J's Musings

To deviate from our usual layout, today, I want to share a recipe I made recently and loved.

Bibimbap for the loved and lonely:

Ingredients:

• Garlic
• Carrots
• Scallion
• Cucumber
• Rice
• Seaweed [optional]
• Kimchi

Sauce/Seasoning:

• Chili powder [any chili powder works]
• Gochujang
• Soy sauce [light or dark works]
• Vinegar [I prefer chili vinegar, use any of your choice]
• Salt
• Sesame Oil
• Oyster Sauce

Preparation: Read till the end before you start :]

Carrots – Oil a pan and let it heat up. Add garlic, scallion whites [julienned] and let that brown. Then add chili powder and salt before tossing in the carrot. After about 2 minutes, shove the carrots to a corner in the pan and let a tablespoon of soy sauce and a tablespoon of oyster sauce in the empty space. Mix everything in the pan together and your carrots are ready!

Cucumber – I don’t love soggy cucumbers so I avoid cooking them as much as I can. I like to julienne my cucumbers and remove the seedy part. Toss the cucumbers in the remaining sauce in your pan without using heat to maintain that refreshing bite.

Seaweed – It’s better to go about this one however you like. I prefer really thin strips that easily break to form flakes as I mix the rice.

Rice – This is extremely important. I do not care if you microwave your rice or make it fresh in a pan. It should be freshly cooked and soft. Add that to a heat proof bowl and season with salt, vinegar, and a drizzle of sesame oil.

For the finishing steps add the carrots, cucumber, seaweed [optional], cut up kimchi, a spoonful of gochujang, and an optional drizzle of soy sauce.

Tips:

• Remove the seeds from your cucumber to avoid a soggy mess.
• Cut up kimchi for easy mixing
• A quick pre prep is to stir fry some kimchi in minimal oil in a shallow pan.
• Use this same pan for everything else for minimal dishes and maximum flavour.
• DON’T FORGET TO SALT EVERYTHING! [Except cucumbers]
• Use the chili powder you usually use or like. Trying out gochutgaru may end up sweetening or adding fruit notes you might not love.

The most important thing for a recipe like this is to experiment and alter it according to personal preferences. Be it the preparation or the veggies. Altering it according to how you like it can make this a more caring experience for yourself and, if you have any, those around you.

Hoping my recipe helps you care for ourself and remember that it’s ok to feel alone sometime,

Janhavi ;]