Cuisine : Bibimbap - how to prepare this Korean rice dish

 Bibimbap is a popular Korean dish that translates to "mixed rice." It consists of a bowl of warm rice topped with various sautéed vegetables, gochujang (Korean chili paste), soy sauce, a raw or fried egg, and sliced meat (usually beef). The dish is stirred together thoroughly just before eating.

Here’s a basic recipe to prepare Bibimbap:

Ingredients:

- **Rice:** 2 cups of short-grain or medium-grain rice

- **Vegetables:**

  - 1 cup spinach

  - 1 carrot, julienned

  - 1 zucchini, julienned

  - 1 cup bean sprouts

  - 1 cup shiitake mushrooms, sliced

- **Protein:**

  - 200g beef (sirloin or rib-eye), thinly sliced

- **Seasonings for vegetables:**

  - Sesame oil

  - Soy sauce

  - Salt

  - Minced garlic

- **Gochujang Sauce:**

  - 2 tablespoons gochujang

  - 1 tablespoon sesame oil

  - 1 tablespoon sugar

  - 1 tablespoon water

  - 1 tablespoon vinegar (optional)

- **Other:**

  - 2 eggs

  - Sesame seeds

  - Seaweed (optional)

Instructions:

1. **Cook the Rice:**

   - Rinse the rice until the water runs clear. Cook it in a rice cooker or on the stove as per package instructions.

2. **Prepare the Vegetables:**

   - **Spinach:** Blanch the spinach in boiling water for about 30 seconds. Rinse in cold water, squeeze out excess water, and season with 1 teaspoon sesame oil, 1 teaspoon soy sauce, and a pinch of salt.

   - **Carrot:** Sauté the julienned carrot in a bit of oil with a pinch of salt until tender.

   - **Zucchini:** Sauté the julienned zucchini in a bit of oil with a pinch of salt until tender.

   - **Bean Sprouts:** Blanch the bean sprouts in boiling water for a minute, rinse in cold water, and season with 1 teaspoon sesame oil, 1 teaspoon soy sauce, and a pinch of salt.

   - **Shiitake Mushrooms:** Sauté the mushrooms with a bit of oil, soy sauce, and minced garlic until cooked.

3. **Prepare the Beef:**

   - Marinate the sliced beef with 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 teaspoon sesame oil, minced garlic, and a pinch of sugar for about 15 minutes. Sauté the beef in a pan until cooked through.

4. **Prepare the Gochujang Sauce:**

   - In a small bowl, mix together the gochujang, sesame oil, sugar, water, and vinegar (if using). Adjust the ingredients to taste.

5. **Cook the Eggs:**

   - Fry the eggs sunny side up. Alternatively, you can use raw eggs if you prefer and it’s safe to consume them in your area.

6. **Assemble the Bibimbap:**

   - In a large bowl, add a portion of rice. Arrange the prepared vegetables and beef on top of the rice. Place the fried egg in the center.

   - Sprinkle with sesame seeds and seaweed, if using.

   - Serve with the gochujang sauce on the side, allowing each person to add and mix to their taste.

### Tips:

- Feel free to customize with other vegetables like bell peppers, radishes, or kimchi.

- You can make a vegetarian version by omitting the meat and adding tofu or more mushrooms.

- Bibimbap is traditionally served in a hot stone bowl (dolsot), which gives a crispy texture to the bottom layer of rice.

Enjoy your homemade Bibimbap!