Entertaining with Kimbap – Kimbap, or Korean Sushi, is a fun dish for entertaining at home! Traditionally made with rice and vegetables, my kimbap recipe is perfect for personalizing with whatever fillings you want. Your guests will love these bite sized Korean Sushi rolls at your next gathering!
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. I am a regular contributor to KitchenAid’s Blog, The Kitchenthusiast. All opinions expressed here are 100% my own.
I remember the days when I was a kid. A kid trying to be American and growing up in a very Korean-American household. My parents spoke fluent English and Korean and would speak both, or a mixture of the two “Konglish,” to us at home. My parents loved Korean food so we were exposed to a lot of different kinds of Korean food growing up.
I remember the days when I had friends come over after school and I’d be embarrassed by all the weird looking Korean food items laying around the kitchen, like dried seaweed (gim) in a container or dried cuttlefish or shredded squid. The worst would be when my friends and I would open our refrigerator to grab a drink and they would catch the huge whiff of kimchi. That completely recognizable, garlicky smell made me cringe every time.
That was then.
I was a young, foolish, silly kid trying to embrace my American-ness when I should have been celebrating my Korean-ness.
And even though I had no interest in being in the kitchen or learning how to cook, my mother dragged me in there and taught me how to make kimbap. Don’t get me wrong, I loved eating Korean food (with the exception of kimchi would I finally acquired a taste for in college and absolutely LOVE it now), I just didn’t want to learn how to make it.
Thank God for my mother. My awesome, smart and wise mother who put up with my crap when I was a kid.
Now, I am exposing my girls to Korean food and feeding it to them as much as possible. They are still young and are not embarrassed by anything yet. I hope this doesn’t change. I mean, I feel like it’s a different world now. Ethnic foods have gained so much exposure and popularity.
I mean, you can buy kimchi and gim (dried seaweed sheets) at Costco! I freaking love that!
SEE MY VIDEO FOR HOW TO MAKE KIMBAP AT HOME BELOW!
Kimbap a.k.a Korean Sushi is a popular Korean food dish made from steamed white rice (which is “bap” in Korean) and other ingredients such as bulgogi, spinach, yellow pickled radish, eggs and more. It’s rolled in gim (sheets of dried roasted seaweed), with the gim on the outside and served in small, bite-sized pieces.
HOW TO MAKE KIMBAP A.K.A. KOREAN SUSHI
One of the many great things about my kimbap recipe is its versatility. You can put just about anything you want inside. A very traditional version is with bulgogi, but you can also make veggie rolls or a vegetarian non-meat roll (sautéed asparagus, spinach, yellow pickled radish, cucumber and eggs), or switch out the bulgogi for crab meat. The possibilities are endless!
HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED FOR BASIC KIMBAP ROLLS
- Sheets of roasted seaweed – gim
- Cooked white rice
- Vegetables – most traditional kimbap includes some combination of carrots, pickled yellow radish, cucumber, and spinach, but you can use whatever you prefer!
- Protein – classic kimbap includes bulgogi or are made vegetarian with eggs, but I also love making Korean sushi rolls with cooked crab!
- Sesame seeds
- Tools: This recipe works best when you’ve got a bamboo rolling mat, disposable gloves, a wood cutting board (or other clean, strong surface), and a very sharp knife.
These rolls shown above are filled with delicious fried egg, asparagus, cucumber, and pickled yellow radish.
HOW TO MAKE KOREAN SUSHI ROLLS
It is easy to prepare your filling ingredients for my kimbap recipe in advance. Check out my recipe here for making bulgogi sliders for dinner, and put some meat aside to make these rolls for your party!
If using precooked imitation crab meat, just keep in the fridge until you are ready to roll! 🙂
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COOK THE VEGETABLES
Julienne carrots using a KitchenAid 9-cup food processor, and gently sauté for a few minutes with sesame oil over medium-high heat. Briefly boil and then quickly blanch spinach to cool. I use this boiling and blanching method for cooking other green vegetables, like asparagus; however, I do not recommend cooking veggies with softer textures, like cucumber. Set the vegetables aside on a plate once finished, and lightly season with salt and sesame seeds. You want all of the ingredients to cool before putting together the rolls.
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COOK THE EGGS
Using a medium-sized bowl, whisk the eggs with the salt and using a large non-stick pan over medium low heat, heat the olive oil. Pour the beaten eggs into the pan and leave flat, filling up the entire pan. Cook eggs until firm, remove from the pan, cut into long, thin strips and place on the same platter with the vegetables.
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PREPARE THE RICE
Place cooked white rice into a large bowl and let cool for at least 10 to 15 minutes. Starting with 1 tablespoon, mix in the sesame oil and salt. Mix well and taste. Add just a touch more sesame oil if needed but do not overdo it. Your rice only needs a hint of sesame oil for taste. Sprinkle with sesame seeds, mix one last time and set aside.
- Once you’ve got all of your ingredients ready to go, set up your work space with the cutting board, bamboo sushi rolling mat, a small bowl of water, gloves, and your sharp knife.
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MAKE THE KIMBAP ROLLS
Take one sheet of the dried gim and place onto your bamboo mat (make sure the bamboo sticks are horizontal). Spread about a 1/2 cup of cooked, seasoned rice onto 2/3 of the gim, spreading it evenly with your fingers. Tip: leave at least one inch uncovered (with no rice at all) at the top. This will help you to seal your roll at the end.
- Lay in all of the ingredients (bulgogi, carrots, spinach, eggs, and yellow pickled radish) side by side down at the bottom, leaving about an inch of exposed rice down at the bottom. Using the bamboo mat on the end closest to you, roll from the bottom up and over the ingredients (like you’re rolling a sleeping bag), pressing down gently but firmly to make the fillings stay in. As you continue to roll, pull the mat up and straighten it so that it doesn’t get caught in the roll. Continue until you have reached the edge of the gim.
- Next, using your fingers, dab just a little bit of water along the top seam of the dried seaweed and roll to seal it closed. Roll and gently squeeze one last time with the bamboo mat, set aside and continue with the other seaweed sheets.
- Finally, using a sharp knife, dip the knife into the water and lift the knife up so the water runs down the blade. This will help you to get a nice, clean cut. Slice each kimbap roll into about 8-10 pieces. You can eat the end pieces immediately as these are not flat and usually not placed on the platter.
Once you’ve got all of your sushi pieces arranged on your serving platter, sprinkle with sesame seeds for garnish and serve.
How will you personalize this kimbap recipe for your next party!?
LOOKING FOR MORE CLASSIC KOREAN RECIPES?
- Jajangmyeon: Korean Noodles with Black Bean Sauce
- Fall Inspired Vegetarian Bibimbap
- Japchae: Korean Stir Fried Noodles
- Bulgogi Sliders
- Korean Kimchi Scallion Pancakes
- Kimchi Deviled Eggs
- Korean Mixed Rice with Sashimi
- Homemade Dumplings
Korean Kimbap
Ingredients
Helpful items:
- A bamboo rolling mat
- Disposable gloves
- A small bowl of water
- A wood cutting board or other clean surface
- A sharp knife
For the carrots:
- 2-3 large carrots julienned
- 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
- pinch of salt
For the spinach:
- 1/2 pound spinach uncut with stems left on and blanched
- sesame oil; start with 1 teaspoon
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- pinch of salt
- sesame seeds
For the eggs:
- 3 eggs
- pinch of salt
- 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
For the rice:
- 3 cups cooked white medium grain rice slightly cooled
- sesame oil; start with 1 tablespoon
- pinch of salt
- sesame seeds
For the kimbap:
- 6 sheets dried roasted seaweed gim
- 3 cups cooked seasoned white medium grain rice
- 6 strips yellow pickled radish purchase the package that has the radish is already cut
- 2 to 3 large carrots
- 1/2 pound spinach blanched
- 3 large eggs
- 1 pound cooked Korean bulgogi see recipe link in the post
- sesame seeds
Instructions
For the bulgogi:
- Marinate and cook the bulgogi based on the link to the recipe above.
For the carrots:
- Using your KitchenAid® 9-Cup Food Processor, insert the Julienne Disc and place your carrots (as shown in the photo above) into the largest opening of the wide mouth feed tube. Turn the KitchenAid® 9-Cup Food Processor on LOW and press the carrots down into the feed tube. Remove the julienned carrots and set aside, repeating until all of your carrots are julienned.
- Using a non-stick pan over medium heat, heat the sesame oil and add in the julienned carrots, sautéing them for only a few minutes. You just want to soften them a bit. Season with salt, remove from the heat and place on a large platter.
For the spinach:
- Season the cooled, blanched spinach with sesame oil, starting only with one teaspoon and the garlic. Season with salt, taste and adjust any seasonings. Sprinkle with a touch of sesame seeds and place on the platter with the carrots.
For the eggs:
- Using a medium-sized bowl, whisk the eggs with the salt and using a large non-stick pan over medium low heat, heat the olive oil. Pour the beaten eggs into the pan and leave flat, filling up the entire pan. Cook your eggs, remove from the pan, cut into long, thin strips and place on the same platter with the vegetables.
For the rice:
- Place cooked white rice into a large bowl and let cool for at least 10 to 15 minutes. Starting with 1 tablespoon, mix in the sesame oil and salt. Mix well and taste. Add just a touch more sesame oil if needed but do not overdo it. Your rice only needs a hint of sesame oil for taste. Sprinkle with sesame seeds, mix one last time and set aside.
- Once you have all of the kimbap filling ingredients ready to go, set up everything at a table, making sure you have everything you need close by.
For the kimbap:
- Take one sheet of the dried gim and place onto your bamboo mat (make sure the bamboo sticks are horizontal). Spread about a 1/2 cup of cooked, seasoned rice onto 2/3 of the gim, spreading it evenly with your fingers. Tip: leave at least 1 to 2 inches uncovered (with no rice at all) at the top. This will help you to seal your roll at the end.
- Lay in all of the ingredients (bulgogi, carrots, spinach, eggs, and yellow pickled radish) side by side down at the bottom, leaving about an inch of exposed rice down at the bottom. Using the bamboo mat on the end closest to you, roll from the bottom up and over the ingredients (like you’re rolling a sleeping bag), pressing down gently but firmly to make the fillings stay in. As you continue to roll, pull the mat up and straighten it so that it doesn’t get caught in the roll. Continue until you have reached the edge of the gim.
- Using your fingers, dab just a little bit of water along the top seam of the dried seaweed and roll to seal it closed. Roll and gently squeeze one last time with the bamboo mat, set aside and continue with the other seaweed sheets.
- When all of the rolls are finished, using a sharp knife, dip the knife into the water and lift the knife up so the water runs down the blade. This will help you to get a nice, clean cut. Slice each roll into about 8-10 pieces. You can eat the end pieces immediately as these are not flat and usually not placed on the platter. Sprinkle on some sesame seeds and enjoy!
Notes
I recommend you head on over to KitchenAid’s blog, The Kitchenthusiast, for this wonderful kimbap recipe, my TIPS on how to make the perfect kimbap roll and to read my post.
I hope you enjoy!
Give this recipe a try, and leave a comment to let me know what you think!
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I have to admit that I am quite the ignoramus when it comes to Korean food Alice, I had no idea that there was something similar to a sushi roll in Korean cuisine! These look delicious and I can imagine the bulgogi and the sesame oil in the rice would give such an amazing flavour. Yum. Strangely enough I have eaten kimchi many times and I do love it – but I think that’s just because fermented foods became a big thing here in Australia a few years ago and kimchi is now eaten as a condiment outside of the Korean context (is that happening in America too?!). I’m glad that you’re helping your children become familiar with their culture from a young age; I do think that being bi-cultural is a huge gift that only becomes apparent as you get older. I can completely understand how you must’ve felt as a child though. Being different seems terrible when you’re in a school environment in particular. Anyway, I’m waffling – but this is a wonderful post and I cannot wait to try kimbap!! xx
haha, thank you so much Laura! Yes, I have seen Kimchi being used as condiment outside of Korean food, like on hot dogs and mixed in butter for steaks. . I totally agree with you and like I said in my post, hope that my kids are better with it! Thank you for the comment, Laura!
I love your story about embracing the Korean-ness in life! I too grew up with weird Asian foods in my home & definitely some things which (I struggled) to hide in my lunch box, chow mein noodles anyone! Now I think of these incredibly lucky kids who love eating their sushi & ramen and share their treats around! It’s such a pleasure to hear about the stories from your youth & how it’s really shaped who you are! xo
Thanks so much, Alice! If only we are as wise as children as we are (kind of) as adults! I gave my parents a lot of headaches! Thank you for the comment. . it’s so nice to hear that you can relate and I do hope now that the world is changing and opening up, that kids can be more open minded and that we can celebrate our differences and uniqueness!
Great story, Alice! Love the kimbap photos. I’ve never had it with asparagus. Usually, when I buy it at the Korean market, there’s yellow radish, carrots, spinach, fish cake, and eggs.
Hi Candice!! yes, that’s my veggie twist! 🙂 but the recipe on KitchenAid’s blog is a more traditional Korean one! Yup, the ones I always pick up at the Korean market have the fish cake.. one of my faves too!! Thank you for the comment!
Oh your childhood story reminded me of my own. I was embarrassed as well and had some friends who didn’t like the smell or taste of Korean food. It’s funny because now as adults they LOVE it. I have been cooking more Korean dishes for the past two years and every time something comes remotely close in taste as my mom had made them I feel as if I’m all grown up now 🙂 the one thing though is that I can never roll my kimbap perfectly! I’m going over to read your post now! Can’t wait to pick up on your tips! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Hi Jane! I think it takes practice. . when I first started my rolls looked all wonky 🙂 now I do ok. . but now when it comes to making sushi rolls or california rolls, the technique is slightly different, I get all mixed up! 🙂 We love Korean food, esp my husband, so we eat it a lot now!
Preach, sister! I think we all grew up feeling that way. Back then, being a minority was exactly that – a minority because everywhere I looked I saw white faces. Even though I was born here, I was in ESL for the first few years of school. My mom would pack me weird lunches compared to everyone else’s sandwiches. I didn’t want to play up my Chinese-ness at all. It’s definitely different now but the main thing is that I’ve changed. I’m proud of who I am, cultural heritage included. And Asian food is the best, IMHO 😉 I love how gorgeous and perfect your kimbap rolls look!
Nancy, totally feel the same way!!! Thank goodness we finally came to our senses! 😛 I am so proud to be Korean-American!!
YES!! Here’s your phenomenal kimbap!!! Oh my gosh, it is sheer perfection — it looks so, so so good! I hear you on growing up self-conscious. This society of ours has a ways to go, but it’s pretty wonderful how far we’ve already come. Love this post and this recipe SO much!
Thank you so much, Cynthia! I agree. . we have a ways to go but some things have improved greatly. . I think I noticed it more moving to a small city like Madison .. moving from Seattle and Los Angeles. . anyway, it’s all good but definitely lacking a lot of culturally diverse things you would find more in a larger city. . still, Madison is pretty awesome and I’m thankful for the little diversity that we have.
What a wonderful post Alice! I too grew up with weird, smelling things (think pickled and fermenting fish, yeah..) in the fridge I was embarrassed about, but now think, what was I thinking back then?? It’s so wonderful that you are exposing your kids to such an important part of their heritage, I’m sure they like you, will thank their mom for it when they are older. I need to educate myself more about Korean food and I just love your posts that feature it!
Awh, thanks so much Maria! It’s funny how when we’re younger we just want to be like everyone else but as we grow older, we appreciate our differences and different cultures. . love it!
I love this post and how you talk about your roots and really becoming comfortable with who you are and what a beautiful cultural background you come from. I think everything you make is gorgeous and filled with such love and heritage. I am so glad you embrace it!
Thanks so much, Jocelyn . . means so much!
I completely understood where you were coming from as a kid worrying about the image you tried to portray and what others thought of you, your home and your culture. When I met my boyfriend 5 yrs ago, it was hard for me to see and understand some of the things his family ate and even practiced and I was already an adult. Seeing the dried foods and strange herbs that I onced confused as dirt and was about to throw out, just showed me how little I knew. Not that I hadn’t before, but I now more than ever, appreciate other peoples’ cultures and keep an open mind.
Btw, I’ve made rolls once and it was really fun!! If I had kids I’d so want to drag them into the kitchen to teach them how to do it too. Beautiful post.
Thanks so much, Connie!! yeah, as kids we just want to fit in and be like everyone else. . but I love that as adults we celebrate our different cultures and uniqueness and now, I wouldn’t want to be anything else but Korean-American! 🙂
I really enjoyed reading your post.
Don’t think I ever tried Korean food..thanks for the lovely post.
Thank you so much, Michal!