Samgak Kimbap

삼각김밥

(Triangle Kimbap)

Samgak kimbap is considered as a more compact version of the classic kimbap. It was first introduced in the early 1990s and was widely sold in convenience stores. Like kimbap, there are a variety of options when it comes to the fillings and flavors. This dish may serve as a quick fix when one has no time to cook meals.

MAIN INGREDIENTs

• 150 grams kimchi
• 1 canned tuna
• 2 cups cooked Korean rice
• 6 sheets laver for triangle kimbap

SEASONINGs FOR RICE

• 1/2 tablespoon sesame oil
• 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds
• 1/3 teaspoon fine salt

SEASONINGS FOR KIMCHI AND TUNA

• 1 tablespoon cooking oil
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/2 tablespoon sesame seeds
• 2 tablespoons real mayonnaise

HOW TO Prepare and Cook

1. Slice kimchi thinly.
2. Drain and squeeze the water out of the canned tuna and mash it well.
3. Mix seasonings for rice, then combine them with warm rice. Mix lightly by hand. Check taste and adjust accordingly.
4. Heat oil in a pan and stir-fry the kimchi. Add in sugar and keep stir-frying.
5. Turn heat off and add in sesame seeds. If you want the kimchi to be crunchy, do not cook for too long. Cool it down.
6. Mix the kimchi, tuna, and mayonnaise well.

HOW TO Assemble

1. Put marked side of the laver down (unmarked side is up).
2. Put the mold slightly below the top of the laver.
3. Fill the mold, about 1/3 full with rice. Place fillings at the center (1/3 of the mold too). Top with rice (the last 1/3 of the mold), and press down to compress. Remove the mold.
4. Fold the lower half of the laver up, then fold its upper corners down over rice. Fold the lower corners of the laver sheet up.
5. Keep the foldings in place using the stickers for Kimbap.

HOW TO EAT

1. When you are ready to eat, look for the red line in the middle of the packet.
2. Pull the tab down by the arrow and the plastic will peel off on the sides.
3. Gently remove both sides of the plastic wrapper, putting the laver back into place each time.
4. Remove one side of the plastic at a time so that you can hold the Kimbap by the plastic wrapper that is still intact.
5. Kimbap can be prepared ahead and served much later without the flavor changing or losing the crunchiness of the laver. This is often brought as “baon.”

Chef’s Notes

1. Any filling desired will do. There are many variations of this depending on the main ingredient; you can replace tuna with bulgogi, chicken, etc.
2. The Japanese sometimes use sushi rice for their onigiri or Kimbap.

 

This Dish Appears in the Following Korean Drama/s:

• Cheese in the Trap (2016) - TVN
• Hit the Top (2017) - KBS
• I Wanna Hear Your Song (2019) - KBS
• Sketch (2018) - JTBC
• My ID is Gangnam Beauty (2018) - JTBC
• The Light in Your Eyes (2019) - JTBC

   

 

CHEF REGGIE’S TIPS

ADD-ON

• I absolutely love Samgak Kimbap! You can serve this with a dipping sauce made of 1/2 cup mayonnaise, 2 teaspoons sugar, and 3 tablespoons finely chopped mangoes. Mix well all ingredients and adjust sugar according to taste.

SUBSTITUTE

• You can replace tuna with canned crab meat, kani, or chopped shrimps.