Korean Bibimbap Recipe: A Colourful Feast in a Bowl
Published on August 14th, 2025
Intermediate
Picture this: a steaming bowl of fluffy rice crowned with a sunny-side-up egg, surrounded by neat piles of glistening vegetables and juicy beef, all waiting to be mixed with a spicy-sweet gochujang sauce. That’s the magic of bibimbap — a Korean classic that brings flavour, colour, and balance together in one bowl. And the best part? With this Korean bibimbap recipe, you can recreate that restaurant-worthy dish right at home.
What is Bibimbap?
If you’re wondering what is bibimbap, the answer is as vibrant as the dish itself. Translating to "mixed rice" in Korean, bibimbap is a harmonious medley of steamed rice, assorted seasoned vegetables, a protein (often beef for bibimbap with bulgogi), and a fried egg. Everything is tied together with a punchy gochujang-based sauce.
This dish is incredibly versatile. You can keep it traditional with beef, or go for a vegetarian bibimbap by skipping the meat and adding more mushrooms, tofu, or extra greens. Served hot in a sizzling stone bowl (dolsot) or in a regular bowl, it’s a meal that’s as much about presentation as it is about taste.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
• Balanced Nutrition: Carbs, protein, healthy fats, and plenty of fibre.
• Customisable: Perfect for bibimbap variations — change the veg, protein, or spice level.
• Healthy: This is a healthy bibimbap recipe packed with fresh produce and lean meat.
• Eye-Catching: A true rainbow on your plate.
• Fun to Eat: Mixing everything together at the table is part of the experience.
Ingredients (serves 4)
- 150g carrots, julienned
- 150g beansprouts
- 2 × 1/4 tsp toasted sesame oil
- 2 × 1/4 tsp dark soy sauce
- 2 tsp sunflower oil
- 200g shiitake mushrooms, sliced
- 1 red onion, thinly sliced
- 300g spinach
- 300g lean beef fillet, thinly sliced
- 4 medium eggs
- 2 × 250g cooked rice
- Sesame seeds, to serve
Bibimbap Sauce Ingredients
- 4 tsp gochujang chilli paste
- 1 tbsp dark soy sauce
- 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup
Instructions:
- Mix the gochujang, soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, and honey in a bowl. Set aside so the flavours can mingle.
- Bring a pot of water to a boil. Blanch the carrots for 1 minute, then the beansprouts for 2½ minutes. Drain and season each with sesame oil and soy sauce.
- Heat a little sunflower oil in a pan. Stir-fry the shiitake mushrooms until tender, season lightly, and set aside. Repeat with the onion and spinach, cooking each separately to keep flavours distinct.
- In the same pan, quickly stir-fry the beef slices for 1 minute. Add a splash of soy sauce and sesame oil. Cook until just done to keep them tender.
- For that classic bibimbap look, fry the eggs sunny-side-up so the yolk stays runny. It will mix into the rice beautifully.
- Warm your rice so it’s steaming hot — perfect for helping melt the yolk and blend flavours.
- Place a mound of rice in the centre of each bowl. Arrange the vegetables and beef around it in colourful sections. Nestle the fried egg in the middle, sprinkle with sesame seeds, and serve the sauce on the side. Mix before eating and enjoy.
Serving Ideas
• Traditional: Use a heated stone bowl (dolsot) to get crispy rice at the bottom.
• Vegetarian Bibimbap: Swap beef for tofu, tempeh, or extra mushrooms.
• Bibimbap with Bulgogi: Marinate the beef in a bulgogi sauce for extra flavour.
• Family Style: Lay out all toppings and let everyone build their own bowls.
Final Bite
This healthy bibimbap recipe packs lean protein, antioxidant-rich vegetables, and healthy fats from sesame oil. The variety of vegetables ensures a nutrient-dense meal with plenty of fibre.
Making this Korean bibimbap recipe at home is easier than you think. It’s vibrant, nutritious, and endlessly adaptable. Whether you keep it classic, make it vegetarian, or go all out with bulgogi, it’s a dish that brings joy from the first sight to the last bite.
So next time you’re craving something colourful, filling, and full of flavour, grab your chopsticks — it’s bibimbap time.
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