Spicy Tofu Bibimbap πΆ
Bibimbap (λΉλΉλ°₯ in Korean) is one of the most well known Korean dishes. The name ‘Bibimbap’ literally means ‘Mixed rice’. Typically, bibimbap is served with white rice and various seasoned vegetables, a fried egg and a spoonful of gochujang(Korean chilli paste). What you need to do to enjoy the bibimbap is that just mix the sauce with all the ingredients thoroughly and enjoy it.
How much Korean loves ‘Bibimbap’?
There is this clichΓ© scene that you can easily see in K-dramas. After breaking up with a nasty ex-boyfriend or being bullied by mum in law (If you have seen K-dramas you will understand that it is the very common storyline in K-drama) or after giving up the diet for losing weight, the main female characters often eat a bowl of bibimbap in the dark kitchen with sorrow or anger or relief in the night. When Korean people see the character eating a spoonful of bibimbap, they feel empathy for the character and also think of eating bibimbap for dinner.
As you can see from the video clip, bibimbap is not only a fency food that you enjoy with delicately cooked vegetables. It is very customisable. Although there are some specific ingredients that people use to make bibimbap, it is always open to every ingredient that is available in your fridge. And it is one reason why bibimbap is loved by Korean. When I was young my mum often made bibimbap with the leftover side dishes we had earlier and it was honestly so delicious all the time! π
Types of Bibimbap
Bibimbap names vary by ingredients, regions or types of the bowl they use for cooking. In this recipe, I will introduce you to the spicy tofu bibimbap but there are also lots of different types of bibimbap such as ‘Baby leaves (Saessac; μμΉ in Korean) Bibimbap’, Stone Pot (Dolsot; λμ₯ in Korean) Bibimbap’, e.t.c.
Some people prefer to cook bibimbap with some meat or shell. But often bibimbap is the easiest vegan or vegetarian food that you can find throughout South Korea.
Preperation for the Spicy Tofu Bibimbap
Okay. Shall we talk about how to make the spicy tofu bibimbap? Firstly I prepared and cooked every vegetable one by one. In this way, you can enjoy the colours and flavours that each vegetable has more. While I am cooking this dish I really enjoy seeing the beautiful colours of each veggie has. and it made me feel like I am a painter who paint on a bowl of white rice with colourful vegetables.
Instead of only adding the spicy sauce (Gochujang) I cooked tofu with the sauce and add extra for a little bit of intense spiciness(Because I love spicy food! β€οΈβπ₯). But it is completely optional!
Ingredient π₯¦
For sauce:
1tbsp Gochujang (Korean red chilli paste)
2tbsp Soy sauce
1tbsp Corn syrup
1tsp Crushed garlic
3tbsp Water
1 tbs Sesame oil
1 tbs Ketchup
For vegetables & rice:
Coconut oil (You can use any vegetable oil)
200g Firm Tofu
Carrot thinly sliced
Courgette thinly sliced
Handful of Mushrooms
Soybean sprouts
Kales
1 cup rice
Sesame seeds (optional)
Spring onion (optional)
How to Cook π₯
1. Make rice
– Rince 1 cup of rice in cold water until the drained water is clear
– Put the rice and 2 cups of water in a pot
– Cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes before the bubbles are just about overflow
– Reduce the heat and simmer for about 10 minutes until the rice is fully cooked
2. Spicy Tofu
– Drain all the water from the package of tofu
– Cut the tofu into bite-size pieces
– Place them on the paper towel and remove the water again
– Put the bite-size pieces in the oiled pan and fry until the colour change to gold
– Meanwhile, mix all the ingredients for the sauce and add 1/3 of the sauce into the pan and fry for about 3 minutes.
3. Vegetables
– Soybean sprouts: Put them in boiling water for 20 seconds and drain, mix with 1 teaspoon crushed garlic, a pinch of salt, 1 teaspoon sesame oil
– Carrots and courgette: Slice the carrot and courgette (But separately!) into strips and put them in the oiled pan and add a pinch of a salt cook until softened
– Mushroom: Slice the mushroom and cook in the oiled pan and add 1/2 tablespoon of soy sauce and garlic
– Kale: cut and wash the kales
4. Last step!
– Put the rice in a bawl
– Add the vegetables on the rice as if youβre a painter mindfully and joyfully
– Put the spicy-fried tofu on top
– Add the leftover sauce
– Sprinkle the sesame seeds and spring onion on top (optional)
– And letβs eat! Yum
Ingredients
Recipe
1. Cooking Rice
- Rince 1 cup of rice in cold water until the drained water is clear
- Put the rice and 2 cups of water in a pot
- Cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes before the bubbles are just about overflow
- Reduce the heat and simmer about 10 minutes until the rice is fully cooked
2. The Spicy Tofu
- Drain all the water from the package of tofu
- Cut the tofu into bite-size pieces
- Place them on the paper towel and remove the water again
- Put the bite-size pieces in the oiled pan and fry until the colour change to gold
- Meanwhile, mix all the ingredients for the sauce and add 1/3 of the sauce into the pan and fry for about 3 minutes.
3. Vegetables
- Soybean sprouts: Put them in boiling water for 20 seconds and drain, mix with 1 teaspoon crushed garlic, a pinch of salt, 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- Carrots and courgette: Slice the carrot and courgette (But separately!) into strips and put them in the oiled pan and add a pinch of salt cook until softened
- Mushroom: Slice the mushroom and cook in the oiled pan and add 1/2 tablespoon of soy sauce and garlic
- Kale: cut and wash the kales
4. Last step!
- Put the rice in a bawl
- Add the vegetables on the rice as if youβre a painter mindfully and joyfully π₯³
- Put the spicy-fried tofu on top
- Add the leftover sauce
- Sprinkle the sesame seeds and spring onion on top (optional)
- And letβs eat! Yum π