Perfectly Balanced Bacon Kimchi Fried Rice Recipe
Flavorful Bacon Kimchi Fried Rice Everyone Loves!
The ultimate kimchi fried rice recipe with deep flavor and fantastic texture.
Main Ingredients
- 1.5 cups well-fermented kimchi, finely chopped
- 4 strips thick-cut bacon, chopped
- 1.5 bowls warm cooked rice
- 1 stalk fresh green onion, finely chopped
Seasonings & Others
- 0.5 to 1 Tbsp sugar (adjust to kimchi’s sourness)
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp cooking oil
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- A pinch of toasted sesame seeds
- 0.5 to 1 Tbsp sugar (adjust to kimchi’s sourness)
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp cooking oil
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- A pinch of toasted sesame seeds
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare your ingredients. Finely chop the kimchi, ensuring you have 1.5 cups in total. Chop the green onion finely and cut the bacon into bite-sized pieces (about 2cm). Having everything prepped makes the cooking process much smoother.
Step 2
In a bowl, gently mix the chopped kimchi with 0.5 to 1 tablespoon of sugar. It’s important to adjust the sugar based on how sour your kimchi is. Adding sugar mellows the tartness of the kimchi while enhancing its savory flavor, making the fried rice taste much better.
Step 3
Heat 2 tablespoons of cooking oil in a pan over medium-low heat. Add all the chopped green onion and sauté until it becomes lightly golden and fragrant, creating ‘scallion oil’. This step infuses the oil with the sweet, aromatic essence of the green onions, significantly boosting the fried rice’s flavor profile.
Step 4
Once the scallion oil is fragrant, add the chopped bacon to the pan. Cook until the bacon is slightly crispy and lightly browned. The rendered fat from the bacon will add richness and depth to the fried rice.
Step 5
Now, pour 1 tablespoon of soy sauce around the edges of the hot pan. As the soy sauce hits the hot surface, it will caramelize slightly, developing a deeper, more complex flavor.
Step 6
When the soy sauce begins to bubble, stir everything together – the sautéed scallions and bacon – ensuring they are well combined and coated with the flavorful soy sauce. You’ll notice a delicious aroma developing.
Step 7
Add all the seasoned kimchi to the pan and stir-fry with the other ingredients. If you desire a richer color and a more intense flavor, you can add about 1 tablespoon of gochugaru (Korean chili flakes) at this stage. Stir-frying the kimchi until it’s slightly caramelized or a bit ‘fried’ will enhance its texture and taste. Cook the kimchi to your preferred level of tenderness.
Step 8
Now, add the 1.5 bowls of warm cooked rice to the pan with the kimchi and bacon mixture.
Step 9
Using a spatula held upright, gently break apart the rice and stir-fry thoroughly to ensure every grain is evenly coated with the kimchi and bacon mixture. It’s crucial to mix well so that the flavors are distributed evenly throughout the rice.
Step 10
Once the rice is well combined and has a slightly firm, ‘fried’ texture, turn off the heat. Drizzle in 1 tablespoon of sesame oil and sprinkle a generous amount of toasted sesame seeds. The nutty aroma of sesame oil and the delightful crunch of sesame seeds will elevate your fried rice. Give it one final gentle toss.
Step 11
No perfect kimchi fried rice is complete without a fried egg! Top your delicious creation with a fried egg cooked to your preference – sunny-side up or over-easy – for an even more satisfying meal.
Step 12
Enjoy your perfectly prepared Bacon Kimchi Fried Rice!
