From above, a wide shallow bowl of white rice is topped with neat wedges of vivid orange carrots, dark green spinach, pale bean sprouts, glossy brown mushrooms, and fresh cucumber circling a sunny egg yolk center, with sesame seeds sprinkled like confetti and a small red dollop of gochujang for dramatic contrast.

Liberation Day Royal Bibimbap

Name: Liberation Day Royal Bibimbap
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Korean
Ingredients: beef sirloin, 12 oz thinly sliced; short-grain white rice, 2 cups rinsed; spinach, 6 oz trimmed; bean sprouts, 8 oz rinsed; carrots, 2 medium julienned; shiitake mushrooms, 6 oz sliced; cucumber, 1 medium julienned; eggs, 4 large; gochujang, 4 tbsp; soy sauce, 5 tbsp divided; sesame oil, 4 tbsp divided; garlic, 4 cloves minced; scallions, 3 thinly sliced; sesame seeds, 2 tbsp toasted; sugar, 2 tsp; black pepper, 1/2 tsp; neutral oil, 2 tbsp; salt, 2 tsp divided

Category Main Course

Prep 30 minutes

Cook 25 minutes

Style Korean

Technique Boiling

Diet Friendly Dairy-Free

Daily Recipe: August 15, 2026

For Korea’s Independence Day, an iconic celebratory choice is bibimbap: a vibrant rice bowl crowned with colorful vegetables, beef, egg, and gochujang. It’s traditional, deeply beloved, and especially fitting for a festive table because each ingredient is prepared separately, then arranged in a striking radial pattern. This version highlights tender marinated beef, glossy spinach, seasoned bean sprouts, carrots, shiitake mushrooms, and cucumber for a balanced mix of savory, earthy, fresh, and spicy flavors.

Ingredients (for 4)

Beef sirloin - 12 oz - thinly sliced
Short-grain white rice - 2 cups - rinsed
Spinach - 6 oz - trimmed
Bean sprouts - 8 oz - rinsed
Carrots - 2 medium - julienned
Shiitake mushrooms - 6 oz - sliced
Cucumber - 1 medium - julienned
Eggs - 4 large
Gochujang - 4 tbsp
Soy sauce - 5 tbsp - divided
Sesame oil - 4 tbsp - divided
Garlic - 4 cloves - minced
Scallions - 3 - thinly sliced
Sesame seeds - 2 tbsp - toasted
Sugar - 2 tsp
Black pepper - 1/2 tsp
Neutral oil - 2 tbsp
Salt - 2 tsp - divided

Preparation

Step 1 - 🍚♨️🥄

Cook the rinsed short-grain white rice according to the package directions until fluffy, then keep it warm.
Step 2 - 🥩🥣⏳

Mix the thinly sliced beef sirloin with 2 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp sesame oil, 2 minced garlic cloves, 1 tsp sugar, and black pepper. Let it marinate for 15 minutes.
Step 3 - 🥬💧🧄

Blanch the spinach in boiling water for 30 seconds. Drain, squeeze out the water, and toss with 1 tsp sesame oil, a small pinch of salt, and a little minced garlic.
Step 4 - 🌱🥄✨

Blanch the bean sprouts for 1 minute, drain well, and toss with 1 tsp sesame oil and a small pinch of salt.
Step 5 - 🥕🍳🔥

Heat 1 tbsp neutral oil in a skillet. Cook the julienned carrots with a small pinch of salt for 1 to 2 minutes until just tender, then remove.
Step 6 - 🍄🥢✨

In the same skillet, sauté the sliced shiitake mushrooms with 1 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tsp sesame oil, and a small pinch of salt until softened and glossy. Remove and set aside.
Step 7 - 🥒🧂🕔

Lightly season the julienned cucumber with a small pinch of salt. Let it sit for 5 minutes, then pat dry.
Step 8 - 🥩🔥🍳

Cook the marinated beef in a hot skillet over medium-high heat for 3 to 4 minutes until browned and cooked through.
Step 9 - 🍳🥚☀️

Fry the eggs sunny-side up in a little neutral oil until the whites are set and the yolks stay runny.
Step 10 - 🍚🥬🥩

Divide the warm rice among 4 bowls. Arrange the spinach, bean sprouts, carrots, mushrooms, cucumber, and beef in separate sections over the rice.
Step 11 - 🥚🌶️🌿

Place 1 egg on each bowl. Add gochujang, then garnish with sliced scallions and toasted sesame seeds.
Step 12 - 🥣🥢😋

Serve right away and mix everything together at the table before eating.

Additional

Bibimbap means 'mixed rice,' and its beauty comes from arranging each topping separately before stirring it all together. For an even more festive presentation, serve it in black stone bowls or garnish with thin strips of roasted gim. You can also swap the beef for tofu or mushrooms to make it vegetarian.