Chamchi Keto Gimbap (Tuna Keto Rice Rolls)

참치 키토 김밥

Ingredients

SERVES 2

Prep time: 10 minutes | Total time: 30 minutes

8 large eggs
1 can (5oz) 142 g of tuna, packed in olive oil
1 tsp shallot, finely diced
1½ Tbsp Kewpie mayonnaise
¼ tsp black pepper, freshly ground
1 to 2 large carrots, peeled and thinly julienned
1 long English or Japanese cucumber
6 perilla leaves (optional) or lollo rosso (leafy) lettuce leaves
4 pre-cut strips of danmuji, (Korean pickled radish), measuring about 8 inches long (20cm) and about ½ inch (1cm) thick
2 sheets of nori seaweed for kimbap
Kosher or sea salt to taste
1 tsp roasted sesame oil, for brushing
Vegetable oil or other neutral oil

To Serve:

Soy Sauce

Method

In a large bowl, whisk the eggs and add a splash of water. Season with salt to taste and whisk thoroughly until all of the whites and yolks are well beaten together. Set aside.
Drain the can of tuna over the sink, and place the tuna fish in a medium bowl. Add in the finely diced shallots, mayo, pepper. Mix well until fully incorporated, and season with salt to taste. Cover and place in the fridge.
Place a large non-stick skillet over medium-low heat and drizzle with oil. Place the julienned carrots in and season with salt to taste. Sauté until just tender, but still has a slight bite, about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove and place on a plate lined with a paper towel. Set aside and allow to cool.
Julienne the cucumber into long strips, discarding the soft seeded core. Place the cucumber strips in a colander placed over a plate and season with salt, tossing well. Set aside and allow any excess moisture to leach out.
Now, it is time to make the thin egg “crepes”. Wipe clean the skillet used to cook the carrots and drizzle in a bit of oil, or use an oil spray to lightly coat the bottom of the pan. Place over medium low heat, and pour in enough of the beaten eggs (about 2 eggs) to coat the bottom of the pan (about 1/2 cm, about ¼ inch) thick. Allow to cook slowly, without browning, turning the heat down slightly, if necessary. Once the bottom is cooked completely, and the edges are starting to curl up, about 3 minutes, flip carefully using a large spatula, and cook the other side. Alternatively, place the pan under a high grill in the oven, for about 3 minutes until the top is cooked, but not browned. Line a large cutting board with a paper towel and place the egg crepe on top. Place another paper towel on top of the egg crepe and repeat until all of the egg is cooked. You should have 4 egg crepes. Allow the crepes to cool. Once cooled, carefully move the crepes to a plate. Roll a crepe up gently and thinly slice them about ¼ cm wide. Unroll the strips and place them on a plate in a neat pile. Repeat with one more crepe. Reserve two whole crepes to line the seaweed.
Now assemble the kimbap: First line up all of the filling ingredients: Place the perilla leaves on a plate, shake any excess water off the cucumber and place on a plate lined with paper towels, place the danmuji on a plate, dry the carrots off slightly with a paper towel and place next to the cucumbers, line up the eggs strip plate, and the bowl of tuna too.
Place a bamboo roller on a cutting board and place a sheet of nori seaweed (gim) on, shiny side down, and the longer side facing you. Carefully, place one whole egg crepe on top of the gim, layer in the ingredients on the bottom side of the egg closest to you. First, line 3 perilla leaves across horizontally, then spoon in half of the tuna fish mixture evenly across the leaves, then half of the cucumber, carrots, two strips of the danmuji, and half of the egg strips. Roll everything up tightly, while pulling inwards. Seal the edge of the seaweed with a bit of water and brush the entire surface of the roll with the roasted sesame oil. Slice the roll into 2cm wide (¾ inch) pieces. Serve immediately with soy sauce.
Tip: Use a serrated knife and brush some sesame oil on the blade to make cutting easier and cleaner.