This simple, simple dish is super, super tasty. It’s just a few ingredients, but it’s a dish much loved by Koreans and a staple of our everyday lives.
This version is simple, but you can dress it up with a bit of beef, chicken, pork, ham, or even spam. Many Koreans also like to put a fried egg on top, but my family prefers this simple version that I’m showing you here. When my son lived in the school dorm, visits with him were rare. I talked to him on the phone before he came and I asked:
“What food do you miss the most? I’ll make it for you when you come.”
I figured I would need some time to prepare and shop ahead of time, but he answered: “I miss kimchi-bokkeumbap.”
“What? That’s it? Is there anything else?”
“Just kimchi-bokkeumbap, Mom.”
As you see in this video, you don’t need to prepare much in advance for kimchi-bokkeumbap if you have kimchi and rice on hand. So of course I made it for him, along with grilled beef and lots of high protein food. As soon as he came home, I was ready to stir fry. He loved it!
A lot of people say making fried rice is best with leftover rice straight from the fridge, or just day-old rice, but I’ve never really tasted the difference in flavor, taste, or texture. I use fresh rice all the time. I just let it cool down a bit before I stir fry, and my kimchi bokkeumbap is always delicious. It’s the best fried rice I have ever tasted, much better than the kimchi-bokkeumbap at a Korean restaurant.
Ingredients
- 3 bowls steamed rice (3 cups)
- 1 cup chopped kimchi (should be aged, well-fermented and sour)
- ¼ cup kimchi juice (spicy red juice from a jar of kimchi)
- ¼ cup water
- 2-3 tablespoons gochujang
- 3 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
- 1 green onion, chopped
- 1 tablespoon roasted sesame seeds
- 1 sheet of gim, roasted and shredded into seaweed strips
Directions
- Heat up a wide, flat pan or skillet. Add the vegetable oil.
- Add the kimchi and stir fry for 1 minute over medium-high heat.
- Add rice, kimchi juice, water, and gochujang. Stir all the ingredients together for about 7 minutes with a wooden spoon.
- Add sesame oil and remove from the heat.
- Garnish with sprinkled chopped green onion, roasted gim, and sesame seeds. Serve right away.
아주 맛있어요~! So simple yet so heavenly! Thank you for your delicious recipe, Maangchi! 갑사합니다! :)
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What a colorful, gorgeous kimchi-bokkeumbap you made!
Thank you, Maangchi, your recipe is awesome! :)
Hi! Finally gave it a go on your yummy recipe. BUT, I didn’t have gochujang (I forgot to buy)…. I went to see if there was a substitute. There was with chili flakes, soy sauce and sugar. I ended up trying to figure out a recipe and then added some doenjang; to make it thicker paste. It came out alright. But still, gochujang would have made it better.
Do you have an emergency substitute for gochujang?
I’m Korean American and I usually just make mine without gochujang so you should be fine. Just put a bit more kimchi in it for added flavor.
Hi Maangachi! i want to make this recipe but don’t have any kimchi juice as i buy packaged kimchi, can i leave the kimchi juice out while making or is there any substitutes? thanks!
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Mouthwatering!
hi, can you recommend me what brand to buy for the kimchi and gochujang? i love spicy one.
Check out my Korean grocery shopping guide video, it will help you:
https://www.maangchi.com/blog/korean-grocery-store-walkthrough#pastes
Good luck!
So yesterday was the first time I tried making this…. can you say Wow! Best and most flavorful fried rice recipe ever!! And so easy. My husband asked me to make it at least once a week if not more. Thank you for this easy and flavorful recipe.
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Yes! Wow wow! I said “wow” 2 times! : )
Hi Maangchi,
I just moved to Seoul and have been trying to make some Korean food. I made this last week and it’s so delicious! A fried egg and some gim on top made it a perfect meal. I’m so happy I have your videos to get me cooking with local ingredients while I’m here :).
Hello Maangchi, I did this today and it was really delicious. I also add an egg on top. I’m definitely going to cook this for my friends who love Korean Food <3
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Wow, it looks colorful and gorgeous! Egg on top is such a great idea!
Anneyeong Maangchi,
Can I know how much ingredients I have to put if I want to cook for like 10 people?
Thank You
Tried this recipe and love it so much. Tasted just right, not too salty not to sweet, and simple as well. Would cook it again definteley. Thanks maagchi.
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Wow, it looks wonderful! Gorgeous presentation, too!
Ooppss..wrong photo. I was about to upload the kimchi-bakkeumbap instead of japchae. But..your japchae recipe also amazing. Thanks..
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Does it okay to put cheese on it ? By the way , this is my first time cook bokkeumbap and it surprisely so delicous . Thank you for your tutorial and recipe . I appreciate it so much . You’re the best cooking teacher !!
Yes, if you want, you could add some cheese.
Yummy! Fried egg made it less spicy And my kids love it!
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I will definitely try this recipe. I know I’ll love it. I do make my own Kimchi now and bought your book at Christmas….
Will the recipe be good if I used some beef, chicken, pork, or prawns?
Will it still taste nice?
My boyfriend loves when we have some leftover meat and rice so that I will make kimchi bokkeumbap. Every recipe I have tried has been so delicious! You are amazing :)
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Your bf must be a foodie, too! : ) You guys are right! Whenever I have some leftover vegetable side dishes in the fridge, I just stir-fry them with rice and chopped kimchi. Yum!