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Ssambap
Rice wrapped in leaves
Ssambap (쌈밥): rice wrapped at the table in lettuce, perilla and cabbage leaves with ssamjang
Ssambap means wrapped rice, and in Korean homes it is the lazy, happy dinner of high summer, when the garden is full of lettuce and perilla: a basket of leaves, a bowl of rice and a pot of thick ssamjang go on the table and everyone builds little parcels. Steamed cabbage leaves are added in winter. It is a light meal of about 360 kcal, with roughly 10 g of protein a portion from the rice, doenjang and walnuts, so it is not a high-protein dish. The usual mistake is overfilling the leaf; a parcel should be one bite, so use a small spoon of rice. Most gochujang contains wheat, so it isn't gluten free. Chef's tip: lay a perilla leaf on top of the lettuce before adding rice; its minty, anise flavour lifts every mouthful.
- Total time
- 40 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the rice
- 10 ½ oz short-grain rice
- 1 ½ cups water
For the leaves
- 1 soft green or red-leaf lettuceleaves separated, washed and dried
- 20 perilla leaveswashed
- ¼ savoy or white cabbageleaves separated
For the ssamjang
- 3 tbsp doenjang (soybean paste)
- 1 tbsp gochujang
- 1 garlic clovefinely grated
- 1 spring onionfinely chopped
- 1 oz walnutsfinely chopped
- 1 tsp rice syrup
- 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil
- 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds
To serve
- 2 green chillies (optional)sliced
- 3 garlic cloves (optional)thinly sliced
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Rinse 10 ½ oz short-grain rice until the water runs nearly clear, drain and put in a pot with 1 ½ cups water. Bring to the boil, cover and cook on the lowest heat for 13 minutes, then rest off the heat, covered, for 10 minutes.
25 minStep 2: Steam ¼ savoy or white cabbage leaves over boiling water for 6–8 minutes, until soft and bendy but still bright green. Cool and trim away the thickest part of the stems.
8 minStep 3: Mix 3 tbsp doenjang (soybean paste), 1 tbsp gochujang, 1 garlic clove, 1 spring onion, 1 oz walnuts, 1 tsp rice syrup, 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil and 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds into a thick paste. Taste: it should be salty, nutty and gently hot.
Step 4: Pile 1 soft green or red-leaf lettuce, 20 perilla leaves and the cabbage on a platter. Set out the rice, the ssamjang, and the 2 green chillies and 3 garlic cloves if using.
Step 5: To eat, lay a lettuce leaf in your palm, add a perilla leaf, a small spoon of rice and a dab of ssamjang, fold it into one bite and eat it whole.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 360 kcal
- Protein
- 10 g
- Carbs
- 66 g
- Fat
- 8 g
- Fibre
- 5 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does ssambap take?
- About 40 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 25 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- What can I use instead of short-grain rice?
- Any long-grain rice, same amount.
- What can I use instead of soft green or red-leaf lettuce?
- Any crisp salad leaves, same amount.
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