Kimchi fried rice

Kimchi fried rice[1] or kimchi-bokkeum-bap[1] (김치볶음밥) is a variety of bokkeum-bap ("fried rice"), a popular dish in South Korea.[2] Kimchi fried rice is made primarily with kimchi and rice, along with other available ingredients, such as diced vegetables or meats like spam.[2]

Kimchi fried rice

Alternative names	Kimchi-bokkeum-bap
Type	Bokkeum-bap
Place of origin	Korea
Cookbook: Kimchi fried rice   Media: Kimchi fried rice

Korean name
Hangul	김치볶음밥
Revised Romanization	gimchi-bokkeum-bap
McCune–Reischauer	kimch'i-pokkŭm-pap
IPA	[kim.tɕʰi.bo.k͈ɯm.bap̚]

Fried rice with Kimchi served hot.

Ingredients

Leftover rice and/or over-ripened kimchi as ingredients are usually preferred in preparing kimchi fried rice.[3] Over-ripened kimchi can also be used for cooking kimchi jjigae.[2] Indeed, well-fermented kimchi and chilled rice can produce a flavor of greater richness as opposed to freshly made kimchi and rice.[3] In preliminary preparation, as surplus "kimchiso" (hangul: 김치소, kimchi filling, mostly shredded radish, green onions and jeotgal, fermented and salted seafood) taken out from kimchi, squeezed to discard its brine. Without completing the process, the resultant dish can be mushy in texture.

Along with kimchi and rice, kimchi fried rice can contain many kinds of ingredients.[3] Pork or spam are the most common; however, beef, chicken, bacon, ham, canned tuna, or shrimp can be used. Instead of meat, mushrooms can be used as a replacement, in which case the ingredient's name may be prefixed to the dish's name such as "beoseot-kimchi-bokkeum-bap" (hangul: 버섯김치볶음밥, literally "mushroom kimchi fried rice"). Meat ingredients are chopped into the dish together with vegetables such as onion, carrot or zucchini. However, ingredients depend on personal preference and occasion. A small amount of minced garlic and sliced green pepper can be used as seasoning. These ingredients are fried in a pan with a little vegetable or sesame oil.

After the cooked dish is put on a plate or in a bowl, a fried egg is sometimes served on top.[3] Thinly shredded gim, chopped scallions or sesame are spread over it to enhance the flavor and to garnish.

Popularity

Since kimchi fried rice is cheap and easy to make in a short period of time, it is favored by students living alone who cannot afford expensive meals.[3] Kimchi fried rice is also a popular item for lunch at a bunsikjeom ("bunsik place"). As the dish is hot and spicy, it is typically served with danmuji and a small bowl of any kind of mild and warm soup such as miyeok-guk ("wakame soup"),[4] or kongnamul-guk ("soybean sprout soup"). During summer, cool dongchimi (white, watery kimchi made of radish) can also be accompanied with the dish.

The popularity of kimchi fried rice is also reflected in South Korean pop culture. Byun Jin-sub, a popular male singer in the late 1980s, sang a song titled "Wishes" (hangul: 희망사항) in which he stated that the singer's ideal girlfriend would be one who cooks good kimchi fried rice. Taeyang says in his 2010 song "I Need A Girl" that his ideal girlfriend will eat the kimchi fried rice that he cooks.[3][5]

See also

• Korean cuisine
• List of fried rice dishes
•  Food portal

References

1. (in Korean) "주요 한식명(200개) 로마자 표기 및 번역(영, 중, 일) 표준안" [Standardized Romanizations and Translations (English, Chinese, and Japanese) of (200) Major Korean Dishes] (PDF). National Institute of Korean Language. 2014-07-30. Retrieved 2017-02-14. Lay summary.
2. "Kimchi Fried Rice". TriFood.com. Retrieved 2008-04-02.
3. "Korean Food: Stir-fried Dishes". Life in Korea, Inc. Archived from the original on 2013-03-09. Retrieved 2008-04-02.
4. DCC, Elizabeth Lim. "Kimchi Fried Rice". mealsmatter.org.
5. Choi, Yeong-jin (최영진) (February 2006). 새해를 다이어트 콘서트로 시작하는 변진섭& 아내 이주영 (in Korean). Kyonghyang Sinmun. Retrieved 2008-04-02. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)

External links

• Kimchi fried rice recipe at Dong-A Ilbo (in Korean)
• Kimchi fried rice recipe with photo