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Bibimbap with Sweet Potatoes

Vegetarian Bibimbap with Sweet Potatoes, kimchi, pickled cucumber, sauteed shiitake mushrooms, bean sprouts, and grated carrots is a fresh take on a classic Korean dish. 

Bibimbap with Sweet Potatoes

Photos by Rikki Snyder

Have you ever tried Bibimbap at a Korean restaurant? It is, in a word: incredible.

What is Bibimbap?

Bibimbap is a traditional Korean dish which translates literally to “mixed rice” (bibi = mixed, bap = rice).

A mix of sautéed, raw, and pickled veggies are served on top of steamed white rice with a raw or over-easy egg and sliced meat. In order to make a vegetarian version, I substituted roasted sweet potato slices for the meat.

I know, I know…sweet potatoes in exchange for meat? It may seem like an odd substitution, but I assure you, it works! The sweet potatoes are filling, flavorful, and add life to the meal.

In addition to the roasted sweet potato, for these Bibimbap Bowls, I went with sautéed shiitake mushrooms, kimchi, bean sprouts, pickled cucumbers, and grated carrot.

I serve a sunny side up egg on top of each bowl, but you can add more or less eggs depending on protein preference.

The combination of cooked, raw, and pickled vegetables is so heavenly, and that sauce makes everything come together like a dream!

Ingredients for Vegetarian Bibimbap:

For the Sauce: Liquid aminos (or coconut aminos or soy sauce), sesame oil, green onion, garlic, sriracha, fresh ginger, pure maple syrup, and rice vinegar.

For the Sautéed Mushrooms: Shiitake mushrooms and sesame oil

For the Bowls: Steamed brown rice (or white rice), eggs (cooked using your favorite method), sweet potato, pickled cucumber, sprouts, kimchi, sesame seeds, and grated carrot.

Ingredients for Vegetarian Bibimbap

How to Make Vegetarian Bibimbap:

Make the Sauce: Prepare the sauce by stirring everything together in a small bowl. Set the sauce aside until you’re ready to use it.

Prepare the Rice: Cook 1 to 2 cups of rice on the stove top or in your rice cooker, according to package instructions. Choose the amount depending on how many people you’re serving and how hungry everyone is!

Cook the Vegetables: Sauté the shiitake mushrooms, roast the sweet potato, and cook the eggs according to how you like them – you can make 6-minute eggs, poach them, make them sunny side up, fried, or scrambled.

Gather the rest of the ingredients for the bowls – grate the carrots!

Compile the bowls: Add desired amount of cooked rice to each bowl, and top with desired amount of sautéed shiitake mushrooms, sliced roasted sweet potato, eggs, grated carrot, kimchi, pickled cucumbers, and sprouts.

Drizzle everything with sauce, sprinkle with sesame seeds, and enjoy!

Recipe Adaptations:

  • Make it Grain-Free by using Cauliflower Rice.
  • Substitute any of your favorite raw, roasted, and/or sautéed vegetables.
  • Omit the egg to make vegan.

Also check out my Quick and Easy Chana Saag and my 30-Minute Thai Green Curry with Avocado!

Enjoy! xo

Bibimbap with Sweet Potatoes

Vegetarian Bibimbap with Roasted Sweet Potatoes

A vegetarian version of Bibimbap, a classic Korean dish. The mushrooms and sweet potatoes are everything in these bowls.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
4 people

Ingredients

For the Sauce:

  • 2/3 cup liquid aminos, soy sauce or coconut aminos
  • 2 Tbsp sesame oil
  • 2 Tbsp rice vinegar
  • 3 green onions, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 Tbsp sriracha
  • 1 Tbsp pure maple syrup, or coconut sugar

For the Bibimbap Bowls:

  • 1 large sweet potato, roasted and sliced
  • 4 large eggs, cooked by method of choice
  • 4 to 6 cups brown rice or white rice, cooked
  • 6 oz shiitake mushrooms
  • kimchi
  • 2 cups grated carrot
  • bean sprouts
  • 1 Tbsp sesame seeds
  • pickled cucumbers

Instructions

  • Prepare the sauce by stirring everything together in a small bowl. Set the sauce aside until you're ready to use it.
  • Roast the sweet potato at 400 degrees F for 60 to 90 minutes, until soft when poked with a fork. Once cool enough to handle, slice the sweet potato into rounds.
  • Add 2 tablespoons of the sauce and 1 tablespoon olive oil or avocado oil to a skillet and heat to medium-high. Add the shiitake mushrooms and saute, stirring occasionally, until mushrooms have softened and begin to caramelize, about 5 to 8 minutes.
  • Cook the rice according to package instructions - you'll want 4 cups of cooked rice (about 1.5 cups dry) if serving 4 people.
  • Cook the eggs using your favorite method.
  • Compile the Bibimbap Bowls by adding cooked rice to 4 bowls. Top with roasted sweet potato rounds, sauteed shiitake mushrooms, cooked eggs, kimchi, pickled cucumbers, and sprouts. Drizzle desired amount of sauce over each bowl and serve with sesame seeds.

Nutrition

Serving: 1of 4 - Calories: 541kcal - Carbohydrates: 96g - Protein: 21g - Fat: 13g - Fiber: 12g - Sugar: 15g
Course: Lifestyle
Cuisine: American
Keyword: gluten free, healthy, Korean food, soy free, vegetarian bibimbap, vegetarian dinner recipe
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 541kcal
Author: Julia
Recipe Rating




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Marz

Wednesday 17th of August 2022

Thank you for the ideas. I have a lot of vegetarians in my family and do my best to accommodate them. I forgot to buy traditional zucchinis so needed another food to put in there. Will try this !

Julia

Thursday 18th of August 2022

I hope they love it, Marz! :D xoxo

Marissa | Pinch and Swirl

Thursday 27th of March 2014

Just look at those gorgeous eggs! Love this veggie version, but now you've got me singing MMMBop...

Joanne

Wednesday 26th of March 2014

I am going to make this while rocking out to Hanson. And then the.boy might renounce our engagement. But WHATEVER. Then I'll stuff this in his face, and all will be right in the world.

Joyti

Wednesday 26th of March 2014

I was just thinking of doing a vegetarian version of bibimbap, just yesterday! Yours looks perfectly wonderful. There aren't enough recipes involving sweet potatoes, this one looks great.

Julia

Wednesday 26th of March 2014

Thanks, Joyti! Let me know what you end up putting together for your veggie bibimbap! There are so many options and I'm now on a quest to make all the delicious bibimbaps! ;)

Dearna @tohercore

Wednesday 26th of March 2014

That bibimbap looks AMAZING! (although now I cant cant Hanson out of my head! ;)

Julia

Wednesday 26th of March 2014

Haha! If it makes you feel any better, I had it in my head all day today. Kinda kicking myself for the Hanson reference.

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