Kimchi Fried Rice
Fried rice with kimchi & egg
Ingredients
- 400 g Japanese short-grain rice
- 200 g Kimchi
- 2 Egg
- 1 tbsp Gochujang
- 2 tbsp Neutral oil
- 2 Scallions (optional)
- 1 tbsp Toasted sesame oil (optional)
Method
- Chop the kimchi and slice the scallions.
- Fry the kimchi in the neutral oil in a wide pan over medium-high heat until caramelised, then stir in the gochujang.
- Add the rice and toss over high heat until hot through, finishing with the sesame oil.
- Meanwhile, fry the eggs sunny-side up in a separate pan.
- Top the rice with the egg and scallions and serve.
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About Kimchi Fried Rice
Kimchi fried rice, or kimchi bokkeumbap, is one of Korea's great thrifty dishes, born from the everyday logic of using up day-old rice and aging kimchi that has grown pleasantly sour. This version keeps it uncomplicated: kimchi fried until caramelized, deepened with a spoonful of gochujang, tossed with rice and finished with toasted sesame oil, then topped with a sunny-side-up egg. It is tangy, savory, and gently spicy, with the sourness of the fermented cabbage cutting the richness of the oil and egg. A runny yolk broken over the top binds everything into a glossy, comforting mouthful.
Two details make it work: using cold day-old rice, whose drier grains fry up separate and slightly chewy instead of clumping, and taking the time to caramelize the kimchi before the rice goes in so it turns sweet and jammy rather than merely sour. The gochujang adds body and a deeper red color, while the sesame oil at the finish brings its nutty aroma without being cooked off. This is fast enough for a solo weeknight dinner and endlessly adaptable, welcoming leftover meat or vegetables. Scattered scallions and the fried egg on top are the traditional finish, and it needs nothing more than itself to be a full meal.
Kimchi Fried Rice: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Kimchi Fried Rice?
A serving has about 371 calories — 9.1g protein, 43.6g carbs, 17.8g fat, 2.2g fiber. Figures are estimated from the ingredient amounts and will shift with your portions and brands.
Is Kimchi Fried Rice gluten-free?
As written, no — it contains Gochujang. You'd need a certified gluten-free swap for that ingredient to make it gluten-free.
Do I need every ingredient to make Kimchi Fried Rice?
The core ingredients are essential, but you can leave out scallions, toasted sesame oil — they're optional and mainly there for extra flavor or finish.
How many servings does Kimchi Fried Rice make?
This recipe makes 3 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.