Korean Takeaway at Home
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January 11th, 2023
If you're craving Korean food but don't want to go out for takeout, try making it at home! In this article, we'll be sharing recipes for fan favourites: including bibimbap and kimchi fried rice. These dishes are not only delicious, but they're also incredibly easy to make, especially if you have a few key ingredients on hand.
To make these dishes, you'll need gochujang, kimchi, rice vinegar, sushi rice, and doenjang. Plus some fresh meat and vegetables, and a two store cupboard staples; soy sauce and sesame oil.
You can either cook up a feast for multiple people. Or spread these meals out over a couple of Friday nights. So let's get cooking!
Your Menu
Main Option 1
Sticky, Spicy Pork Ribs
Spicy Korean pork ribs are a popular dish at Korean BBQ restaurants, but they are also easy to make at home. The ribs are coated in a spicy marinade made with gochujang, a staple in Korean cooking. And soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and sesame oil, which gives the ribs a rich and complex flavour. Make it even quicker to make boil the ribs the night before, mix up the sauce and marinade overnight. Then all you need to do is stick them in the oven for 20 minutes, and they're ready.
Main Option 2
Kimchi Bokkeumbap
Kimchi bokkeumbap, also known as kimchi fried rice, is a popular Korean dish that is made by stir-frying rice with diced kimchi and other ingredients. This kimchi bokkeumbap is made with shiitake mushrooms and served with a fried egg. It is a flavourful and satisfying dish that is packed with bold and spicy flavours.
Main Option 3
Bulgogi Beef Ssam
This bulgogi beef can be served in a series of ways. A popular way to eat it is in lettuce wraps, also known as bulgogi ssam. You can also eat it with rice, but it’s also great with bread and makes a lovely sandwich with your favourite vegetables. The beef takes in the subtle flavours of the soy sauce, garlic, green onion, and a bit of sugar.
Main Option 4
Dolsot Bibimbap
Bibimbap is a popular Korean rice dish that is typically served in a large bowl with an assortment of sauteed and pickled vegetables, beef and a fried egg on top of a bed of white rice. A gochujang sauce is typically served on the side.
One of the best things about bibimbap is that it is easily customizable so you can use any combination of vegetables that you like, which makes it a great leftover fridge clearer! And the beef can be substituted for any other protein you like, such as chicken, pork or tofu.
Side Dishes
Chilli Kale Crisps
These crispy, spicy kale chips make a great snack or side dish. The recipe here uses a dehydrator, but you can also make the crisps in the oven on the lowest heat. The gochujang gives the kale a nice spicy kick.
Spinach Namul
This Korean spinach recipe or sigeumchi namul recipe transforms spinach (sigeumchi) into one of our favourite foods. We love it on the side of almost any Korean meal, or even served as a starter or light lunch. The balance of soy, sesame, oil and garlic is wonderful, and could be used to dress other steamed vegetables. Be warned, the garlic is raw and pungent - not a recipe for just before date-night!
Can I make this menu vegetarian?
Yes. To make these dishes vegetarian, try swapping the beef in the bulgogi for tofu, using vegetarian kimchi, and making tofu and mushroom burgers instead of the Korean pork ribs. Or if you are feeling adventurous you could try making your own cauliflower wings using the sauce in the pork rib recipe.
Your Shopping List
This spicy red pepper paste is a key ingredient in many Korean dishes. It's essential for adding flavor and heat to your recipes.
Rice vinegar adds a slightly sweet and sour flavor to dishes like kimchi and bibimbap.
A fermented cabbage dish that is spicy and tangy, kimchi is a staple in Korean cuisine.
This short grain rice is used in dishes like bibimbap and sushi. It's sticky and slightly sweet, making it perfect for holding together your Korean creations.
This fermented soybean paste adds depth of flavor to many Korean dishes.
Optional: These seeds add a nutty flavor and crunch to dishes like ssam and bokkeumbap.
What fresh ingredients do I need?
To make this menu you will need a handful of fresh vegetables and meat:
- Pork spare ribs
- Eggs
- Beef (sirloin or rib eye)
- Onion
- Mixture of fresh veg of your choice (for the bibimbap)
- Shiitake Mushrooms
- Curly Kale
What can I make with my leftover ingredients?
If you have leftover ingredients, try making a kimchi salad or using the sushi rice to make poke bowls. You can also use leftover tofu, sushi rice and sesame seeds to make maki rolls. Or, you could make your favourite dish from the menu again and again.
