Dolsot Bibimbap

Learn how to make dolsot bibimbap with or without a Korean stone bowl!

I’m very excited about sharing my recipe today. It’s a dolsot bibimbap day!

Many of you already tasted my super duper delicious bibimbap recipe in the past few years and might be wondering why I’m doing another post about it?

Well, my main reason is that I’m sharing great tips on how to make dolsot bibimbap (with or without the dolsot aka Korean hot stone bowl). Are you excited?

Also, another reason is that I incorporated two Korean traditional bibimbap ingredients (gosari namul and doraji namul) in my bibimbap. After all, there’s a reason behind sharing my namul (Korean vegetable side dishes) recipes in the last two weeks. 🙂

By all means, you don’t have to add the exact same side dishes in your bibimbap bowl as bibimbap can be prepared quite casually with what you have in your fridge and pantry. (Hint: it’s such a great leftover cleaner!)

What is Dolsot Bibimbap

Bibimbap vs. Dolsot Bibimbap

Bibimbap (비빔밥) is Korean mixed rice. It includes rice, your choice of Korean side dishes and the bibimbap sauce. You typically serve these in a (mixing) bowl or in a hot stone bowl. Once served, you mix them all together nicely and shove them into your mouth. It’s super delicious and hugely addictive.

Now, dolsot bibimbap (돌솥 비빔밥). It is bibimbap served in a sizzling hot stone bowl. Some people seem to think all bibimbap is served in this hot stone bowl, but that’s not the case.

Dolsot can be a raw stone bowl or a ceramic / clay bowl. At my home, I have a ceramic bowl. I use this bowl to make some of the Korea’s finest stew (e.g. Soondubu Jjigae and Kimchi Jjigae) too.

Why Should You Make Bibimbap in a Hot Stone Bowl

If you serve bibimbap in a normal bowl, you will notice that the rice cools down quite fast. There’s nothing wrong with that. However, some people prefer having the rice and all the other ingredients in bibimbap warm if not hot.

That’s when the stone bowl comes in handy. If you prepare and serve your bibimbap in a hot stone bowl, your bibimbap will be not only nicely warm, but also it will often have a nice crispy layer of rice at the bottom of the bowl.

To some people, these are additional pleasures that are worth paying for. (Yeah, typically dolsot bibimbap is more expensive than bibimbap when you order it at a Korean restaurant.)

Can you see the scorched (slightly burnt) rice in the above picture? Mmmm, this was super crispy. (I probably could have avoided the burning bits if I wasn’t too busy taking some photographs of it. Lol #foodbloggermoment)

How to Make Dolsot Bibimbap Without a Korean Stone Bowl

When I make bibimbap at home, I used to just serve it in a bowl. Because a raw stone bowl or ceramic bowl only works on a gas stove and I have an induction stove at home.

I could take out a portable gas burner, which I often do for other cooking, but sometimes I just couldn’t be bothered doing so. (I’m sure you have those occasions too!)

Then, a brilliant idea struck a few months ago that I could perhaps try using my favorite cast iron skillet to serve my “dolsot bibimbap”.

And, I have to say I absolutely love cooking my bibimbap this way!

Seriously, you can get the “dolsot bibimbap effect” by simply cooking it in a skillet and what’s more, it’s faster and easier!

I’m sure you will love this idea too. I even included a short demo video of it below as well.

Watch The Video Tutorial: How to Make Dolsot Bibimbap Without a Korean Stone Bowl

(Listed ingredients in the video are for 2 servings.)

Now, it’s time to learn how to make dolsot bibimbap the official way! Enjoy!

Dolsot Bibimbap Ingredients for 4 servings

Meat and Meat Marinade

• 100g / 3.5 ounces rib eye fillets, thinly sliced
• 1 Tbsp soy sauce
• 1 Tbsp sesame oil
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1/4 tsp minced garlic

Vegetables and Other

• 1/2 cups (60 g / 2 ounces) Korean cucumber side dish
• 1/2 cups (60 g / 2 ounces) gosari namul (Korean fernbrake side dish)
• 1/2 cups (60 g / 2 ounces) doraji namul (sautéed bellflower root)
• 1/2 cups (60 g / 2 ounces) carrots, julienned
• 1/2 cups (60 g / 2 ounces) zucchini, julienned
• 1/2 cups (60 g/ 2 ounces) shiitake mushrooms, thinly sliced
• 4 cups steamed rice
• 4 eggs
• some cooking oil – I used rice bran oil
• sesame  oil
• fine sea salt

Other Vegetable Ingredients You Could Use

• Korean spinach side dish
• Korean bean sprouts salad
• Daikon radish salad

Dolsot Bibimbap Sauce

• 2 Tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
• 1 Tbsp sesame oil
• 1 Tbsp sugar
• 1 Tbsp water
• 1 Tbsp roasted sesame seeds
• 1 tsp apple cider vinegar (or rice vinegar)
• 1 tsp minced garlic

*1 Tbsp = 15 ml, 1 Cup = 250 ml

** If you want to learn more about Korean ingredients, check my 30 essential Korean ingredients list!

***Handle with care while transferring the hot stone bowl.

How to Make Dolsot Bibimbap

1. Prepare and cook ingredients as below.

– In a bowl, combine the meat with the marinade. Cover the bowl and leave it in the fridge while you are working on other the ingredients. When ready, Add some cooking oil into a wok and cook the meat on medium high to high heat. It takes about 3 to 5 mins to thoroughly cook it.

– Prepare the Korean cucumber side dish, fernbrake side dish and bellflower root side dish per the linked recipes. These can be prepared on a different day to save your bibimbap making time.

– Separately sauté carrots, zucchini and mushrooms in a frying pan. Season them lightly with fine sea salt.

– Mix the bibimbap sauce ingredients in a small bowl. Set aside.

– Pan fry the eggs per your preference. (Sunny side up is a popular choice.)

2. Preheat an oven for 10 minutes at 220 C / 428 F. Once heated, place your stone bowl into the oven. Leave it there for 10 minutes. 10 minutes later, take it out. Drop in some sesame oil (about 1 Tbsp per medium size bowl) and brush it around. Quickly assemble your bibimbap ingredients inside the hot stone bowl. First you will have to lay down the rice. Make sure you flatten it well. Then add the meat, assorted vegetables, and the egg on top of the rice. Transfer the hot stone bowl onto the gas stove and cook it for 5 minutes over low heat. You will hear the rice crackling noise. Remove from the heat.

3. Pour the bibimbap sauce into the hot stone bowl and mix all the ingredients well. Serve.