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KOREAN HOME COOKING

Gaji Sotbap (가지 솥밥): Korean Eggplant Pot Rice

가지 솥밥 · Gaji Sotbap

Silky eggplant and savory beef steam over short-grain rice in one pot, creating a comforting Korean meal with very little hands-on work.

Total time45 minYield2 servingsDifficultyEasy
Korean eggplant pot rice with seasoned beef, scallions, and sesame seeds in a black earthenware pot가지 솥밥 · Gaji Sotbap

WHY THIS DISH MATTERS

A little cultural context

Sotbap means “pot rice.” Cooking the toppings and rice together lets their flavor season every grain, while the toasted layer at the bottom is called nurungji.

INGREDIENTS

What you'll need

Both systems are shown so you can cook without converting.

IngredientUSMetric
Korean short-grain riceCalrose rice also works1 1/2 cups300 g
Eggplant1 medium250 g
Ground beef4 oz120 g
Water1 1/2 cups355 ml
Soy sauce1 tbsp15 ml
Toasted sesame oil1 tsp5 ml
Scallion1 small10 g
Toasted sesame seeds1 tsp3 g

COOKING WEBTOON

Cook it panel by panel

A quick visual memory guide for the whole recipe.

4 cute steps
  1. Rinse & soak. Four-panel cute cooking webtoon showing how to make Korean eggplant pot rice from soaking the rice to serving the finished sotbap
    1

    Rinse & soak

    20 min

    Rinse the rice until the water runs mostly clear. Soak for 20 minutes, then drain it thoroughly.

  2. Prep the topping. Four-panel cute cooking webtoon showing how to make Korean eggplant pot rice from soaking the rice to serving the finished sotbap
    2

    Prep the topping

    8 min

    Cut the eggplant into thick half-moons, then season the raw beef with soy sauce and sesame oil.

  3. Simmer covered. Four-panel cute cooking webtoon showing how to make Korean eggplant pot rice from soaking the rice to serving the finished sotbap
    3

    Simmer covered

    12 min on low

    Bring the rice, water, eggplant, and beef to a boil. Cover, reduce the heat, and do not lift the lid.

  4. Rest & finish. Four-panel cute cooking webtoon showing how to make Korean eggplant pot rice from soaking the rice to serving the finished sotbap
    4

    Rest & finish

    10 min off heat

    Rest the covered pot off the heat. Add scallion and sesame seeds, then gently fold everything together.

AI-assisted illustration. Follow the written recipe above for exact measurements and food-safety details.

DIRECTIONS

How to make it

  1. 01

    Rinse and soak

    Rinse the rice until the water runs mostly clear. Soak for 20 minutes, then drain well.

  2. 02

    Season the topping

    Cut the eggplant into thick half-moons. Mix the beef with soy sauce and sesame oil.

  3. 03

    Cook the pot rice

    Add rice and water to a heavy pot. Arrange the eggplant and beef on top. Bring to a boil, cover, and cook over low heat for 12 minutes.

  4. 04

    Rest and serve

    Turn off the heat and rest, covered, for 10 minutes. Top with scallion and sesame seeds, then gently mix.

SHOP & SUBSTITUTE

Cook it anywhere

Ingredient swaps

Korean short-grain riceUse Calrose or Japanese short-grain rice; avoid jasmine or basmati.

Ground beefGround turkey, crumbled firm tofu, or finely chopped mushrooms.

Korean pantry guide

Short-grain rice쌀 · ssal

The glossy, softly sticky rice used at everyday Korean tables.

Search: Korean short grain rice Calrose
Sesame oil참기름 · chamgireum

A deeply toasted finishing oil; a little goes a long way.

Search: Korean toasted sesame oil chamgireum
🍚

Serve it with

  • Baechu kimchi
  • Cucumber muchim
  • A light doenjang soup
🌶️

Spice level

Not spicy. Add sliced fresh chile or a spoonful of gochujang sauce at the table.

♨️

Store & reheat

Refrigerate for up to 3 days. Reheat covered with 1 tablespoon of water per serving, or freeze individual portions for up to 1 month.

# eggplant# sotbap# one-pot meal# Korean rice