Anushka Gupta, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh

People who have been watching K-Dramas must be knowing very well what is Gimbap. Well, gimbap or kimbap is the go-to food for all Korean people. We must have seen in the Western countries that people pack sandwiches for picnics or make them as their go-to food when in hurry. Similarly, no picnic in Korea is complete without gimbap. It is a must-have dish for all the picnics, and it is also convenient for people who are running late in the morning and need to grab a quick bite. 

Difference between Gimbap and Sushi

Gimbap may seem similar to the Japanese dish, sushi, but is actually different. Gimbap is mainly prepared with cooked and seasoned vegetables and other ingredients. On the other hand, sushi is usually prepared with raw ingredients. Also, the rice of gimbap is usually seasoned with sesame oil and salt whereas the rice for sushi is seasoned with sugar and vinegar.

The popularity of Gimbap in South Korea

Gimbap is really a very versatile dish and also a popular street food in Korea. People love to eat gimbap anytime and in any season. They are huge fans of gimbap. Some of the basic ingredients used in making gimbap are the bamboo mat for rolling the gimbap, cooked rice, eggs, vegetables like carrots, cucumbers, radish, burdock root, spinach, etc. Meats like ham, beef, pork, lamb, chicken, barbeque meat, are also used along with eggs, dried seaweed sheet, sesame seeds, sesame oil, and kimchi. 

It totally depends on you, what kind of ingredients you want in your gimbap. If you are vegetarian, it’s completely fine, the list of ingredients you can put in your gimbap is endless, you can stuff and roll your gimbap with any kind of vegetable you like, so no worries. People have their own styles and preferences when it comes to eating gimbap. Nowadays, people prefer eating gimbap with vinegar, though normally gimbap is eaten without any dipping sauce, and is served with yellow pickled radish on the side.

There is a huge variety of gimbap that is available in various types and forms, let’s explore the different types of gimbap that we can try.

Samgak or Triangle Gimbap

As the same suggests, these are triangular-shaped gimbap. This gimbap which we often see in K-Dramas is usually available in many Korean restaurants and convenience stores. These are easy to carry and can be eaten anywhere without any hassle, therefore working people who don’t have time, prefer to have these. These are rarely made at home because they require some kind of special tool due to their shape.

Classic Gimbap

These are the most common and most widely made gimbap, which can be found everywhere and is made by all the households. These gimbap are circular in shape and are filled with common ingredients like eggs, carrots, spinach, fishcake, meat, radish, etc.

Petal Shaped Gimbap

These gimbap are made in the shape of a petal. These petals are arranged in desired shapes, which gives an aesthetic appeal to the gimbap and makes them a bit different from the original ones. It is the shape of this gimbap that catches the eye of the people.

Tuna Gimbap

This is a new and modern version of gimbap which perfectly suits the new taste palette of the Korean people and is a highly popular version of gimbap. Tuna is mixed with creamy mayonnaise and loads of crunchy vegetables are rolled in the seaweed sheet along with the steamed rice.

Kimchi Gimbap

This is a must-have version of gimbap. Two things that are highly popular in Korea are Kimchi and Gimbap. When these two things are combined together, it becomes a match made in heaven. Kimchi can be either cabbage kimchi or radish kimchi or any other type of kimchi.

Mayak Gimbap

Mayak means “narcotic” in Korean. But don’t worry, there are no controlled substances here! The name originated from the very addictive nature of this gimbap. These gimbap are small in size and served as a whole, without slicing them. These are filled with simple ingredients like carrots, pickled yellow radish, spinach, and rice. It is due to their simplicity that it is very addictive in nature.

Nude Gimbap

These gimbap are the inside-out version of the classic gimbap. Here, the rice is on the outside and the seaweed is inside. Since rice is on the outside, it gets sweet and sour dressing similar to sushi.

Watch this video to see how gimbap is prepared:

Be it any type of gimbap, all are loved by the people and is a very essential dish in Korean cuisine. It is not only popular in Korea but also all around the world. If you get to try gimbap, which gimbap would you like to try first? Let us know in the comment section down below.