Korean Marinated Tofu Burritos

This is one of my favourite fusion recipes. Shaking up classic Korean delicacies such as Kimchi Fried Rice, with zesty and fresh Mexican flavours. The burrito filling is completely plant based, using deliciously marinated tofu – that packs a punch, and vegan kimchi. As many people already know, Kimchi is a super food! It hosts a party of good bacteria, due to its fermentation process, which is incredibly healthy for your gut.

I've attached two short video snippets of my time in Berlin, where my team and I celebrated International Kimchi Day – November 22nd. We hosted a Kimchi-making party (known as a Gimjang) that was part of a massive Gimjang event spread between Los Angeles, Moscow and Berlin. I also filmed a cooking demo featuring my Korean Marinated Tofu Burritos, and Kimchi Mac and Cheese.

 

Ingredients

Makes 4 burritos

FOR THE TOFU

  • 400g (14oz) firm tofu
  • 4 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp mirin
  • 2 tbsp gochugaru (Korean chilli flakes)
  • 1 tbsp roasted sesame oil
  • 1 tsp garlic, grated or finely chopped
  • 1 tsp ginger, peeled and grated
  • 1 spring onion, thinly sliced at an angle
  • vegetable oil, for frying

KIMCHI FRIED RICE

  • 250g (9oz) long grain white rice
  • 80g (3oz) onion, finely diced
  • 80g (3oz) carrot, peeled and finely diced
  • 80g (3oz) mushrooms, finely diced
  • 80g (3oz) courgette, finely diced
  • 350g (12oz) vegan cabbage kimchi, finely diced
  • 4 perilla leaves, chopped into 1cm (1/2 in) pieces
  • vegetable oil, for frying
  • sea salt

BURRITO

  • 4 large flour tortillas, 25cm (10in) diameter
  • 400g (14oz) Kimchi Fried Rice
  • 160g (5.oz) canned black beans, drained
  • ½ avocado, peeled, pitted and sliced into 1cm (1/2 in) thick pieces
  • ½ beefsteak tomato, finely chopped
  • 80g (3oz) baby spinach
  • 4 tbsp soured cream (choose vegan soured cream for fully plant-based burrito)

Method

  1. Place the tofu on a large plate with a few pieces of kitchen paper and place another plate on top. Leave to stand for 8–10 minutes to press and drain the water out. Cut the tofu into 2 x 2cm cubes and place into a food-safe plastic bag.
  2. In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, mirin, gochugaru, sesame oil, garlic, ginger and spring onion. Tip the mixture into the bag with the tofu and allow to marinate in the fridge for about 30 minutes.
  3. While marinating, make the kimchi fried rice. Cook the rice according to the packet instructions or in a rice cooker. Once done, spread out evenly on a sheet tray to dry and leave to one side.
  4. In a non-stick pan set over medium–high heat, drizzle in a little vegetable oil and tip in the onion, carrot, mushrooms and courgette. Cook for 2–3 minutes, until softened, then add the rice and cook for a further 2 minutes, tossing until well incorporated. Add the chopped kimchi and perilla leaves and cook for a further 2–3 minutes, mixing it well into the rice. Season with sea salt, to taste. Cover and keep warm while you cook the tofu.
  5. Place a non-stick frying pan over a medium–low heat and drizzle lightly with vegetable oil to coat the bottom of the pan. Pour in the tofu and marinating liquid and sauté for about 4–5 minutes, turning often, until warmed through and the tofu is slightly crispy. Remove from the heat and keep warm.
  6. Lay the tortillas out on a flat surface. Divide the kimchi rice between them, then place the tofu on top. Spoon over some black beans, add a few slices of avocado, and top with tomato and baby spinach. Roll the burrito closed and drizzle with soured cream.

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Social media

@judyjoochef Instagram profile imageToday we’re making bulgogi, the K-BBQ dish that started so many people’s love affair with Korean food. And honestly? Once you make it at home, you’ll never look back. 
Quick fun fact: bulgogi literally translates to “fire meat” — bul (fire) + gogi (meat). Its roots trace all the way back to dish called “maekjeok”, seasoned beef skewers grilled over open flames during the Goguryeo era, more than 2,000 years ago. So when you’re cooking this, you’re cooking history. No wonder it’s such a beloved gateway into Korean cuisine.
Here’s how to make it:
Start with thinly sliced Korean-style bulgogi beef — you can grab it pre-sliced at any Korean grocery store (this is the move, trust me).
For the marinade, throw garlic, ginger, Asian pear, soy sauce, anchovy sauce, sesame oil, mirin, soju, sugar, and a crack of black pepper into a food processor and blitz until silky smooth. The pear is the secret weapon — it tenderizes the meat AND adds a gorgeous natural sweetness. ✨
Pour the marinade into a zip-top bag with the beef, give it a good massage, and let those flavors really sink in.
Heat your griddle or pan until SCREAMING hot, then sear the bulgogi until edges are charred. That caramelization = flavor.
I love serving this the proper, authentic way — with ssam (lettuce wraps), a scoop of warm rice, a smear of ssamjang, loaded with bulgogi, and then topped with pickled radish. Wrap it all up, pop the whole thing in your mouth in one bite (yes, the whole thing!), and thank me later. 

Find this recipe and more in my latest book, K-Quick!
Tag a friend you’d share a bulgogi wrap with! 
Thank you @samsunguk @samsung
Ingredients:  Thank you @koreafoodsuk
GLAM:  Thank you @jonesroadbeauty @justbobbidotcom6 hours ago via Instagram
@judyjoochef Instagram profile imageThey said I didn’t look like a chef. I said, “ Watch me feed Madison Square Garden and Citi Field!” 🍗

And with the @nyknicks in the NBA Finals, MSG has never been louder — or better fed. 
There’s something deeply satisfying about 20,000 New Yorkers eating Korean fried chicken while cheering on their team. That’s the Seoul Bird dream, right there.

So honored to be featured in @womanaroundtown, sharing a little of my story — from Columbia engineering grad to Wall Street, to walking away from it all to go to culinary school (my parents were horrified), to cooking at Michelin-starred kitchens, to becoming the first female Iron Chef UK. 

None of it was the plan. All of it was worth it.

Seoul Bird was born from a love of Korean street food — and a belief that it deserved a global stage. From London to New York, we’re just getting started.

And yes — there’s a new book (my 4th!) coming in Nov— “Mukja: Let’s Eat!”
Head to WomanAroundTown.com for the full interview. 
Go Knicks!
#Mukja #NYKnicks #NYCFood #KoreanFood #cheflife5 days ago via Instagram
@judyjoochef Instagram profile imageBack in my K-Quick Kitchen — and today we’re giving McDonald’s fried apple pies the Korean glow-up they deserve.
Apple Pie Mandu (dumplings), yeah baby!

 Dumplings have been showing up in Korean royal cookbooks since at least the 14th century, when they were considered a luxurious dish served during festivals and celebrations. 

Today, “mandu” come in countless shapes — half-moon, round, pleated, pinched — and are stuffed with everything from kimchi and pork to tofu and glass noodles.

So why not stuff them with apple pie filling? The beauty of mandu is the wrapper — that thin, snappy skin crisps up like a DREAM when fried, giving you a shatter-crisp shell that rivals the Golden Arches.

Here’s my K-Quick move:
To save time—Start with pre-made apple pie filling, but pimp it out: a squeeze of lemon, fresh apples, a hit of cinnamon, maybe a splash of bourbon or rum if you’re feeling fancy. Trust me, adding a few fresh ingredients makes all the difference.

Wrap a spoonful inside a dumpling wrapper, seal those edges tight, and fry until golden, blistered, and gorgeous.
Finish with a generous toss in cinnamon sugar while they’re still warm.

Eat them straight up while they’re piping hot, or pile them over a scoop of vanilla ice cream for the ULTIMATE sundae moment. There’s truly no wrong answer here.

A true American classic, reimagined the K-Quick way — warm, tart, crispy, sweet, and absolutely made for sharing.

Thank you @samsunguk @samsung
Ingredients:  @koreafoodsuk @seoulplazauk

Glam:  Thank you @jonesroadbeauty @justbobbidotcom1 week ago via Instagram
@judyjoochef Instagram profile imageBack cooking on the @todayshow  with the @todayfood family — and after 10+ years, it never gets old. 

This time I brought the heat: Gochujang Shrimp and Korean Kalbi Short Ribs that’ll make you rethink everything you thought you knew about a barbecue. Grilling season is on, darlings! 
Full recipes at today.com 

And a huge thank you to the wonderful @carsondaly for the sweetest shoutout to Seoul Bird at Madison Square Garden @thegarden — no better pre-game meal in New York. 🐦🔥
@seoulbirduk @seoulbirdusa 
@savannahguthrie @craigmelvinnbc @dylandreyernbc 
#SeoulBird #KoreanBBQ #Gochujang #Kalbi1 week ago via Instagram
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