Korean Bibimbap Recipe

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Bibimbap is one of the most well-known Korean dishes in the world. It is a combination of two words, with ‘bibim’ meaning ‘mixed’ and ‘bap’ meaning ‘cooked rice.’ Put the two together and you get “mixed rice,” which is what Bibimbap is all about. Steamed rice, seasoned vegetables, and ground beef topped with a delicious sunny-side-up egg, typically served in a hot stone bowl and mixed together just before eating makes for an absolutely delicious and healthy meal. 

Here’s an easy Bibimbap recipe that you can follow so you can make this delectable Korean dish at home!


Bibimbap Recipe Ingredients

Healthy food like Bibimbap is a big aspect of Korean cuisine. Consisting of rice, vegetables, and meat topped with sesame seeds and drizzles of sesame oil and Bibimbap sauce, this rice bowl is definitely one of the healthiest dishes around. Here are the ingredients that you’ll need:

  • 4 cups cooked short-grain white rice
  • 4 eggs
  • 12 ounces bean sprouts
  • 8 ounces fresh spinach
  • 3 ounces dried shiitake mushrooms
  • 2 medium carrots
  • 2 green onions
  • 1 large cucumber
  • 1/2 pound ground beef
  • 1 1/2 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds
  • 4 tablespoons gochujang sauce
  • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons rice wine
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • Toasted sesame oil
  • Salt and pepper
  • Cooking oil

Bibimbap Recipe Directions

Traditional bibimbap is usually made with raw beef, raw egg yolk, and fresh vegetables with a dollop of gochujang sauce and topped with sesame seeds. For this Bibimbap recipe, however, we’ll be using cooked vegetables and cooked beef. Simply follow the instructions below to make this delicious mixed rice dish!

  1. If you don’t have cooked rice, begin that first and prepare the rest of the Korean Bibimbap ingredients as the rice cooks.
  2. Next, marinate the beef. Add beef to a bowl and mix with minced garlic, soy sauce, honey, toasted sesame oil, and toasted sesame seeds. Cover and keep in the fridge for 30 minutes.
  3. Add mushrooms to a bowl and pour hot water over top. Soak for 30 minutes then drain and squeeze dry with a kitchen towel. Slice 1/2-inches thick.
  4. Slice the carrots and cucumber. Place in separate and toss each with a pinch of salt, then let rest for 20 minutes. Drain excess liquid after.
  5. Slice the green onions and set aside.
  6. Prepare the bean sprouts. Place the bean sprouts in a pan along with 4 cups of water and 2-3 teaspoons of salt. Cover and cook for 20 minutes over medium-high heat. Take out cooked bean sprouts and put them into a bowl. In the bowl, mix the bean sprouts with 1/2 teaspoon salt, a teaspoon of minced garlic, and a splash of toasted sesame oil. Set aside.
  7. Using a large skillet, heat cooking oil over medium heat. Add the spinach and sauté for a few minutes. Drizzle sesame oil over it and season lightly with a pinch of salt. Remove spinach from skillet and transfer to a small bowl, set aside.
  8. Take out the marinated beef and add it to the pan. Cook the beef over medium-high heat until fully browned, then add the soy sauce and brown sugar. Stir and cook for 1 minute then set aside.
  9. Get another clean pan or two more clean pans if you can to cook vegetables. In one pan, heat sesame oil over medium-high heat and cook the shiitake mushrooms with sesame seeds for 2 minutes. Stir-fry for 1 minute then remove.
  10. In another pan, put 2 teaspoons of sesame oil and add the shredded carrots. Add sesame seeds and stir-fry for 5 to 8 minutes or until tender. Set aside.
  11. Cook the sliced cucumber in the same pan as the shredded carrots. Stir-fry then remove from heat once tender.
  12. Fry eggs in a skillet. Make sure that they have a runny egg yolk. 
  13. Make the spicy Bibimbap sauce. In a small bowl, mix gochujang sauce, rice vinegar, rice wine, toasted sesame oil, and brown sugar. 
  14. Prepare four bowls. Divide the steamed rice into portions and place them in the bowls.
  15. Arrange all the veggies and beef over the warm rice. Place 1/4 of the sautéed spinach, followed by 1/4 of the beef, then the sliced cucumber, fresh shiitake mushrooms, carrots, and so on.
  16. Top each rice bowl with a fried egg sunny side up. 
  17. Sprinkle sliced green onions and sesame seeds on top. Drizzle with toasted sesame oil and add a splash of Bibimbap sauce.
  18. Mix each rice bowl before eating. Enjoy!

Bibimbap Recipe Tips

  • Short-grain rice was used for this Korean rice bowl recipe. If you want it to be healthier, you can also use short-grain brown rice or cauliflower rice. Jasmine rice works in a pinch too but for the best texture, always go with short-grain rice.
  • White wine vinegar can be used in place of rice vinegar.
  • If you can’t find any bean sprouts, mung bean sprouts are a great substitute. Mung bean sprouts have a milder flavor and a softer texture than soybean sprouts. 
  • Gochujang sauce is a staple in most Korean food. However, if you want your Korean rice bowl to be less spicy, simply decrease the amount of gochujang sauce or leave it out altogether.
  • You may use light soy sauce. Don’t use dark soy sauce or sweet soy sauce.
  • To meal prep this dish, pack it up in resealable containers and refrigerate. You can make fresh fried eggs every day and place them over the top of your bowl. You can also replace the fried eggs with hard-boiled eggs instead.
  • Feel free to remove the green onion at the end of the recipe.
  • You can use any vegetables you want in this recipe. Green beans, bok choy, bell pepper, and radish, are some of the best veggies to put in a Bibimbap bowl.
  • A sunny-side-up fried egg is the most common but you can make the eggs any way you like.
  • Feel free to add more Bibimbap sauce at the end of the recipe before serving.

Final Note

Eat bibimbap in the comfort of your own home with this easy-to-follow and make recipe. Its vibrant colors and diverse flavors will surely be a hit with your family and friends. Try it out today!

For more Korean recipes and other rice dishes, check out our collection of delicious recipes.