If you’ve never tried Korean food then you’re missing out big time. While kimchi may not be everyone’s dish-of-fermented-cabbage there’s oh so much more to try and among my favourite dishes is Bibimbap – literally meaning “mixed rice”. It just so happens that bibimbap originates from Jeonju so while I was there I tried the original…
![Mouth Watering...](https://randomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/flickr_backup/4720922832_aa2a2731a4_b.jpg)
Bibimbap (비빔밥) is typically served as a bowl of warm white rice topped with sautéed and seasoned vegetables (나물 – namul), sliced meat (usually beef) and mixed together with chilli pepper paste (고추장 – gochujang) and egg. Just looking at this picture again is making my mouth water – if this doesn’t look good to you then there’s something seriously wrong!
![Heavenly Meal](https://randomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/flickr_backup/4720271283_169bc407df_b.jpg)
When ordered in a restaurant it usually comes with a variety of side dishes, most of which are also vegetable based so makes for a very healthy meal. It’s also available in a hot stone bowl (돌솥 – dolsot), which slowly cooks the egg as you stir the ingredients together. If it gets too spicy for you then you can cool your tongue with the accompanying bean-sprout soup.
![Bibimbap!](https://randomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/flickr_backup/4720921086_78d56dcebc_b.jpg)
The characteristic thing about Jeonju bibimbap is that it comes with Korean beef tartar (육회 – Yukhoe), Hwang Po Mook (a yellow jelly made from mung beans) and raw egg yolk (most other regions in Korea serve it with a fried egg). In addition to this, the rice used for bibimbap in Jeonju is cooked in beef broth rather than plain water so it looks and tastes better.
![Post-Mixing!](https://randomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/flickr_backup/4720273057_744aaa0222_b.jpg)
This is how it looks once everything has been mixed together and is ready to be enjoyed. We ate this at a restaurant called Jongnohoigwan (종로회관) which is opposite the west gate of Gyeonggijeon Shrine. Believe me, it tastes as good as it looks!
Reply