Bibimbap in one of our Ddukbaegis! Click on the image to browse our Ddukbaegis.

Bibimbap is an iconic and popular dish, enjoyed worldwide. It has gained interest for the colourful aesthetics and the crackling sound of the rice at the bottom of a hot stone bowl. The dish is served with hot Korean sticky rice in a Dolsot (or Ddukbaegi), topped with various different sauteed vegetables, option of meat and a fried egg. The dish is extremely popular for its colourful aesthetics as well as the impressive crackling sound of the rice at the bottom of the Ddukbaegi which is served straight off the fire. The term ‘Bibim’ literally means mix while ‘bap’ means rice. As the name suggests the dish is eaten by mixing together the rice and all the various toppings as well as an option of gochujang; this factor appeals to many people because it is unique and fun.

Despite the immense popularity of the dish, not many people are aware of the origins of it. There are several theories on how the original Bibimbap was developed. A well-known theory of the origin of Bibimbap is that Yangban aristocrats would have Bibimbap after an ancestr al rite; after serving the food on the ancestral rites table, they would mix together and eat the dish. Bibimbap is one of the few dishes that is thought to have been eaten by all social ranks.

Another theory is that on the last day of the year, families would mix together all the left over food and have a feast in the evening, just before the new year. This was so that they wouldn’t start the new year with left over food.

A third theory comes from the idea of eating food in the field while harvesting. From ancient times people would bring their crops, from various different plant fields and mix them to share. This was done to save time and effort as well as keep a family like community in small villages.

Bibimbap is unique in that the ingredients can change according to preference! The experience and taste of Bibimbap can drastically change according to the choice of toppings. There are a vast range of different BIbimbaps but there are some representative and favourite in Korea like Jeonju Bibimbap (the city Jeonju is thought to be the birthplace of Bibimbap) and Yeolmu Bibimbap (young radish kimchi being the key topping). I personally think all Bibimbaps are delicious and have their own individual tastes and charms!

Bibimbap is a fairly easy and simple dish to make! It has now developed into an elegant and beautiful dish that stands on the front line of Korean food culture.

You can find our exclusive Bibimbap recipe in the ‘blog’ section and have a go on making it at home. After you have made it a few times maybe you could explore what toppings are your favourite!