Korean rice balls are a great appetizer or finger food for you and your kids with a customizable ingredient for the filling.
Easy Korean rice balls – Jumeokbap
Customizable Korean rice balls (jumeokbap) made with seasoned rice, vegetables, and your choice of filling, rolled in sesame seeds and seaweed.
Equipment
- Large mixing bowl
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked rice preferably short-grain or sushi rice
- 1/2 cup cooked finely chopped carrot
- 1/2 cup cooked finely chopped spinach or broccoli
- 1/4 cup cooked finely chopped pickled radish optional
- 1/4 cup kimchi optional
- Bulgogi meat optional
- Canned tuna optional
- 1 tablespoon Japanese mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons less sodium soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic minced
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Toasted sesame seeds for garnish
- Crushed seaweed
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked rice with soy sauce, Japanese mayonnaise, sesame oil, and minced garlic. Mix well until the rice is evenly seasoned.
- Add the chopped vegetables, optional kimchi, and salt/pepper to your liking to the rice mixture and stir until they are evenly distributed.
- Wet your hands with water to prevent the rice from sticking. Scoop out about 2 tablespoons of rice mixture and flatten it on your hand, place about 1/2-1 tablespoon of optional tuna filling or bulgogi in the center, then carefully wrap until the filling is fully covered and shape the rice into a ball.
- Repeat this process until all the rice mixture is used.
- Roll the rice balls in sesame seeds for an added texture and flavor. Roll each rice ball in crushed seaweed for a traditional touch.
- Serve the rice balls immediately or pack them for a convenient snack or meal on the go.
