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Gondre Rice
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4.60 from 5 votes

Gondre Namul Rice & Bellflower Root Banchan

Gondre Rice is a delicious, aromatic bibimbap using wild thistle. Perfect for light dinners. 
Course: Easy
Servings: 1 people

Ingredients

Gondre Rice

  • Gondre Korean Thistle - 50 grams
  • Rice - 1.5 cups
  • Water - 1.5 cups
  • Perilla oil - 1 Tablespoon or use Sesame oil
  • Soy Sauce - 1 Tablespoon 

Gondre Rice Seasoning

  • Soy Sauce - 3 Tablespoons
  • Minced garlic - ½ Tablespoon
  • Sesame oil - 1 Tablespoon
  • Gochugaru - ½ Tablespoon
  • Sesame seeds -1 Tablespoon
  • Chopped green onions - 1 stalk

Bellflower Root Namul

  • Bellflower Root - 150 grams
  • Salt - 1 Tablespoon for sweating out the root
  • Minced garlic - 1 teaspoon ! 
  • Salt - few shakes
  • Chopped green onion - few pinches
  • Sesame oil - a drizzle

Instructions

Gondre Rice

  • Soak gondre overnight in a large mixing bowl. (Or at least 5-6 hours if you want to make it on the same day). 
  • Drain the gondre after soaking. Then wash it under running water and give 2-3 thorough washes to get rid of any dirt or debris. Place in strainer. 
  • Then bring a pot of water up to boil. Once its boiling, place the gondre in. Then reduce the heat to a medium. Place the lid on the pot. Let it gently boil for 30 minutes. 
  • While you wait, make your rice: Pour rice (1.5 cups) into a rice bowl. Wash it out 2-3x. Then pour in water (1.5 cups) into the rice bowl. Set aside for later.
  • After 30 minutes, carefully strain the boiled gondre. Rinse gondre under cold water to fully cool it down. Place in strainer. 
  • Then use your hands and squeeze out the water from the boiled gondre.
  • Next, use a knife and cut the gondre lumps into smaller pieces (make rough chops). 
  • Now, place the gondre pieces into a mixing bowl. Season it with Perilla Oil (1T) and Soy Sauce (1T). Mix it with your hands and coat it evenly.
  • Next, use your chopsticks and place the gondre over your rice bowl. Then, I would recommend putting in 2-3 additional dashes of water into the rice bowl (reference video).
  • Place rice bowl into electric rice cooker. Start the machine :)
  • Next, make the rice seasoning: Mix all of the listed ingredients under 'Gondre Rice Sesaoning'
  • Once the rice is done cooking, use a rice paddle or wooden spatula and mix the gondre at the top with the rice at the bottom.
  • Place mixed rice into bowl. Serve with a few spoonfuls of the Rice Seasoning. Bon Appetit!

Bellflower Root Namul

  • If you bought the dried roots, soak them overnight (or 8-10 hours). 
  • After soaking, give a quick wash and strain them again. Then throw in salt (1 Tablespoon) and rub over the roots. Set aside for 5-10 minutes so the roots can sweat out the bitter flavor. 
  • Bring pot of water up to boil. Once it's boiling, blanche the roots for 30 seconds. Then strain them and rinse under cold water. 
  • Next, split any large root piece into smaller pieces with your hands. Throw out any rigid, stale pieces. 
  • Then squeeze the water out of the roots (don't forget this step!)
  • Place a frying pan on medium heat. Place oil in. Once its hot, place minced garlic in (1 teaspoon). Once you can smell the garlic, place the roots in. Stir around for 1 minute. Turn the heat off.
  • Then season with a few shakes of salt. And few pinches of green onion. As well as a drizzle of sesame oil. 
  • Plate and enjoy!

Notes

  • See video below for more details