Seaweed Rice Balls or Jumeokbap is a Korean side dish recipe that boasts a rich umami flavor with an undertone taste akin to meat but with the subtle fishy aroma that comes off from the seaweed sheet.
With the edible seaweed mixed with rice and seasoned with some other ingredients of the recipe, this dish is indeed a versatile one you can thoroughly enjoy. This is a 5-ingredient recipe that can come together in under 20 minutes.
You can serve this dish for lunch or dinner, whenever you wish to. You can also pack it for lunch when you go to school or work because it is a mess-free dish to have. The chance you would make a mess in eating this is unlikely. Just pair it with anything spicy or with pungent flavor, and you are good to go!
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What is Seaweed Rice Balls or Jumeokbap?
If you are fond of East Asian cuisines and TV shows, you would have already recognized Seaweed Rice as Jumeokbap. In dramas made in South Korea, actors and actresses can usually be seen eating rice balls with green dots or pieces around them.
That is what you call Jumeokbap. It is a very famous dish in the country because they are using it as an accompaniment to eating spicy dishes. Spicy food is better eaten with umami dishes to ease the spice right away, and that's what Jumeokbap exactly does.
If you are to eat in a Korean restaurant, you will most likely not be served with an already made Jumeokbap because you will be the one to mix the ingredients and roll it into a circle.
The table would just be laid with boiled rice, seaweed sheets, and other ingredients that make up the dish. It is your leisure to have fun making your own Jumeokbap. It can sometimes be fun, and it is not hard at all since you will just really have to mix all the ingredients as one.
Why Does This Recipe Work?
Seaweed Rice is a must-try recipe because of the following reasons:
- It is a versatile dish that can be made or altered with different ingredients to make it taste even better. You can mix shredded pork, chicken, and such to suit your liking!
- This dish is so quick and easy to get done that making it would not even feel like a task any longer but an enjoyable activity to share with kids.
- This Seaweed Rice version is a completely vegan-friendly dish you can enjoy in the middle of a strict diet. Hesitate no more because you will feel no guilt at all in consuming this dish.
- If you are a spicy food lover but have an inkling need to ease that spice on your tongue, this dish is a perfect solution for that!
- Making this dish at home is one step closer to exploring other cultures' recipes! This is your chance to step outside your common dishes and try out some other recipes that are famous outside your country.
- A satiating food for lunch or dinner, and can be paired with lots of other side dishes. This is a perfect addition to your meal idea indeed.
Seaweed Rice Balls Ingredients
Short-medium Grain Rice. Short-medium grain rice is so much easier to form into shapes than long-grained rice like Basmati. When cooked right, short-medium grain rice becomes slightly sticky, which makes it ideal rice to roll into the circle as it will follow the shape you are making of it.
Seaweed Sheets. If you are to use good quality seaweed sheets, your Seaweed Rice will have the desired umami flavor with a hint of meaty taste even without the presence of any meat ingredients.
Soy Sauce. To add a more savory and umami taste, soy sauce should be mixed into this recipe. Since it is liquid, it will help you mix all the dry ingredients as well.
Sesame Oil. Just like soy sauce, sesame oil will help mix the dry ingredients of the recipe. It also will help roll the rice easier.
Sesame Seeds. Garnish your Jumeokbap with some sesame seeds.
How To Make Korean Seaweed Rice Balls?
Cut the seaweed sheets with a scissor into small pieces, then put them into the food processor and pulse until coarsely shredded.
In a mixing bowl, mix together rice, shredded seaweed, sesame oil and soy sauce until combined.
Now, scoop 2 tablespoons of the rice into your palm and squeeze lightly until the rice sticks together, then roll it into a ball.
Repeat, garnish with sesame seeds and serve.
Top Tips!
- If you are short on time, you can just buy pre-packaged seasoned seaweed flakes in any Asian grocery near you. You no longer have to shred seaweed sheets if you buy that!
- If you cook your rice with too much water, it will be too soft and have a soggy texture that will not be ideal for turning it into rolled shapes. Thus, measure the water per cup of rice correctly.
- Use plastic gloves when you start rolling the Seaweed Rice into shapes so that the rice will not stick to your hand.
Recipe Variations
- Add ground chicken or beef to the recipe and roll it together with the rest of the ingredients to make this recipe have a gamey taste to it! Rice and meat are very Asian-meal indeed.
- If you love veggies, minced carrots can also be added to the recipe.
- Kids will love it if you add chopped sausages to the mix as well. The umami taste of the Seaweed Rice and whatever flavor of sausage you add will surely blend well.
Serving Suggestions
You can serve this dish on its own. However, most prepare it if you serve it with spicy dishes. Bulgogi is a Korean dish made with beef and has a flavor of sweet, savory, and spicy that will pair well with the umami Seaweed Rice. The chewy, sweet, and spicy kimchi is another good combo for this recipe.
Storage
This dish is better served fresh, not refrigerated or frozen. However, if you have leftovers, you can freeze them for up to three months and reheat them in the microwave until piping hot.
Recipe FAQs
You can use Japanese rice like Uruchimai or Mochigome. Both will give you the ideal texture and taste for this recipe.
Seaweed sheets have become wildly available in the last few years thanks to the popularity of Korean dramas that inspired people to try Korean recipes at home. Hence, you can now buy seaweed sheets in almost all grocery stores near you.
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Recipe
Seaweed Rice Balls - Korean
Equipment
- Scissors
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups steaming rice , short-medium grain
- 3 sheets seaweed sheets
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds , to garnish
Instructions
- Cut the seaweed sheets with a scissor into small pieces, then put them into the food processor and pulse until coarsely shredded.
- In a mixing bowl, mix together rice, shredded seaweed, sesame oil and soy sauce until combined.
- Now, scoop 2 tablespoons of the rice into your palm and squeeze lightly until the rice sticks together, then roll it into a ball.
- Repeat, garnish with sesame seeds and serve.
Notes
- If you are short on time, you can just buy pre-packaged seasoned seaweed flakes in any Asian grocery near you. You no longer have to shred seaweed sheets if you buy that!
- If you cook your rice with too much water, it will be too soft and have a soggy texture that will not be ideal for turning it into rolled shapes. Thus, measure the water per cup of rice correctly.
- Use plastic gloves when you start rolling the Seaweed Rice into shapes so that the rice will not stick to your hand.
Variations
- Add ground chicken or beef to the recipe and roll it together with the rest of the ingredients to make this recipe have a gamey taste to it! Rice and meat are very Asian-meal indeed.
- If you love veggies, minced carrots can also be added to the recipe.
- Kids will love it if you add chopped sausages to the mix as well. The umami taste of the Seaweed Rice and whatever flavor of sausage you add will surely blend well.
Kate
Easy side dish. I will definitely make it again.