Beef Bibimbap
Bibimbap is one of my favourite dishes because I love eating vegetables. It's also very healthy. I always think that two-thirds of your plate should be covered with veggies. The variety of vegetables doesn't matter too much – use whatever you have. Chopped lettuce leaves or cucumber add a nice crunch, too. The cooking of this dish goes very quickly, so be sure you have all the ingredients before you start. (It might seem silly to cook the vegetables separately, but it makes a big difference in the finished dish.) I've simplified this version slightly by making one seasoning mix for all the vegetables. Traditionally, each vegetable would be seasoned individually. It does better keep the integrity of the flavours, but it is tedious. I've compromised by cooking each one separately, but using the same seasoning. I also make one giant one to share – as that's easier too.
Ingredients
Serves 4
BEEF BIBIMBAP
- 115g of beef, very thinly sliced, preferably bulgogi meat or rib eye
- 875g of rice, steamed
- 100g of beansprouts, tails and soft pieces removed, rinsed and dried
- 55g of shiitake mushrooms, de-stemmed and cut into 5mm slices
- 1/2 courgette thinly sliced on an angle
- 85g of mangetout
- 1 carrot, julienned
SEASONING
- 1 tbsp of toasted sesame oil
- 3 tbsp of soy sauce
- 2 tbsp of mirin
- 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped or grated
- 1 tsp fresh ginger, grated
- 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds, crushed
GOCHUJANG SUACE
- 3 tbsp of gochujang (Korean fermented chilli paste)
- 2 1/2 tbsp of mirin
- 2 tsp sugar
- 2 tsp toasted sesame seeds
- 1 tsp toasted sesame oil
- 1 tsp spring onions, finely chopped on an angle
TO SERVE
- 3 eggs, large
- black sesame seeds
Method
- Place a large heavy-based frying pan (preferably cast iron) over a medium heat. Add a tablespoon of sesame oil and spread the cooked rice over the bass of the frying pan in a loose layer. Cook, undisturbed, for 8–10 minutes (until the bottom of the rice develops a golden crust) while you prepare the toppings.
- Meanwhile, prepare the dressing. Mix together the mirin, soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, ginger and sesame seeds in a small bowl. Mix 2 tbsp of the sauce with the beef and sugar and set aside. Set the remaining seasoning sauce by the hob.
- As each vegetable topping is finished, arrange it on a section of the rice in the pan so the toppings resemble the spokes of a bicycle wheel. In a medium non-stick frying pan, heat half a teaspoon of vegetable oil over a medium-high heat. Add the beansprouts and 1 tsp of the seasoning and cook, stirring, until crisp-tender, about 30 seconds. Arrange the beansprouts on a section of the rice.
- Heat 2 tsp of oil in the frying pan, add the beef and cook for 1–2 minutes until cooked through. Arrange the beef on the rice.
- Heat 1 tbsp of oil in the frying pan, add the mushrooms and 1 tbsp of the dressing and cook for 1 minute until tender. Arrange the mushrooms on the rice.
- Heat half a teaspoon of oil in the frying pan, add the courgette and 2 tsp of the sauce and cook for 1 minute until just tender. Arrange the courgette on the rice.
- Heat half a teaspoon of oil in the frying pan, add the mangetout and 2 tsp of the sauce and cook for 45 seconds until crisp-tender. Arrange the mangetout on the rice.
- Heat half a teaspoon of oil in the frying pan, add the carrot and 1 tsp of the sauce and cook for 30 seconds until crisp-tender. Arrange the carrot on the rice.
- Finally, heat 1 tsp of oil in the pan, add the spinach and 1 tbsp of the sauce and cook for 30 seconds until just wilted. Arrange the spinach on the rice.
- Deglaze the pan with mirin, scraping up any browned bits from the base. Spoon the juices from the pan over the beef on the rice.
- Meanwhile, place a separate frying pan over a medium-high heat and fry the eggs in a little oil until the edges begin to crisp.
- For the gochujang sauce, simply stir together all the ingredients in a small bowl or serving dish.
- Remove the rice from the heat and arrange the kimchi over the remaining section of rice. Spoon the gochujang sauce on the centre of the rice or serve on the side, if you like. Arrange the fried eggs over the dish and sprinkle the bibimbap with black sesame seeds and radish sprouts, if liked.
- To serve, bring the pan to the table, set it on a trivet and mix everything together before spooning into bowls.
