Bibimbap, Korean Rice Bowl

Bibimbap is a colorful Korean rice bowl with vegetables, beef, eggs, and kimchi. Let’s learn a bit about tis recipe and how to make this easy, customizable, and healthy meal at home with leftovers or fresh ingredients.

Some recipes are made with ingredients. Others—with intention. This one, I believe, is made with love. Because when you take the time to sauté each vegetable separately, layering flavor into every bite, that’s not just cooking. That’s care. That’s connection. Well, that’s Bibimbap for you!

🌸 My Journey to Korean Cuisine and Bibimbap

I didn’t grow up eating rice bowls like this—layered with seasoned veggies, bold sauces, and sizzling meats and all the flavors dancing in your month. But the first time I tried Korean cuisine, it felt like coming home to something I never knew I was missing.

There’s a beautiful rhythm to Korean cooking. It’s colorful, thoughtful, full of intention and love. And Bibimbap, a dish literally meaning “mixed rice,” brings it all together in one nourishing, joyful bowl.

Now this is one my husband’s favorite Korean dishes. He often asks me to make this one for him just because it is so delicious. I worked extra hard on this post so let’s go!!

The web is full of Bibimbap recipes, but this dish never goes out of style—because it’s more than just a meal. It’s tradition, flavor, and nutrition all wrapped in one vibrant package. And the best part? You can make it your own. However you want.

Use what’s in your fridge. Leftover roasted veggies? Great. A few sautéed mushrooms? Toss them in. A perfectly cooked egg or marinated tofu? Absolutely.

This isn’t just a post-Thanksgiving hack—though it’s perfect for leftovers. It’s a dish for any day when you want to eat something beautiful, healthy, and satisfying.

🍲 A Global Favorite

Bibimbap has made its mark around the world—it was even ranked #40 on CNN’s World’s 50 Most Delicious Foods back in 2011.

But beyond the listicles and headlines, it’s the kind of everyday dish you’ll find on Korean family tables—served in sleek stainless steel bowls or sizzling dolsot stone pots that crisp the rice underneath.

Regional versions vary, with some featuring:

• Marinated clams
• A raw egg yolk nestled on top
• Rice cooked in rich beef broth
• Or sizzling versions where the egg cooks right in the bowl

Whatever the style, one thing remains true: Bibimbap is a feast for all your senses.

🖐️ The Heart of Korean Cuisine: 5 Colors, 5 Flavors

In Korean tradition, a balanced meal includes five colors and five core tastes:

• Colors: Red, yellow, green, white, black

• Flavors: Spicy, sweet, salty, sour, bitter

You’ll find that harmony right here in Bibimbap. It’s not just aesthetically stunning—it’s deeply satisfying, with every bite offering a different note in the symphony.

🌈 The 5 Colors in Korean Cuisine (오방색 – Obangsaek):

These five colors represent balance, harmony, and the elements in Korean traditional thought (inspired by East Asian philosophy and the five cardinal directions).

🛒 What You Need, And What You Can Swap

There’s no strict rulebook when it comes to Bibimbap. The secret is in the balance and love you put into it. You can find most of ingredients in stores nowadays but if you want authentic gochujang or similar I would recommend you to go to the Asian Markets, or International store.

🌾 The Base

🍚 Short-Grain White Rice

Also known as Korean sticky rice (baekmi or mepssal), this variety is slightly sticky, plump, and glossy when cooked. It clings together just enough to hold all the toppings and sauce but still has a soft, tender bite.

Other Good Options:

If short-grain white rice isn’t available, here are some suitable alternatives:

🥢 Avoid long-grain rice like basmati—it’s too dry and doesn’t hold toppings well.

✨Tips for Cooking Rice for Bibimbap:

• Rinse the rice several times until the water runs clear—this removes excess starch and gives you a clean, non-gummy finish.
• Let it steam (covered) after cooking for 5–10 minutes. This allows the grains to set and get perfectly fluffy.
• For dolsot (stone pot) bibimbap, lightly oil the bottom of the pot and press the rice down to get that crispy, golden nurungji layer.

🥬 The Toppings (choose your favorites):

• Spinach – blanched or sautéed in sesame oil. You can use frozen if that’s your jam or fresh.

• Carrots – thinly sliced and sautéed lightly. I also like making ribbons for this just because it looks beautiful but you can slice it in matchsticks if you wish.

• Cucumbers – fresh, julienne or sliced

• Mushrooms – pan-fried (shiitake, cremini, oyster)

• Kimchi – optional, but highly recommended

• Beef, ground or gilled marinated – or tofu, tempeh, or just an egg for a vegetarian version

• Fried egg – sunny-side-up is classic, but you can also make omelet and julienne it.

• Korean pickled radish (danmuji)– it got beautiful yellow color and it tastes slightly sweet and pickled. I love adding this one to my bibimbap.

💡 Cook each vegetable separately with a touch of sesame oil and salt. It’s an extra step—but it’s where the magic happens.

🔥 The Sauce:

• Gochujang – a must-have! (Find it in Korean or international markets)

• A drizzle of sesame oil

• Toasted sesame seeds, green onions, and soy sauce to finish

🥣 How to Assemble Bibimbap

1. Add warm rice to a deep bowl.

2. Artfully arrange your prepared toppings on top, each in its own section.

3. Place the fried egg in the center.

4. Add a spoonful (or two!) of gochujang.

5. Just before eating—mix it all together until the rice is coated and the egg yolk melts into everything.

🍳 Optional: Heat the assembled bowl in a hot stone pot (dolsot) for a crispy rice bottom.

🌱 A Perfect Dish for Leftovers

After big holidays or long weeks, Bibimbap is a beautiful way to repurpose what you already have. Leftover roasted vegetables? A bit of grilled meat? Toss it all in. It’s customizable, forgiving, and deliciously fulfilling.

If you love to cook, if you love to eat colorfully, or if you’re simply looking to try something new—Bibimbap is dish for you! It’s not about perfection. It’s about joy, creativity, and nourishment.

So stock up on all ingredients. Chop those veggies. And take a little time to make something wonderful—one loving bite at a time.

If you make this tasty Bibimbap Korean Rice Bowl , tag me on Instagram @sandraseasycooking using the hashtag #sandraseasycooking—I’d love to see your delicious creations!

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Yield: Serves 4

Bibimbap- Mixed Rice Bowl

Print

A nourishing, vibrant Korean rice bowl with sautéed vegetables, grilled beef, and chili sauce—finished with a fried egg on top.

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 35 minutes

Ingredients

For the rice:

• 2 cups short-grain white rice (uncooked) (360 g)
• 2¼ cups water (530 ml)
• 1/2 teaspoons of sea salt
• 1 teaspoon of oil

For the toppings:

• 1½ cups baby spinach ( about 90 g)
• 2 medium carrots, peeled into ribbons (approx. 120 g), thinly sliced
• 1½ cups mushrooms, sliced (approx. 120–150 g)
• ¾ cup kimchi, chopped (about 120 g)
• 8 slices danmuji (Korean pickled yellow radish, 50–60 g total)
• 1/2 English cucumber, julienned (approx. 90 g)
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil (15 ml)
• 1 tablespoon neutral oil (5 ml), but I've used olive oil too
• Salt, to taste (a goof pinch too all veg that you will sauté)

For the beef:

• 1 lb beef steak (ribeye or flank), thinly sliced (450 g), or ground beef
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce (15 ml)
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil (5 ml)
• 2 garlic cloves, minced (8 g)
• 1 teaspoon brown sugar or honey (5 g)
• Pinch of black pepper
• ½ teaspoon grated ginger (2 g)
• note: 2 tablespoons for skillet to cook beef or you can omit and use your grill

For serving:

• 4 large eggs, fried
• 2 tablespoons gochujang (≈ 30 g total, about 7–8 g per bowl) or a drizzle of chili flake oil
• Toasted sesame seeds, for garnish ( 2–3 teaspoons)
• 2 stalks green onion, finely chopped ( 20 g)
• Additional sesame oil, for drizzling (1–2 teaspoons)

Instructions

🍚 Step 1: Cook the Rice

1. Rinse rice until the water runs clear. I also like to soak for 15 minutes then I rinse it again.
2. Add a bit of salt and oil along with water, but you can cook it in your rice cooker or as i said with water or broth.
3. STOVETOP RICE: Let the water boil, mix it, cover the pot with a fitted lid then turn the heat to low simmer and cook for 10 minutes on stove top. Take it off the heat after 10 minutes, and allow it to steam up for additional 5 minutes. Uncover, fluff it with a fork and enjoy.
   

🥩 Step 2: Marinate & Cook the Beef

1. Slice your steak into thin strips. Combine beef with soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, sugar, pepper, and ginger. Marinate for about 15 minutes.
2. Sear in a skillet over medium-high heat for 3–4 minutes until browned. Set aside. NOTE: You can use ground beef too if you don't have steak. I love using thinly cut steak for Philly cheesesteak. Just look at the meat deperatment. It is usally packaged in a black box.
   

🥕 Step 3: Prepare the Vegetables

1. Sauté each topping separately with a drizzle of sesame or neutral oil and a pinch of salt:
   

• Spinach – Sauté briefly until wilted (1 min).
• Carrots – Sauté just until slightly tender but still bright (1–2 min).
• Mushrooms – Sauté until golden and aromatic (2–3 min).
• Cucumbers – Serve raw for freshness.
• Kimchi – Use as-is or lightly pan-fry if preferred. I like it cold fresh from the jar.
• Danmuji - Korean pickled yellow radish, slice it into thin strips.

🍳 Step 4: Fry the Eggs

1. Fry eggs sunny-side-up until the whites are set but the yolks are still runny. Season lightly.

🥣 Assembly

1. Divide warm rice between 4 bowls.
2. Neatly arrange each topping around the rice in sections.
3. Place the fried egg in the center.
4. Add gochujang sauce or chili flake oil to each bowl.
5. Drizzle with a touch of sesame oil and sprinkle with sesame seeds and scallions.
   

🥄 How to Eat:

• Mix it all up! Let the gochujang and egg yolk coat the rice and veggies. It may look messy, but that’s where the magic happens.

💡 Optional Swaps:

• Vegetarian: Swap beef with pan-fried tofu or extra mushrooms.
• Milder: Mix gochujang with a little honey or sesame oil to reduce heat.

Notes

1. Cook veggies separately for clean flavor.
Sauté each vegetable on its own with just a pinch of salt and a drizzle of sesame oil. This keeps flavors distinct and prevents soggy textures.

2. Use freshly cooked short-grain rice.
Warm, slightly sticky rice is the heart of Bibimbap—it helps everything bind together when mixed. Avoid using dry or long-grain rice.

3. Balance the colors and textures.
Aim for the 5 traditional Korean colors: red (gochujang, kimchi), green (spinach, cucumber), yellow (egg yolk, danmuji), white (rice), and black (mushrooms or seaweed). It’s not just pretty—it’s balanced eating.

4. Let the egg yolk act as a natural sauce.
A sunny-side-up egg with a runny yolk adds richness. If you’re not a fan, a jammy soft-boiled egg works too.

5. Want crispy rice? Use a hot stone bowl.
For Dolsot Bibimbap, heat a well-oiled stone or cast iron bowl, press rice into the bottom, and let it crisp for a few minutes before adding toppings. It adds irresistible texture.

6. Adjust the spice to your taste.
Start with a small amount of gochujang (½ tablespoon per bowl) and add more at the table if needed. Mix it with honey or sesame oil for a milder, sweeter kick.

7. Even though is optional, try not to skip danmuji!
These sweet-sour pickled radish slices add brightness and crunch that cut through the richer elements of the bowl. Just 2 slices per bowl make a difference.

8. Store components separately for meal prep.
Keep rice, veggies, and proteins in separate containers in the fridge for up to 3–4 days. Reheat and assemble when ready to eat.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 938Total Fat: 58gSaturated Fat: 15gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 36gCholesterol: 325mgSodium: 2311mgCarbohydrates: 55gFiber: 9gSugar: 17gProtein: 53g

This data was provided and calculated by Nutritionix. Nutrition information isn’t always accurate, but we try our best.

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