Korean crispy rice dish with marinated beef and sautéed vegetables (“Bi Bim Bap”)

We both love the Korean dish called “bi bim bap” so we thought we would try to make it at home.  You can save time by buying previously cooked and marinated beef.  We made the rice crispy by cooking short grain or jasmine rice and then “searing” it on high in a wide pan with 1 Tbsp avocado oil (it is healthier to use avocado oil than olive oil when using high heat).  Keep pressing down on the rice with a spatula to get a crispy, condensed texture.  We put crispy rice into each bowl and layered the following on top:

• Fresh spinach or bok choy (one large bunch) or frozen spinach (10 oz package), plus one cup shredded carrots and 1 cup bean sprouts, sautéed in 1 Tbsp sesame oil, 1 Tbsp soy sauce and 1 Tbsp olive oil and pinch of fine sea salt under tender.
• Two options:  1) Buy seasoned meat from the prepared food counter and cut into strips.  2) Make your own beef strips.  Buy beef, preferably grass-fed beef (try top round steak), which is healthier than regular beef.  To make the beef, marinate beef strips (see recipe below) for at least 30 minutes and then cook in olive oil for about 4-5 minutes on medium-high.
• Toasted sesame seeds (toast on low in the toaster oven and watch closely – they burn easily!)
• Optional:  fried egg on top

Marinade for beef:  1/2 Tbsp garlic-infused olive oil, 1/2 Tbsp toasted sesame oil, 1 Tbsp soy sauce, pinch (1 tsp) of sugar (regular or brown sugar)

Add a fried egg, layered on top (it’s the Korean tradition and fun to eat!)

Korean restaurants serve an amazing, spicy/sweet/tangy sauce on the side with this dish.  It really enhances the flavors of this dish.  You can make your own sauce (search bi bim bap sauce recipes) or take a shortcut by using a bottled version.  Try any gochujang Korean hot sauce.  The sauce is typically made with gochujang paste, soy sauce, sugar and vinegar.