Crisp Lettuce Rice Bowl
Have You Tried Lettuce Like This? Introducing Crisp Lettuce Rice!
Discover a unique twist on bibimbap with our Lettuce Rice, featuring a delicious soy-based sauce. This dish perfectly balances the freshness of lettuce with the savory flavors of a well-seasoned sauce, making it an unforgettable meal. It’s a must-try for anyone looking to enjoy lettuce in a delightful new way.
Ingredients- Rice for 2-3 servings (approx. 360g)
- Fresh lettuce 250g
- Garlic scapes 80g
Seasoning Sauce- 2-3 stalks green onions, finely chopped
- 1-2 Korean green chilies, seeds removed and finely chopped (adjust to spice preference)
- 2/3 Tbsp minced garlic
- 4 Tbsp soy sauce (jin ganjang)
- 1 Tbsp soup soy sauce (guk ganjang)
- 1 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 2 Tbsp maesilcheong (plum extract, adjust sweetness)
- 2 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- 2 Tbsp sesame oil
- 2-3 stalks green onions, finely chopped
- 1-2 Korean green chilies, seeds removed and finely chopped (adjust to spice preference)
- 2/3 Tbsp minced garlic
- 4 Tbsp soy sauce (jin ganjang)
- 1 Tbsp soup soy sauce (guk ganjang)
- 1 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 2 Tbsp maesilcheong (plum extract, adjust sweetness)
- 2 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- 2 Tbsp sesame oil
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
You can adjust the amount of lettuce and garlic scapes to your liking. If you don’t have garlic scapes, it’s okay to omit them, but they add a wonderful fragrance! Using more lettuce will bring out its fresh flavor even more.
Step 2
First, cook the rice in your rice cooker. Use the usual amount of water for your preferred rice texture. A slightly drier, fluffier rice works best for mixing with the lettuce. While the rice is cooking, let’s prepare the other ingredients.
Step 3
Rinse the lettuce thoroughly and soak it in cold water for about 10 minutes to enhance its crispiness. Then, rinse it 3-4 times under running water to remove any dirt and drain well. Wash the garlic scapes as well.
Step 4
Trim the tough ends of the washed garlic scapes and chop them into bite-sized pieces, about 2-3 cm long. This length is easy to mix into the rice.
Step 5
You can use the lettuce leaves whole or tear them into bite-sized pieces. I prefer to leave them long for a more satisfying bite when mixed, so I didn’t cut them. Feel free to cut them if you prefer.
Step 6
While the rice is cooking, let’s make the delicious sauce. Finely chop the green onions and the Korean green chilies (after removing the seeds). If you enjoy a spicier kick, feel free to add more chili.
Step 7
In a bowl, combine the chopped green onions, chilies, minced garlic, soy sauce, soup soy sauce, gochugaru, maesilcheong, sesame seeds, and sesame oil. Mix everything together thoroughly to create a flavorful bibimbap sauce. Ensure all ingredients are well incorporated.
Step 8
Once the rice is cooked, gently fluff it with a rice paddle to let the steam escape evenly. Be gentle to avoid mashing the rice grains.
Step 9
Arrange the chopped garlic scapes on top of the cooked rice.
Step 10
Next, generously layer the fresh lettuce leaves over the garlic scapes. Now, use the ‘reheat’ function on your rice cooker for about 1-2 minutes. This brief heating will slightly wilt the lettuce, keeping it wonderfully crisp and infusing its fresh flavor into the rice.
Step 11
When the reheating is done and you open the lid, you’ll see that the lettuce is still vibrant and crisp, not mushy. This is the moment where the warm rice, crisp lettuce, and fragrant garlic scapes are about to come together.
Step 12
Gently mix the rice, lettuce, and garlic scapes together using the rice paddle. Avoid overmixing to maintain the texture of the lettuce.
Step 13
Serve the mixed lettuce rice in a bowl and drizzle with the prepared seasoning sauce. Adjust the amount of sauce to your taste. Enjoy your refreshing and delicious Lettuce Rice!
