Korean Food Story, Healthy Food Bibimbap

Korean Food Story, Healthy Food Bibimbap

Bibimbap, a bowl of rice mixed with meat and assorted vegetables, is one of the all time favorite meals of the Korean people, regardless of age or generation. Bibimbap's popularity has grown internationally with the spread of hallyu. Even some famous celebrities have praised its nutritional value and talked about how it has helped them maintain a healthy diet. 

On top of its aesthetically pleasing appearance, bibimbap appeals to all the senses through its textures, smells, and rich taste. 

Bibimbap contains many beneficial ingredients including both vegetables and meat. This also represents Korean’s long-held belief in harmony, created by oseak (the five cardinal colors of traditional Korean art).

Bibimbap carefully prepared on a golden yugi (Korean brassware) or the heavy-duty dolsot (stone pot). The dish provides the option of cooling it off before eating or having it served in a hot dish to maintain the high temperature. 

Jeonju bibimbap is uniquely prepared with an assortment of colors of namul (vegetable side dishes), and is regarded as the most representative example of bibimbap. 

Fried beef and thin garnish strips of cooked egg whites and yolks can be a good alternative to yukhoe (beef tartare) and egg yolk. The broth from a beef brisket is used to cook the rice, and is garnished with the tartare and egg pair on top, a signature feature of Jeonju bibimbap. It tastes even better with hot pepper paste mixed in with fried beef called yak-gochu-jang.

Korean airline operators act as representatives of Korean traditions, and thus always include bibimbap as one of the in-flight meal choices. One of the best examples of when bibimbap crossed cultural boundaries was when the late singer Michael Jackson, who tried bibimbap during his Korean Air flight, then, according to media reports, proceeded to eat it meal after meal at his hotels during his stay in Korea. 

Domestic and foreign airlines offer bibimbap with steamed rice, finely presented namul and spicy red pepper paste. Passengers can enjoy all the fun of mixing their ingredients together. The mildly spicy red pepper paste is also available to suit the taste of those not accustomed to it.