Bi Bim Bop

Bi Bim Bop is a traditional Korean dish served in a hot stone bowl. I served a year at Osan AB, ROK and fell in love with this dish. I've tried many reciped from the internet and various Korean inspired books. This is my favorite, with some small changes that I felt needed to be included.

• Ready In: 2 hrs 20 mins
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 1⁄3 cup soy sauce
• 3  tablespoons minced garlic cloves
• 1⁄3 cup white sugar
• 1⁄3 cup brown sugar
• 1⁄3 cup green onion, chopped
• 3  tablespoons sesame seeds, toasted
•  salt
•  pepper
• 1  lb  rib eye steak, thinnly sliced
• 4  cups  glutinous or sticky white rice, cooked
• 4  dried shiitake mushrooms
• 1⁄2 cup hot water
• 3⁄4 lb fresh spinach, washed and chopped
• 8  ounces cucumbers, julienned
• 8  ounces carrots, julienned
• 2  tablespoons  sesame oil
• 8  ounces fresh bean sprouts
• 4  egg yolks
• 4  sheets nori, toasted & crumbled
• 4  tablespoons  sesame oil
• 4  tablespoons chili bean paste (Kochujang)

Directions

1. Make a marinade for the beef. Mix the soy sauce, garlic, sugars, green onions, sesame seeds, salt, & pepper in a bowl. Add the sliced beef to the marinade and toss until themeat is well coated. Marinate it for at least 2 hours is the fridge, overnight of possible.
2. Preheat an oven to 425 degrees and place 4 Korean-style stone bowls in oven.
3. Start cooking your rice.
4. Combine shiitake mushrooms and 1/2 cup hot water in a bowl. Allow the muchrooms to soak for 10 minutes, they should then be soft. Cut off the stems and throw them away. Cut the caps into thin slices & set aside.
5. Bring a saucepan with about 1/2 cup water to a boil. Add spinach to the water just long enough to wilt the leaves, under 1 minute. Drain & pat dry then set aside for later.
6. Combine cucumber and carrots in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside for later.
7. Preheat a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat.
8. Cook carrots and cucumbers in 1 tablespoon of sesame oil. Stir frequently until softened, about 3 minutes. Remove from pan and set aside for later.
9. Add 1 tablespoon of sesame oil to the pan, and cook spinach in sesame oil for 2 minutes. Remove from pan and set aside for later.
10. Add the meat and all of the marinade to the wok/skillet. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently. The liquid should reduce by 1/2.
11. Take the stone bowls out of the oven. BE CAREFUL, THEY ARE HOT!
12. Coat each bowl with sesame oil then add 1 cup of the rice into each bowl. press the rice firmly into the bottom. Listen for the sizzle. That means the bowl is telling you it's hot enough.
13. Top each bowl of rice with the cucumbers, carrots, bean sprouts, spinach, mushrooms, & beef.
14. Just before you serve the bowls, place a raw egg yolk on to of each bowl, drizzle with 1 tablespoon of sesame oil, and top with nori. I've had the Bi Bim Bop with a fried egg on top instead of the raw yolk, so if you are scared of raw eggs, go that route.
15. Serve the chili bean paste (Kochujang) in a small bowl on the side.
16. To eat, simply add Kochujang to taste, then stir everything together with a soup spoon making sure to be careful of the hot bowl.