Classic Kimbap (Korean Seaweed Rice Roll)

Kimbap, sometimes spelled gimbap, is a rice, meat—usually beef—and vegetables rolled in roasted seaweed. During my childhood, when we took family road trips in our VW Hatchback, my mom would always pack kimbap in a huge Tupperware container and put it in our old Igloo cooler, along with bottles of Coke. We never stopped at gas stations or restaurants for food. We pulled over at rest stops, filled our bellies with kimbap and a Coke, and we were set! 

Unknown Origins, Delicious Bite

For centuries, Koreans have rolled bap (“rice” in Korean) and banchan (Korean side dishes) in gim ("dried seaweed" in Korean and sometimes spelled kim). What goes inside the roll has always varied. It’s the most colorful and delicious bite of food.

Is this the origin of kimbap? Or perhaps it evolve during the Japanese occupation of Korea in the first half of the 1900s, eventually becoming the version here, often considered the classic kimbap. However kimbap came about, it is one of the most popular Korean foods, often part of a traditional packed lunch called dosirak, picnic, snack, or travel food. 

Classic Kimbap Ingredients

Kimbap uses sheets of roasted seaweed—the packaging is sometimes labeled as nori. The rice is always seasoned with sesame oil, and popular filling ingredients include cooked carrots, cucumbers, strips of cooked eggs, a protein such as steak or spam, and fresh or pickled vegetables, like danmuji. It’s a perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors. You won’t even need a dipping sauce. 

What Is Danmuji?

Danmuji is a bright yellow pickled daikon radish. The pickle brine has rice vinegar, sugar, seasonings, and turmeric, for an iconic yellow color. It is poured over daikon sliced into rounds, sticks, or even left whole. This bright, acidic, sweet pickle is popular as a banchan or as an ingredient in kimbap.

You can find danmuji in most Asian markets. I buy it at my local Hmart. It is sold in refrigerated packages, whole, sliced into rounds, or cut in long strips, specifically for kimbap. Once opened, leftover danmuji will keep for up to 2 weeks. Transfer it into an airtight container with its original brine and keep it refrigerated.

How to Make the Korean Seasoned Rice

To make rice for kimbap, cook medium-grain rice however you prefer, but with a couple of tablespoons less water than you would otherwise use. My mom always did this so that the rice stuck together, but the individual grains had a little bite and texture.

While the cooked rice is still hot, drizzle in sesame oil and a little salt. Mix it well so that the sesame oil coats the rice evenly. Cover with a towel and allow to cool while you prepare the remaining ingredients.

My Tips for Making Kimbap

Once you get the hang of it, making kimbap is fun and easy. 

• Be sure to have all the fillings prepped and at hand before starting. 
• Keep a small bowl of water nearby to wet your fingers. It’ll prevent the rice from sticking to the spoon and your hands. You’ll also need water to dampen the gim. 
• Use a bamboo or silicone mat to help you apply even pressure when rolling. Pull the mat out as you roll, so you don’t accidently roll it into the kimbap! Not that I’ve ever done that. Ehem! 

Kimbap Variations

There are as many ways to customize your kimbap! Use vegetables only for a vegetarian kimbap. Add canned tuna—it’s called chamchi kimbap. Kimchi, chopped and with the liquid squeezed out, adds a wonderful flavor, especially when combined with cooked spam. Other common fillings include cooked hamburger meat, spam, cucumber, and perilla leaves. As a child, one of my favorites was chung-mu kimbap—it’s just the seasoned rice and no other fillings. It still is!

Whatever you fill the kimbap with, here are some things to keep in mind: 

• Anything sliceable, like carrots, cucumbers, and spam, should be cut to approximately 7x1/4-inch strips. 
• Shorter items can be laid end to end on the rice.
• Any wet ingredients, like kimchi, should be squeezed out or dried with a paper towel to avoid making soggy kimbap. 

Planning Ahead

Kimbap is best served soon after making. Refrigerating sliced kimbap will dry out the rice. If you’d like to make them ahead, they will hold at room temperature for up to 12 hours. Tightly wrap the uncut rolls individually with plastic wrap. This will help the rice to stay moist. When ready to serve, simply slice them.

Rolled Food is the Best Food

• Fried Spring Rolls
• Zucchini Lasagna Roll-Ups
• Shrimp Spring Rolls with Peanut Sauce
• Stuffed Cabbage Rolls
• Easy Stuffed Stromboli