Delicious Homemade Bibimbap with Fish Roe (Albab)
How to Make Easy and Flavorful Albap at Home
Elevate your home cooking with this recipe for Albap, a vibrant rice dish that’s even more delicious than what you’d order at a restaurant! This recipe is wonderfully versatile, allowing you to customize it with ingredients you already have in your refrigerator. Get ready to create a satisfying and flavorful meal.
Ingredients- 1 bowl of warm cooked rice (approx. 200g)
- 1/2 piece of ham (approx. 50g)
- Assorted mushrooms, to your preference (e.g., shiitake, king oyster, button)
- 2 Tbsp stir-fried kimchi
- 2 Tbsp shredded seaweed (kim)
- 1 handful of fresh chives (approx. 30g)
- 1 Tbsp flying fish roe (tobiko)
- 1 Tbsp mayonnaise
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare the ham. Dice the ham into small cubes, about 0.5cm in size. Heat a frying pan over medium heat without any oil, and cook the diced ham until golden brown and slightly crispy. You can use any type of ham you have at home, such as Spam or other processed ham brands. The size of the dice should be small enough to be eaten easily with rice. Once cooked, transfer the ham to a paper towel to drain any excess oil.
Step 2
Next, prepare the mushrooms. You can use any type of mushroom you like, such as shiitake, king oyster, or button mushrooms. Trim the tough ends of the mushrooms, wash them thoroughly, and then finely dice them into pieces similar in size to the ham (about 0.5cm). Add a small amount of oil to a heated frying pan and sauté the diced mushrooms until they soften and turn lightly golden. For added flavor, you can season the mushrooms with a pinch of salt and pepper while cooking.
Step 3
Wash the fresh chives thoroughly and pat them dry. Finely chop the chives into small pieces, about 0.5cm in length. Chopping them finely ensures they integrate well with the rice.
Step 4
Now, prepare your serving vessel. You can use a small earthenware pot (ttukbaegi) or a regular bowl. Drizzle 1 tablespoon of sesame oil evenly over the bottom of the pot or bowl. The fragrant sesame oil will infuse the rice with a wonderful aroma and flavor.
Step 5
Place the warm cooked rice into the pot or bowl on top of the sesame oil. Using a spatula or spoon, spread the rice evenly and press it down slightly to form a compact layer. Place the pot over low heat and allow the rice at the bottom to gently toast for about 1-2 minutes. This step helps to create a slightly crispy texture at the bottom, similar to scorched rice (nurungji).
Step 6
Arrange the prepared ingredients attractively on top of the rice. Neatly place the sautéed mushrooms, pan-fried ham, stir-fried kimchi, chopped chives, and shredded seaweed around the rice. Try to create a visually appealing arrangement with the different colors and textures.
Step 7
Finally, top the center of the dish with 1 tablespoon of vibrant flying fish roe, and then drizzle 1 tablespoon of creamy mayonnaise over it. Your delicious Albap is now complete! Mix everything together thoroughly while it’s hot and enjoy the explosion of flavors. You can also add a touch of soy sauce or gochujang (Korean chili paste) to taste, if desired.
