Easy Weeknight Bibimbap Food

BIBIMBAP (KOREAN RICE WITH MIXED VEGETABLES)

Steps:

• Stir cucumber pieces with 1/4 cup gochujang paste in a bowl; set aside.
• Bring about 2 cups of water to a boil in a large nonstick skillet and stir in spinach; cook until spinach is bright green and wilted, 2 to 3 minutes. Drain spinach and squeeze out as much moisture as possible; set spinach aside in a bowl and stir soy sauce into spinach.
• Heat 1 teaspoon olive oil in large nonstick skillet and cook and stir carrots until softened, about 3 minutes; stir in garlic and cook just until fragrant, about 1 more minute. Stir in cucumber pieces with gochujang paste; sprinkle with red pepper flakes, and set the mixture aside in a bowl.
• Brown beef in a clean nonstick skillet over medium heat, about 5 minutes per side, and set aside. In a separate nonstick skillet, heat 1 more teaspoon olive oil over medium-low heat and fry the eggs just on one side until yolks are runny but whites are firm, 2 to 4 minutes each.
• To assemble the dish, divide cooked rice into 4 large serving bowls; top with spinach mixture, a few pieces of beef, and cucumber mixture. Place 1 egg atop each serving. Drizzle each bowl with 1 teaspoon of sesame oil, a sprinkle of sesame seeds, and a small amount of gochujang paste if desired.

EASY WEEKNIGHT BIBIMBAP

Steps:

• Place the sesame seeds in a dry skillet over medium-high heat and toast until golden, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl.
• Cook the brown rice according to the package directions, omitting any fat. Once cooked, leave the rice covered in the pot (off the heat).
• Meanwhile, combine the soy sauce, ginger, sugar, garlic and 1 teaspoon sesame oil. In separate bowls, combine the meat and scallions with 1/4 cup of the soy mixture; the cucumbers with 2 teaspoons; the carrots with 2 teaspoons; the zucchini with 2 teaspoons and the shiitakes with the remaining 1 teaspoon of the soy mixture.
• Heat the remaining tablespoon sesame oil in a large nonstick pan over medium-high heat. Add the meat and stir-fry until it is slightly pink in the center, 2 to 3 minutes. (It will continue cooking as it stands.) Use tongs to transfer the meat to a clean bowl, leaving the liquid in the pan.
• Add the spinach to the pan and cook, tossing constantly, until it is soft and bright green, about 2 minutes; transfer to a clean bowl. Add the zucchini and stir-fry until crisp-tender, 1 to 2 minutes; transfer to a clean bowl. Add the shiitake and stir-fry until the liquid is thick and the mushrooms are tender, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs to the pan and cook until the whites are just set.
• Divide the rice evenly among 4 serving bowls; top with the beef, cucumbers, carrots, zucchini, spinach and shiitake. Drizzle with gochujang and sprinkle with the sesame seeds. Add an egg to the center of each bowl and drizzle with more gochujang. Serve immediately.

BIBIMBAP

Steps:

• Mix soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger together in a bowl. Add beef brisket and cover with plastic wrap. Marinate in the refrigerator for for 30 minutes.
• Rinse rice until water turns clear. Pour into a rice cooker and add 1 1/2 cups water. Seal and select setting according to manufacturer's instructions; cook until tender, 20 to 30 minutes. Keep warm.
• Place mushrooms in a bowl of warm water. Soak for 20 minutes.
• Coat eggplant with salt on all sides and allow to 'sweat,' about 10 minutes. Rinse with cool water.
• Squeeze the water out of the re-hydrated shiitake mushrooms and slice into 1/4-inch strips.
• Heat 2 tablespoons sesame oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Saute mushrooms until lightly browned, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a covered plate to keep warm.
• Saute eggplant in the same skillet until slightly softened, about 5 minutes. Transfer to the plate with the mushrooms.
• Place squash in the hot skillet; cook and stir until slightly tender, about 5 minutes. Add to the plate with the eggplant and mushrooms; keep vegetables warm.
• Saute carrots and broccoli in the skillet until slightly tender, about 6 minutes. Transfer to the plate with rest of the vegetables.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add sprouts and cook uncovered until tender but still crispy, about 2 minutes. Drain in a colander and immediately immerse in ice water for several minutes to stop the cooking process. Drain.
• Heat the same skillet over medium-high heat. Add marinated beef slices and saute until nicely browned and lightly pink in the center, about 7 minutes.
• Place approximately 1 cup cooked rice in each bowl. Season with remaining sesame oil and vinegar. Pat rice down with a spoon to make a mound. Cover with a bed of lettuce. Add small mounds of cooked mushrooms, eggplant, squash, carrots, and broccoli on the lettuce around the edge of the bowl. Place beef in the center.
• Heat the skillet over medium heat. Break eggs into skillet and season with salt. Cook until whites are just set and yolks are slightly runny, about 3 minutes. Place a sunnyside-up egg on top of the beef in each bowl. Top with radish and green onion.