Gimbap

Gimbap (김밥), also romanized as Kimbap, is a Korean dish made from cooked rice and other ingredients that are rolled in dried seaweed sheets (gim). It is a popular snack and light meal in Korea and is often eaten during picnics, outdoor events, or as a packed lunch.

Gimbap is similar to sushi in that it involves rice and seaweed, but there are several key differences. Gimbap rice is typically seasoned with sesame oil and salt, rather than vinegar as in sushi rice. The fillings in gimbap are also usually cooked and more varied than those in sushi, often including ingredients like cooked vegetables (such as carrots, spinach, and pickled radish), bulgogi (marinated beef), ham, egg, and imitation crab meat.

The process of making gimbap involves spreading the seasoned rice thinly over a sheet of gim, layering the chosen fillings on top, and then rolling the ingredients tightly together using a bamboo rolling mat called a gimbap bal (김밥발). The rolled gimbap is then sliced into bite-sized pieces.

There are many regional and ingredient variations of gimbap. Some common variations include:

• Vegetable Gimbap (Yachae Gimbap, 야채 김밥): Filled primarily with vegetables.
• Beef Gimbap (Sogogi Gimbap, 소고기 김밥): Contains seasoned beef.
• Cheese Gimbap (Chijeu Gimbap, 치즈 김밥): Includes cheese.
• Tuna Gimbap (Chamchi Gimbap, 참치 김밥): Filled with tuna, usually mixed with mayonnaise.
• Kimchi Gimbap (Kimchi Gimbap, 김치 김밥): Contains kimchi.

Gimbap is widely available in Korea, sold in convenience stores, restaurants, and markets. It has also gained popularity internationally as a representation of Korean cuisine.