Vegan Kimbap (Vegan friendly Korean sushi roll) recipe - My Eclectic Bites (2024)

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Vegan Kimbap (Vegan friendly Korean sushi roll) recipe - My Eclectic Bites (1)

I have a very exciting vegan recipe for you today!! Don't be crinkling your nose at the word "Vegan"!! I promise you that this amazing vegan Kimbap (vegan Korean sushi roll) will impress your taste buds and whoever you decide to share this deliciousness! Let's get started!

So this is not a sushi roll. Sushi actually means "vinegar rice" in Japanese but most of us picture maki roll. Yes, the California roll that everyone loves is type of Maki (it means "roll" in Japanese). Kimbap is a Korean version of maki roll. Korean adapted this recipe from Japan and altered it to accommodate Korean's taste. It's savory and there is ZERO raw fish or vinegar involved!

There are two ingredients that may not be familiar to you. They are seaweed paper (a.k.a nori) and Korean pickled radish/turnip. As sushi is gaining great popularity among people, most of grocery store now carry seaweed paper at their international section but you may have to make a trip to Asian market for Korean pickled radish. Below is the type of seaweed paper and pickled radish that I use. I'm not saying you must use these for the recipe but I just wanted to give you guys an idea what they look like 🙂

Vegan Kimbap (Vegan friendly Korean sushi roll) recipe - My Eclectic Bites (2)
Vegan Kimbap (Vegan friendly Korean sushi roll) recipe - My Eclectic Bites (3)

As many of Asian dishes, this dish take some preparation of each ingredient in the beginning but it is so very worth it! Trust me!!

Vegan Kimbap (Vegan friendly Korean sushi roll) recipe - My Eclectic Bites (4)

I blenched and seasoned the baby spinach, quick stir fried the carrot, and cut the radish into thin strips. I also seasoned the rice with salt and sesame oil. The nutty and savory smell of sesame oil is going to fill your kitchen instantly!

Vegan Kimbap (Vegan friendly Korean sushi roll) recipe - My Eclectic Bites (5)

What I did for this recipe is I made many small rolls that are bite size. But if you are not comfortable at making rolls just yet, go ahead and make a big one like above. Don't worry about cutting the seaweed paper into four and make a tiny one. Once you are comfortable with rolling, then graduate to making mini size ones! 😉

Vegan Kimbap (Vegan friendly Korean sushi roll) recipe - My Eclectic Bites (6)

I've been rolling these stuff (Korean sushi roll) for a while so I went ahead and made small bite size rolls. I really love how cute these rolls are. I just could not resist although making small one is double the work!

Why don't you give this vegan Korean kimbap a try for your next meatless Monday?!! Your family will love you and so will your taste buds!!

Happy eating, my friends!

Vegan Kimbap (Vegan friendly Korean sushi roll) recipe - My Eclectic Bites (7)

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Vegan Kimbap (Vegan friendly Korean sushi roll)

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This delicious and flavorful vegan kimbap (Vegan-friendly Korean roll) is going to be your family's favorite vegan/vegetarian dish!

  • Author: Georgie
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
  • Category: Main course
  • Method: Assemble
  • Cuisine: Korean
  • Diet: Vegan

Ingredients

Scale

  • 4 cups cooked sushi rice
  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 5 seaweed papers
  • 1 bag baby spinach
  • ⅓ teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons sesame oil
  • 3 small carrots, cut into match sticks
  • 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • Korean pickled radish (Dan-mu-ji)
  • Sesame oil (for brushing the roll at the end, optional)

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, mix together cooked sushi rice, 1 tablespoon of sesame oil, and ½ teaspoon of salt. Set it aside.
  2. Boil water for blanching spinach. Prepare an ice bath and set it aside.
  3. Once the water comes to a boil, add the entire bag of spinach.
  4. Stir to make sure all the leaves are submerged in boiling water and wilted, about a minute.
  5. As soon as all the spinach leaves are wilted, drain and submerge them in an ice bath to stop the cooking process for spinach.
  6. Squeeze all the water out of spinach and place them in a bowl. Season with ⅓ teaspoon of salt and 2 teaspoons of sesame oil. Use your hand to mix. Set aside.
  7. In a medium non-stick skillet, add 2 teaspoons of vegetable oil and stir fry the carrots. Season with ½ teaspoon of salt. Cook the carrot until it is bright orange, about 2-3 minutes. Set it aside.
  8. Cut the Korean pickled radish into thin strips. Set them aside.
  9. Cut the seaweed paper into 4 squares. Lay the seaweed on the board. One side of the seaweed paper is rough and the other side is shiny. Place the shiny side down. Add a small amount of rice and evenly spread them leaving half an inch on top.
  10. On top of the spread rice, place seasoned spinach, cooked carrots, and pickled radish on top.
  11. Grabbing the end of seaweed paper that’s near you, put it over the fillings, and carefully roll. You can brush the seaweed with a little bit of water to secure the roll. The water will act as glue. Place the seam side down and repeat until you use up all the ingredients.
  12. Brush the roll at the end with some sesame oil. This is optional but recommended This will help the kimbap not dry out and makes it more appetizing.

Keywords: vegan kimbap, mini kimbap


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Vegan Kimbap (Vegan friendly Korean sushi roll) recipe - My Eclectic Bites (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between sushi roll and gimbap? ›

Sushi usually features raw fish, seafood, vegetables and rice seasoned with sushi vinegar. The name 'sushi' refers to this vinegared rice. Whereas, kimbap rice is seasoned with sesame oil and doesn't contain raw fish. Instead, kimbap fillings include meats like grilled bulgogi, or cheese, kimchi, ham and eggs.

What is gimbap in Korea? ›

Gimbap (Korean: 김밥; lit. Gim rice; IPA: [kim. p͈ap̚]), also romanized as kimbap, is a Korean dish made from cooked rice, vegetables, fish, and meat rolled in gim—dried sheets of seaweed—and served in bite-sized slices. The origins of gimbap are debated.

What is vegan sushi made of? ›

Vegan Sushi Recipe Ingredients

In the past, I've made vegan sushi without any sort of “fish.” Instead, I've used medleys of produce like cabbage and shiitake mushrooms and mango and avocado. The rolls are great, but I think the tuna-like look of this vegan sushi is just so fun!

What is veg kimbap made of? ›

Arrange 2 tablespoons of spinach, a few carrots, cucumbers and bell peppers across the center of the rice. Roll the sushi mat up and away from you, using your fingers to hold the vegetables in place as you roll the nori. Pull the mat forward, rolling the nori and rice around the filling. Continue rolling until sealed.

Is kimbap healthy? ›

A nutrient-rich and balanced meal

Kimbap is packed with a variety of fresh vegetables, making it a jam-packed source of vitamins, minerals, protein, and fiber. With carbs from the rice, protein from the meat, egg, and seaweed, and vitamins from the veggies, kimbap offers a well-rounded meal.

Is kimbap Korean or Japanese? ›

That could explain why Korean food has recently become so popular in the United States and other countries. And one of the most popular dishes in Korea at the moment is Kimbap, which is a mixture of ingredients wrapped in seaweed and rice.

What's the difference between kimbap and gimbap? ›

Kimbap—also known as gimbap—are Korean rice rolls that might look a lot like Japanese sushi rolls but, in truth, are nothing like sushi. Kimbap (from gim, a type of seaweed, and bap, the Korean term for "rice") is easy, portable, and adaptable to any palate, diet, or occasion.

Do you eat kimbap hot or cold? ›

Kimbap should be eaten fresh or at room temperature; refrigerating it makes the rice hard. If you want to prepare kimbap the night before and refrigerate it to eat the next day, the best way to heat it is by frying: dip the whole (uncut) rolls in beaten egg, then dredge in panko (Japanese bread crumbs, sold in bags).

What's the difference between kimbap and bibimbap? ›

Bibimbap, a Korean rice dish with gochujang and mixed vegetables, is a very popular dish around the world [20], [21]. Also, kimbap is a Korean dish made from steamed white rice (bap) and various other ingredients, rolled in gim (sheets of dried laver seaweed), and served in bite-size slices.

What sushi rolls can vegans eat? ›

7 Vegan Options at Sushi Restaurants
  • Seaweed Salad. Another sushi restaurant staple, seaweed salad is 100% vegan and loaded with health benefits. ...
  • Edamame. Edamame is a dish of cooked soybeans. ...
  • Avocado Rolls. ...
  • Vegetable Tempura. ...
  • Cucumber Rolls. ...
  • Fried Rice. ...
  • Inari Sushi.
Aug 27, 2019

Is it okay to eat vegan sushi everyday? ›

Sushi is a great way to get your lean protein servings if you love eating fish, but if you are a vegetarian or a vegan, you can also enjoy sushi made with plant-based proteins, such as tofu, to meet your recommended daily intake of protein foods.

What makes sushi not vegan? ›

Unfortunately, most sushi contains either fish or roe.

What is kimbap called in English? ›

Rolled kimbap photo by Grace Lee. Kimbap translates to seaweed (“kim”) rice (“bap”), and it is decidedly not “Korean sushi,” as some may describe it. Yes, it's technically rice wrapped in seaweed with fillings, but the comparison stops there.

Is kimbap cheaper than sushi? ›

The ingredients used in kimbap are more common and accessible than sushi-grade raw fish and roes, making them an affordable food for all.

What goes well with kimbap? ›

Kimbap on its own is a whole meal, but traditionally, kimbap can be served with some light kimchi soup or fish cake broth for you to dip in. This moisten up the kimbap. You could also drink the soup instead of dipping. Also, try kimbap with a side of fresh kimchi or fermented kimchi for some spice and/or acid!

What's the difference between kimbap and California roll? ›

One of the biggest differences between sushi rolls and kimbap is that the latter does not use wasabi. Also, the accompaniment of pickled ginger as a palate cleanser with sushi is substituted with kimchi in the Korean version.

Which is older kimbap or sushi? ›

While modern kimbap arrived around the same time as Japanese sushi, Koreans have been preparing 'bokssam' — cooked rice wrapped in 'kim' — since the Joseon era (1392 - 1897). Kimbap is usually served sliced in restaurants, but you may see them as unsliced rolls when sold in markets.

Is maki sushi and kimbap the same? ›

Kimbap is made with Sesame oil and no Vinegar so it looks like Maki Sushi or Makizushi but is not Sushi. Sushi is actually just the Vinegar mixed in rice and not raw fish on the rice.

Is gimbap not sushi? ›

Origins: Kimbap is a Korean rice roll while sushi is a Japanese rice roll with its true origins in China. Ingredients: Kimbap is stuffed with cooked meats and pickled vegetables. Sushi is usually filled with raw seafood and vegetables and is often topped with roe.

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