Hearty and Delicious Beef and Perilla Leaf Gimbap
A Flavorful Gimbap with Beef and Aromatic Perilla Leaves
What a beautiful sky today! With a gentle breeze and warm sunshine, looking at the shade of the trees in the backyard makes me crave a picnic. That’s why I decided to make ‘Beef and Perilla Leaf Gimbap.’ This gimbap is packed with flavorful marinated beef and fragrant perilla leaves, offering a delightful contrast of textures and tastes. The generous filling makes each bite incredibly satisfying. Perfect for a special occasion, a picnic, or a hearty meal, let’s make this delicious gimbap together!
Beef Stir-fry Ingredients- 2 rice cups beef (thinly sliced)
- 3 Tbsp soy sauce
- 3 Tbsp sugar
- 1/2 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp sesame seeds
Gimbap Filling Ingredients- 6 eggs
- Spicy peppers (to taste)
- 2 cucumbers
- 2 carrots
- 1 pickled radish (danmuji)
- Gimbap seaweed sheets
- Perilla leaves
- Sesame oil (for rice seasoning)
- Salt (for cucumber, carrot, and rice seasoning)
- 6 eggs
- Spicy peppers (to taste)
- 2 cucumbers
- 2 carrots
- 1 pickled radish (danmuji)
- Gimbap seaweed sheets
- Perilla leaves
- Sesame oil (for rice seasoning)
- Salt (for cucumber, carrot, and rice seasoning)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Let’s prepare the star of our gimbap: the beef! In a pan, combine 2 rice cups of thinly sliced beef with 3 Tbsp soy sauce, 3 Tbsp sugar, 1/2 Tbsp minced garlic, 1 Tbsp sesame oil, and 1 Tbsp sesame seeds. Stir-fry until the beef is well-cooked and coated in the savory marinade. This marinated beef will add a wonderful depth of flavor and a chewy texture to your gimbap.
Step 2
Now, let’s prepare the other colorful and flavorful filling ingredients. First, make thin omelets (jidan) from the 6 eggs and slice them into strips. Next, finely julienne the spicy peppers to your desired amount and lightly stir-fry them to release their aroma. Take 2 cucumbers, julienne them, sprinkle with a little salt, and let them sit for about 10 minutes to draw out moisture, then squeeze out any excess water to ensure a crisp texture. For the carrots, julienne 2 carrots, lightly season with salt, and stir-fry in a little oil until tender and slightly sweet. Finally, julienne 1 pickled radish (danmuji). Your gimbap fillings are now ready!
Step 3
Time to prepare the rice for rolling. In a bowl of freshly cooked, warm rice, add a pinch of salt and 1 Tbsp sesame oil. Mix well until evenly seasoned. Lay a sheet of gimbap seaweed on a rolling mat with the rough side facing up. Spread the seasoned rice thinly over the seaweed, leaving a small border at the top edge. It’s crucial to spread the rice thinly to prevent the gimbap from breaking or the fillings from spilling out when rolled.
Step 4
On top of the thin layer of rice, arrange one or two perilla leaves. The aromatic fragrance of the perilla leaves will beautifully complement the other ingredients and enhance the overall flavor profile of the gimbap.
Step 5
For a visually appealing gimbap, layer the sliced egg omelets and the stir-fried carrots on top of the perilla leaves. Placing colorful ingredients first will make the sliced gimbap look even more appetizing.
Step 6
Now, evenly distribute the stir-fried beef, julienned pickled radish, stir-fried spicy peppers, and the squeezed cucumber strips over the other fillings. Try to arrange the ingredients evenly across the width of the seaweed to ensure a balanced filling in every bite.
Step 7
Once all the fillings are in place, it’s time to roll! Using the bamboo mat, carefully roll the seaweed sheet tightly, pressing gently to enclose the fillings. Moisten the top edge of the seaweed with a little water or a few grains of rice to seal the roll securely. And there you have it – a hearty and delicious Beef and Perilla Leaf Gimbap is complete!
Step 8
Before slicing, you can brush the outside of the gimbap with a little sesame oil for a glossy finish and extra flavor. While freshly rolled gimbap is delicious, letting it sit for a few minutes before slicing will help it hold its shape better. This gimbap, with its generous filling over the rice, is a favorite for many who enjoy a substantial and flavorful bite. Enjoy your meal!
