Triangular gimbap facts for kids
Triangular gimbap (Korean: 삼각김밥) is a popular snack from Korea. It's a type of gimbap, which is a dish made from rice and other ingredients rolled in seaweed. What makes triangular gimbap special is its shape – it's a perfect triangle!
This tasty snack is made with steamed white rice (called bap in Korean) and different fillings. All of this is wrapped tightly in a sheet of dried seaweed (called gim). It comes with a clever plastic wrapper that keeps the seaweed separate from the rice until you're ready to eat it, so the seaweed stays crispy.
Many people buy triangular gimbap at convenience stores, though you could make it at home too. It's a super quick and easy meal, especially when you're busy. It usually costs between 700 and 900 South Korean won. Since it's made with fresh ingredients, it's best to eat it within one day if kept in the fridge.
What is the History of Triangular Gimbap?
Triangular gimbap actually started in Japan, where it was first known as Onigiri. Originally, onigiri was shaped like a ball. It was created as a quick and easy meal, especially useful during times of war.
This convenient snack made its way to Korea in the 1990s. In 1991, the store 7-Eleven was the first to start selling it in Korea. Other popular convenience stores like Family Mart and GS25 soon followed.
Today, you can find many different kinds of triangular gimbap! Some popular flavors include:
- Tuna with mayonnaise
- Jeonju bibimbap (a mix of rice with vegetables and meat)
- Bulgogi (marinated grilled beef)
- Spicy tuna
- Cheese spicy chicken
Are There Any Downsides to Triangular Gimbap?
Triangular gimbap is super handy and makes replacing a meal very easy. However, it's good to know a few things about its nutritional content.
Sometimes, triangular gimbap can have a lot of sodium (salt) and fat. The amount of nutrients it provides might only be about 20-30% of what a person needs in a day.
Also, some older reports found that certain food additives were used. This was because the rice used might have been stored for a long time (2-3 years). Manufacturers sometimes added things to improve the flavor or make the rice look whiter.
