Description
These rolls are so nostalgic for @choibites, who grew up eating them on picnics, school trips and car rides.
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Kimbap
Recipe courtesy of Esther Choi
Level: Intermediate
Total: 1 hr
Active: 1 hr
Yield: 8 kimbap (4 servings)
Ingredients
5 large eggs
Kosher salt
Vegetable oil, for the skillet
2 medium carrots, cut into julienne strips
One 5.3-ounce can Korean tuna or regular canned tuna in water, drained
2 tablespoons Japanese-style mayonnaise, such as Kewpie
4 cups cooked rice
2 tablespoons sesame oil, plus more for brushing
2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
8 full yaki nori sheets
4 slices American cheese
4 slices deli ham
1 English cucumber, cut into julienne strips
1 yellow pickled daikon, cut lengthwise into 1/2-inch-thick strips
Directions
To prepare the filling, beat the eggs in a medium bowl with a pinch of salt. Place a medium nonstick skillet over medium-low heat, add 1/2 teaspoon vegetable oil and a third of the beaten egg and cook until set, about 3 minutes. Flip and cook until fully cooked, 1 to 2 minutes more.
Remove to a baking sheet to cool. Repeat with the remaining beaten egg, adding additional vegetable oil if needed. When cool, cut the eggs into strips.
Add a little vegetable oil to the same skillet over high heat. Add the carrots and a pinch of salt and cook until just wilted but still slightly firm, 3 to 5 minutes. Set aside on a plate to cool.
Mix together the tuna and mayonnaise in a small bowl. Add the rice to a medium bowl and stir in the sesame oil, sesame seeds and 1 teaspoon salt.
To assemble the ham and cheese kimbap, lay a nori sheet on a clean cutting board and spread a thin layer of the seasoned rice over it (about 1/2 cup). Cut a slice of the American cheese in half and arrange the cheese in a row to form a thin rectangle. Place 1 slice of ham, 3 tablespoons each of the egg strips, carrots and cucumber and 1 strip of daikon on top of the cheese in this order. Roll the kimbap tightly and set aside. Repeat the same process using the remaining ham and American cheese to make 4 kimbap.
To assemble the tuna kimbap, repeat the steps above, but substitute one-quarter of the tuna mixture for the cheese and ham in each kimbap to make 4 additional kimbap.
Lightly brush the kimbap with sesame oil. Slice into 1/2-inch pieces and enjoy.
Cook’s Note: For ease of rolling, use a sushi mat.
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