There are many dishes in Korea that are packed with flavor and drive home the tradition and culture of Korean cooking. Two of those dishes, called bibimbap and bulgogi, are two of the most popular ones newcomers can encounter when traveling through the country and, if given the chance, travelers should take advantage of trying both of these. They're both found quite easily and while they sound as though they'd be part of the same family of cooking, they're actually very different.
How different, you might ask? For starters, the ingredients in each dish vary quite a bit. Bulgogi is a simpler dish than bibimbap while bibimbap is a bit more wholesome, with vegetables and an extra kick from gochujang. The way the beef for each dish is prepared varies as well, with both dishes sporting beef cooking in a particular way that can't really be swapped for the other. Bibimbap is a fuller dish with more oomph to it, while bulgogi relies on simple ingredients, preparation, and a comforting flavor profile to bring the whole experience home. Let's take a closer look at these two unique dishes.
Bibimbap And Its Variety Of Ingredients
It's easy to see that bibimbap has a wide array of ingredients that go along with seasoned beef, which is somewhat of the centerpiece of the whole dish. Rather than starting with the beef, though, let's start with the base of the dish: the rice. Similar to what would be considered fried rice in Japan, in Korea, the bed of rice that each bibimbap ingredient sits atop of is not far from it, except that it's not fried. The red sauce that's served with the vegetables, meat, and rice is pretty unique to the dish itself, with a tangy zing and a hefty spice level. It's often said of the bibimbap sauce that the spice level is borderline too much chili, but it's a well-loved favorite and usually tempered by the other ingredients.
As for the actual vegetables, many people enjoy mixing it all together to create one uniform, bold and spicy flavor, while others enjoy keeping the meat separate from the vegetables, and all of that separate from the rice below.
Bibimbap is also served with an egg over the top much of the time, similar to how one might have an egg in a soup such as Ramen or cracked over a stir-fry. It can be served with additional heat in the form of kimchi which definitely boosts the flavor and tempers nicely with the rest of the freshly-cooked vegetables that sit on top of the cooked rice in the dish.
The Beauty In The Simplicity Of Beef Bulgogi
As for bulgogi, some would argue that this dish is actually better. According to American in Korea, if you can find authentic beef bulgogi in Korea, it's a worthy experience and far better than that of eating bibimbap. As opposed to the emphasis being on the spice level in this dish, the beef is actually served with a brown sauce that's savory and slightly salty. Similar to bibimbap, the whole thing is usually served over a bed of rice but not necessarily. Some places will substitute pork for a cheaper alternative but, traditionally, beef is the only true bulgogi protein.
The beef is usually shredded or cooked in strips and can be cooked with vegetables such as onions and scallions. In terms of authentic bulgogi, the one thing to look for is a dish that has slices of roast beef. These beef slices are then cooked and tossed in the signature brown sauce that lends the dish so much flavor and is absolutely delicious when mixed with cooked rice as shown above. Occasionally, bulgogi can be served in something such as a lunch box. This is similar to a bento box and contains the main dish - beef bulgogi - with accompaniments of rice, cooked potatoes, kimchi, a julienned salad mix, sprouts, and another pickled or roasted vegetable. This way, diners are free to mix and match as they please and aren't forced to eat everything in one dish. This is also a great way to get a feel for the true flavor of bulgogi, which consists of a distinct blend of Korean spices and sauces to create something flavorful and bold without being heavy on the spice level. If you ever find yourself in Korea, don't hesitate to try either of these delicious dishes!