Kimbap Meal prep

Up and Down Story
Feb 5
3 min read

Colorful vegetable sushi rolls on a wooden platter with avocado, carrot, and greens, set on a white speckled countertop.

🍙 Kimbap Freezer Meal Prep

Kimbap is a popular Korean dish that consists of rice, vegetables, and sometimes meat, all rolled in seaweed. It’s often likened to sushi, but with distinctly different flavors and ingredients. Kimbap is gaining recognition as a convenient and healthy option among K-foods, making it a fantastic choice for those seeking nutritious meals on the go.

When you prepare and freeze kimbap ingredients in advance, you’ll discover that kimbap isn’t as time-consuming to make as you might think. In fact, I often use kimbap ingredients to create bibimbap as well, which is why I always prepare a generous amount of ingredients.

📌 The most time-consuming kimbap ingredient is spinach. To save time, consider using frozen spinach. It requires no prep—just season and mix. Interestingly, studies show that frozen spinach can be more nutritious than fresh spinach, as it’s harvested and frozen at peak ripeness. This makes kimbap not only easy to prepare but also a healthy choice that’s perfect for busy lifestyles!

Frozen spinach comes in two types: chopped and whole-leaf. I always go for the whole leaf when possible.

📌 For watery ingredients like carrots, sprinkle them with salt and let them sit for a while. The salt draws out the moisture through osmosis, which prevents them from becoming watery after cooking.

📌 Egg sheets can also be frozen and retain almost the same texture when thawed.

Kimbap vs Sushi? What are the differences? Both look similar.

Kimbap and sushi are both rolled dishes but have key differences.

Kimbap rice is seasoned with sesame oil, while sushi rice is mixed with vinegar, sugar, and salt. Kimbap includes vegetables, pickled radish, and sometimes cooked meats, while sushi often features raw fish or seafood.

Kimbap is served cold, making it a popular picnic food, whereas sushi can be served fresh in forms like nigiri or maki. Kimbap is a Korean dish, while sushi is Japanese, showcasing each culture's culinary traditions.

🛒 Ingredients

• Frozen spinach

• Carrots

• Eggs

• Seaweed sheet

• Optional: fish cake, burdock root, ham, pickled radish, etc.

Korean fish cake https://www.sayweee.com/en/product/Choripdong-Busan-Fried-Fish-Cake-Frozen-1/31850?trace_id=5680d5f2-2001-48f7-ba1c-d8894e82fa3e
Pickled radish for seaweed roll https://www.sayweee.com/en/product/Yissine-Pickled-Whole-Radish/104654?trace_id=7cbe06d3-7ae3-42a6-a30d-bb4fee52d33c
Braised burdock root https://www.sayweee.com/en/product/Sajo-Daerim-Seasoned-Burdock/101878?trace_id=316d7880-5f6b-4325-8241-3ad2a22639f8
Seaweed sheet https://a.co/d/65xS5uI

👩🏻‍🍳Instructions

1. Thaw the frozen spinach, mix it with salt and fish sauce, and let it sit for 10 minutes.

👉 Squeeze out any excess water.

👉 Add minced garlic, fish sauce, and additional salt if needed, then mix. Prepping it this way ensures no water is released after freezing and thawing.

2. Julienne the carrots and sprinkle with salt. Let them sit for 10 minutes.

👉 Once water is released, squeeze out the moisture.

👉 Sauté in a pan with oil and a pinch of salt for about 5 minutes.

3. Beat the eggs, add salt, and fry in a pan to make thin sheets. Let them cool, then slice them into long strips.

4. Slice fish cake into long strips, blanch in hot water, and season with sesame oil, soy sauce, and sugar.

👉 Stir-frying is an option, but blanching is faster and easier.

5. I used store-bought burdock root for convenience.

6. Divide all prepared kimbap ingredients into portions and store them in freezer-safe containers for easy access.

7. When ready to eat, thaw the ingredients and roll them into kimbap.

8. I also like to add large slices of avocado to my kimbap. It creates a creamy texture and enhances the overall flavor.

📌 Additional Tips

• Customize your gimbap: Use ingredients like avocado, ham, pickled radish, , and other vegetables or meat to create your own healthy variations.

This freezer-friendly gimbap prep ensures you’re always ready to enjoy a flavorful, homemade meal. Whether for a quick lunch or a snack, gimbap made from prepped ingredients will save you time and effort while delivering on taste and nutrition. Enjoy! 😋