Description
Kimbap rice balls bring Korean street snack magic to home kitchens with simple ingredients and bold flavors. Rolled with care and filled with delicious combinations, you can enjoy these portable delights as a quick lunch or tasty party appetizer.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 3 cups cooked rice (short or medium-grain rice; warmed)
- 1 cup ground beef bulgogi
- 5 ounces (140 grams) canned tuna, drained
Filling Ingredients:
- 1½ tablespoons Japanese mayonnaise
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
Seasoning and Optional Ingredients:
- ⅓ cup seaweed seasoning
- 1½ teaspoons toasted sesame oil
- ½ small carrot, finely diced (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the tuna mixture by combining drained canned tuna with Japanese mayonnaise in a small mixing bowl, blending thoroughly and adjusting seasoning with salt and pepper to create a rich, creamy filling.
- Heat a small amount of oil in a pan and sauté finely diced carrots until they become tender and slightly translucent, releasing their natural sweetness.
- Incorporate the sautéed carrots and a drizzle of toasted sesame oil into warm rice, gently folding to distribute flavors and create a fragrant base for the rice balls.
- Place a portion of seasoned rice in your palm and delicately flatten it into a thin disc, creating a gentle cradle for the filling.
- Carefully spoon the prepared tuna mixture or bulgogi into the center of the rice disc, ensuring an even distribution of filling.
- Delicately fold the rice around the filling, using gentle yet firm pressure to shape a compact, smooth spherical form. Pro tip: Lightly coat food-safe gloves with vegetable oil to prevent sticking and ease shaping.
- Roll each completed rice ball in seaweed seasoning, ensuring a complete and even coating that adds a crisp, umami-rich exterior.
- Arrange the finished Korean rice balls on a serving plate, ready to be enjoyed as a delightful and portable snack.
Notes
- Master quick-prep technique by using food-safe gloves lightly coated with vegetable oil to prevent sticky rice from clinging to your hands.
- Create versatile fillings like tuna mayo or bulgogi to customize flavor profiles and keep meals exciting.
- Toast sesame oil with sautéed carrots to enhance rice’s depth and introduce subtle nutty undertones.
- Ensure rice balls are compact and uniform by gently pressing filling between rice layers for perfect texture.
- Elevate presentation and taste by generously coating rice balls with seaweed seasoning for authentic Korean street food experience.
- Experiment with different protein or vegetarian fillings to suit dietary preferences and keep meals interesting.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Korean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 370
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 33 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 19 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg