The Korean dish bibimbap, which literally means mixed rice, is getting a lot of traction for its versatility, ease of making, health benefits, scalability and taste.
The traditional version is a variety of sauteed vegetables, bulgogi and fried egg over a bed of white rice. It is topped with gochujang and a hint of sesame oil and all mixed together. Variations of bibimbap are almost endless. You can make it vegetarian, meat-heavy, spicy, nonspicy, hot or cold.
To start, choose a large bowl made of ceramic or stone; the latter can be heated until it’s scorching hot and will leave you a nice layer of burnt, crunchy rice on the bottom. Then add your rice, brown or white, or you can choose not to use rice at all and instead use tofu or quinoa. Add whatever vegetables and protein you like.
Any Korean person will tell you the best bibimbap is made by taking all the leftover ban chan (side dishes) in your fridge and throwing it together in a big bowl with a heap of gochujang, sesame oil, topped with an egg (fried or raw) and mixed.
My favorite is to add a little more sesame oil at the end and top it all off with a generous sprinkling of Korean-flavored seaweed.
THIS WEEK’S SYNOPSES
“Breezy Love”
Episodes 38 & 39
>> Today, 6:30 p.m.: Deokcheon takes Shinae to meet Daehoon. When Daehoon doesn’t recognize his own daughter, Deokcheon thinks it’s due to shock from escaping the North. Deokcheon pledges to get him treatment to make him better. Shinae ponders what lies she’d need to come up with this time.
>> Today, 7:45 p.m.: Shinae confronts Mipoong and Youngae when they tell her they won’t be leaving for the States. Shinae tries to persuade them to leave, and Mipoong says she believes her father is in Korea. Shinae turns pale and rebuts her, saying it’s a ridiculous notion when her father is dead.
“Love Temperature”
Episodes 9-12
>> Monday, 7:45 p.m.: Jung-sun and Hyun-soo meet again after five years. They both have moved on in their careers: Hyun-soo is a screenwriter and Jung-sun owns a restaurant. Jung-sun tells Hyun-soo his career is more important than love at this point in life. Hyun-soo is taken aback by his remark, but can’t seem to give him up.
Episodes 11 & 12
>> Tuesday, 7:45 p.m.: Timing is always the worst enemy for Hyun-soo and Jung-sun when it comes to professing their feelings for each other. Hyun-soo suffers from endless conflict with her director, putting her in a delicate emotional state. Jung-sun decides to appear in a variety cooking show to boost his business.
“While You Were Sleeping”
Episodes 9 & 10
>> Wednesday, 7:45 p.m.: Hong-joo defies her fate and goes back to her work as a reporter. She believes her fate can be changed and challenges her dreams. She asks Jae-chan whether she should go back to her job.
Episodes 11 & 12
>> Thursday, 7:45 p.m.: A criminal seeks out Yoo-bum’s counsel. The case has a 99 percent chance of conviction in everyone else’s eyes. An unexpected case causes Yoo-bum to blame the prosecutors for their ineptness. Hong-joo wakes up with a scream from her nightmare.
“Band of Sisters”
Episodes 61 & 62
>> Friday, 7:45 p.m.: Se-joon tells Chairman Goo that Ki-chan is actually Se-ho. The Chairman refuses to believe him. Breaking down in tears, Se-kyung begs the Chairman for more time.
Episodes 63 & 64
>> Saturday, 7:45 p.m.: Se-joon asks Ha-ri if he can love her again. Deul-re finds out that Se-kyung is ill. Se-joon and Mr. Oh’s DNA test result is out, and …
Jeff Chung is general manager of KBFD-TV, which televises Korean dramas with English subtitles. Reach him at 521-8066 or jeffchung@kbfd.com.
