “nude gimbap”, this is similar to the original seaweed rice rolls. For this variation, the seaweed is on the inside while the rice is on the outside.
5. Tteokbokki
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This is a tasty stir-fried meal that is popular as street food. Ingredients for making it include fish cakes, cylindrical-shaped rice cakes, eggs, sweet red chilli sauce, seasonings, etc.
Tteokbokki was a favourite dish during the Joseon era and was served to royals.
6. Injeolmi
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This is a type of traditional glutinous rice cake. The rice used for this dish is sweet rice. Ingredients include sweet rice flour, sugar, roasted soybean powder, salt, and mugwort powder (optional).
It is made for special occasions and it is very delicious. The steamed rice is pounded in a mortar with a pestle and with time it becomes chewy and elastic. The process takes even as little time as 10 minutes.
7. Jumeokbap (rice balls)
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This is a meal made from cooked rice and then moulded into balls. Making them is easy and they are very portable to carry about. They also serve as great snacks.
Jumeokbap is popular because a lot of ingredients are combined to make the filling. Ingredients include rice, sesame seeds, salt, vegetables, sesame oil, meat, etc.
It is a perfect snack for picnics.
You can combine it with any other spicy Korean food and as a side dish as well.
8. Nurungji
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Often served as a dessert, this is a form of scorched rice that is formed at the base of the cooking pan. It is a thin cracker of slightly browned crunchy rice. It is super easy to prepare and does not need a lot of ingredients to prepare. If you have leftover rice and you are confused about what to make of it, this is the perfect snack to make.
Ingredients for it include short grain rice, sesame oil, sugar, and water. To enjoy this dish, it is best eaten fresh. Most people enjoy sprinkling sugar on it before consumption.
9.Kimchi Fried Rice
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This is another popular Korean food. It is prepared by combining over-fermented cabbage kimchi with leftover rice. These are sautéed in oil. You can also add gochujang to make it spicier.
Kimchi fried rice is a blend of different flavours and this is because of the number of ingredients contained in the dish. If you want to get the best results, it is advisable to use day-old rice for it. But where it isn’t available, you can use refrigerated rice.
The best rice options for this meal include mixed-grain rice, brown rice, and short-grain rice. You can make this dish in several ways by including any of the following:
Pork – this is stir-fried with the kimchi before adding the rice.
Cheese – you can add this to the top of the dish and allow it to melt.
Tuna – this is added after the rice. You simply empty the tuna can into the dish.
Spam – This is also stir-fried. Be careful with the extra amount of salt you add because spam is salty on its own.
10. Kongnamul-gukbap
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This is soybean sprout soup combined with rice. Kongnamul-gukbap is another favourite dish among Koreans.
You can make the broth with soybean sprouts, kelp, and anchovies. Kimchi can also be added to the soup. It gives it a sour and crispy feel.
Other ingredients that are used for this meal include onions, kosher salt, sesame seeds, garlic cloves, Korean hot pepper flakes, sesame oil, black pepper, eggs, green onions, etc. You can use beef, vegetable, or chicken stock in place of the kelp stock.