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    Home » Recipes » Recipes

    Easy Kimchi Fried Rice (Kimchi Bokkeumbap)

    Published: Oct 26, 2017 · Modified: Apr 14, 2022 · This post may contain affiliate links · 2 Comments

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    This easy kimchi fried rice recipe is so simple to whip up for a quick lunch or dinner with household staple ingredients and leftover rice. Also known as Kimchi Bokkeumbap (김치 볶음밥) in South Korea, it's a student favourites because it's inexpensive to make but rich in flavor.

    A plate of Kimchi Fried Rice topped with a fried eggm green onions and seaweed, next to a bowl of kimchi.
    Kimchi Bokkeumbap is even more delicious with an egg on top!

    Inspiration behind the dish

    Although we have never been to South Korea, we have grown to be very interested in their culture, apparently like the rest of the world. We love to cook Korean food because it seems to be so simple, and uses basic ingredients, yet tastes so good! As Tae-Yang once said, he just needs a girl that will eat his kimchi fried rice. We love a simple man.

    What is Kimchi Fried Rice and What Does it Taste Like?

    Kimchi Bokkeumbap is the equivalent to Chinese Fried rice. Is it a very common dish in South Korea and every household cooks it. It is also very popular amongst the younger generation, as it is an easy and cheap dish to make.

    The other reason why it's also a very popular dish, it that although it is very easy to make, it is complex in flavor and texture. The mixture of the Kimchi juice and gochujang makes it spicy, sour, salty and a little bit sweet, while the rice makes it soft and chewy and the Kimchi adds a lot of crunchiness! The least we can see is that... it packs a punch!

    Looking for more Korean dishes? Check out these recipes:

    • Spicy Creamy Thick Glass Noodles & Rice Cakes
    • Gochujang Fried Chicken
    • Gochujang Stir-Fried Chicken
    • Korean Silken Soft Tofu Stew
    • Spicy and Cheesy Kimchi Nachos

    What do you put in Kimchi Fried Rice?

    The most common ingredients are spam and pork, but any protein can be used. We're sure it would also be delicious with bacon, chicken or beef! It is also common to see diced vegetables, such as onions, zucchinis and carrots. We love to top ours with green onions, roasted seaweed and a fried egg.

    A closeup of Kimchi Fried Rice topped with a fried egg, green onions and roasted seaweed.
    A simple Kimchi Bokkeumbap can be spruced up with so many different ingredients.

    Best Rice to Use

    Leftover rice is preferred because it is easier to stir-fry since it's dry. When it's fresh and warm, it has tendency to become mushy and the texture becomes less enjoyable.

    Best Kimchi to Use

    To make this recipe, you need Baechu-Kimchi, which is made out of Napa Cabbage. It is probably the most commonly used and very easy to find in your local Korean grocery store. It is even better if you have some old over-ripened Kimchi, it will make the dish even tastier!

    How to Serve Kimchi Bokkeumbap

    • It is often served with yellow pickled daikon, also known as Danmuji, and a small bowl of soup.
    • You can also eat Kimchi fried rice as a whole meal, or as a side dish to share family-style.
    • We love to eat it wrapped in roasted seaweed like these.
    • You can also be creative and eat it with lettuce wraps, by adding some pork belly and Ssamjang.
    A plate of Kimchi Fried Rice topped with a fried egg, roasted seaweed and green onions.
    Wrao your bites in roasted seaweed to make it even more delicious!

    FAQ's

    Do I have to use leftover rice?

    No, you don't! If you don't have it on hand, cook your rice a little more drier and this should do the trick and wait for it to cool down.

    Can this recipe be vegetarian?

    Absolutely! Remove the egg and add vegeterian-friendly protein such as Tofu or Tempeh.

    Ingredients

    The recipe uses very basic ingredients for a typical Asian household such as sesame oil, low sodium soya sauce, canola oil.

    Gochujang is easy to find in local asian grocery stores nowadays, but you can also get it here. Kimchi should also be simple to find, just watch out to get the Napa cabbage one.

    Instructions

    This recipe is so easy and quick to make, you can whip up this recipe in 20 minutes.

    1. Heat canola oil on a pan over medium high heat and cook the garlic until tender and fragrant. Add the chopped kimchi and stir fry for about 2 minutes.
    2. Add the cooked white rice into the pan and combine well, breaking off any lumps. Combine the kimchi juice and mix well while occasionally scraping off the bottom of the pan to make sure that nothing is sticking.
    3. In a mixing bowl, combine the gochujang (Korean red pepper paste) and soy sauce. Add the mixture into the fried rice and mix well until all the rice are equally coated and are of the same color. Sprinkle sugar and season with salt to taste. Top with sesame oil and mix well.
    4. Serve on a bowl or a plate and top with fried eggs, roasted seaweed, and green onions.
    Kimchi Fried Rice (Kimchi Bokkeumbap) Recipe

    Easy Kimchi Fried Rice (Kimchi Bokkeumbap)

    5 from 3 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes
    Servings: 2 people

    Ingredients

    • 2 cups cooked white rice
    • 3/4 cup kimchi chopped
    • 2 tbsp kimchi juice
    • 1 clove garlic finely minced
    • 1 tsp sesame oil
    • 1 tbsp gochujang Korean red pepper paste
    • 1 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
    • 1 tbsp canola oil
    • 1/2 tsp sugar
    • salt to taste
    • egg for topping
    • roasted seaweed for topping
    • green onions for topping

    Instructions

    • Heat canola oil on a pan over medium high heat and cook the garlic until tender and fragrant. Add the chopped kimchi and stir fry for about 2 minutes.
    • Add the cooked white rice into the pan and combine well, breaking off any lumps of rice. Add the kimchi juice and mix well while occasionally scraping off the bottom of the pan to make sure the rice is not sticking.
    • In a mixing bowl, combine the gochujang (Korean red pepper paste) and soy sauce. Add the mixture into the fried rice and mix well until all the rice are equally coated and are of the same color. Add sugar and season with salt to taste. Add sesame oil and mix well.
    • Serve on a bowl or a plate and top with fried eggs, roasted seaweed, and green onions.
    « Spicy Korean Silken Soft Tofu Stew (Soondubu Jjigae) Recipe
    Hot & Spicy Korean Rice Cake (Tteokbokki) Recipe »
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. cakespy

      October 27, 2017 at 8:55 am

      5 stars
      This looks absolutely delectable!! I love learning about foods from other countries.

      Reply
    2. Penny

      April 29, 2022 at 3:54 pm

      5 stars
      We love making kimchi fried rice and this is our go-to recipe! Thanks!

      Reply

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    We're Véronique and Alvin, and we share a passion for food. Join us to follow our journey where we share our favorite Asian-inspired recipes, using simple cooking methods and staple ingredients. We're all about eating family-style and comfort food!

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    Picture of Alvin and Veronique from Couple Eats Food

    We're Véronique and Alvin, and we share a passion for food. Join us to follow our journey where we share our favorite Asian-inspired recipes, using simple cooking methods and staple ingredients. We're all about eating family-style and comfort food!

    More about me →

    Popular Recipes

    • Spicy Gochujang Stir-Fried Chicken
    • Easy Spicy & Creamy Miso Instant Ramen
    • Crispy Chicken Teriyaki Recipe
    • Sweet and Sour Crispy Chicken Recipe

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