Kimpap

"Gimbap or Kimbap is a popular Korean "fast" food made from rice (bap) and sheets of dried Korean gim (Seaweed), and various other ingredients. Kimbap is a traditional food eaten by Koreans during picnics or special outdoor events. It can also be a common meal at home. It is generally served cold.

The rice is lightly seasoned with salt, sesame oil and perilla oil. Popular ingredients include combinations of meats and vegetables such as roasted ground beef, spinach, carrots, danmuji (pickled daikon), and sliced fried egg. Variations include using cheese, spicy cooked squid, kimchi, Spam, or canned tuna as ingredients, or lightly frying the sliced kimbap with egg coating. These and the rice are rolled in laver and then brushed with sesame oil or sprinkled with sesame seeds on the outside surface. After that, the kimbap is sliced into regular portions. It is typically served with pickled danmuji (daikon radish) or kimchi. It is a truly a complete meal in one morsel.

Kimbap is often rolled with a sushi mat in order to make the roll tight and easier to slice. Kimbap should be cut with a very sharp knife, applying very little pressure and using a slow back-and-forth cutting motion. This will prevent the roll from crushing and causing the filling and rice to spill out from the sides.

Kimbap is similar to Japanese Futomaki (lit. large rolls) style maki-zushi sushi rolls, but differs in the way the rice is seasoned and in the fillings. In sushi, relatively large amounts of sweetened rice vinegar is added to the rice and sesame oil is traditionally not used, as it is in Kimbap. Korean kimbap generally does not contain raw fish and is prepared with sauteed beef, sausage, ham, fish cake or crab stick. Unlike Japanese maki, kimbap is usually not served with wasabi soy sauce or sushi ginger, but is sometimes dipped in kimchi brine."