Home Recipe IndexEntrées Triangle Kimbap (Kimchi Tuna Triangle Kimbap)

Triangle Kimbap (Kimchi Tuna Triangle Kimbap)

by Emily
Triangle Kimbap on a Platter

When days get overly busy and rushed, I rely on a handful of quick and convenient meals that I know taste good. Examples include different rice bowl recipes or Korean tuna mayo rice. With recipes like these in my back pocket, I know there is always something easy to make at home. Recently, we added another favorite in our household’s quick recipe repertoire: triangle kimbap. 

In South Korea, triangle kimbap is a popular quick snack or meal you can buy at convenience stores, or supermarkets; you can also make it at home. So, what exactly is it?

What is Triangle Kimbap?

Kimbap (김밥) is a Korean dish made from dried sheets of seaweed filled with rice, vegetables, and protein. Literally, it means seaweed (kim) rice (bap). While the rolled version is traditional and still very popular, a triangle-shaped version emerged as a convenience food easy to eat with one hand while on a picnic or at your desk.

With the triangle version, the protein, veggies, and sauce fillings fit into the center of rice. Once all the fillings are placed in the center, the rice is then formed into a triangle shape. Next, kim (sheets of dried seaweed) is wrapped around the triangle-shaped rice, protecting your hands from the stickiness of the rice when consumed. 

Typically, with convenience store or make-at-home kit versions, there is a protective plastic layer folded between the seaweed and rice. At the same time, there is another plastic layer outside the entire triangle kimbap to keep it safe from the elements and from going rancid in the store’s refrigerated shelves. 

How Much Does Triangle Kimbap Cost?

In South Korea, convenience store kimbap often costs less than a dollar! Typically, you can buy different flavors and styles of Korean kimbap for 700 to 900 won (in the USA, that would equal approximately 70 to 90 cents!) 

Triangle Kimbap laying on a platter.
Triangle Kimbap Is Easy to Make!!

Outside of Hawaii, you can probably only find pre-made versions at Asian grocery stores (such as H-Mart) or a Korean style restaurant in the United States. As a result, prices vary based on availability. 

If you want to make these at home, we recommend buying a triangle kimbap kit–you can order different versions on amazon for different prices. We used one as well to make the triangle kimbap recipe we will show you in this post. For reference, Japanese onigiri is typically made solely by hand without a mold, while triangle kimbap is made with a mold. 

Below are some of the triangle kimbap kits we recommend! Also, if you already have the mold, you can buy the seaweed separately.

The History of Triangle Kimbap:

To be honest, there are differing accounts and opinions regarding how kimbap came to be in South Korea. Though the traditional rolled kimbap origins are contentious, the triangle version can more easily be traced. Originally, triangle kimbap stemmed from the Japanese dish ‘Onigiri.’ Onigiri first appeared as a ball-shaped form of rice and fillings made to serve and eat quickly during wartime in Japan. 

Later on, triangle kimbap first started popping up in South Korea during the 1990s. First, 7-Eleven, a corner convenience store, started selling it. Then, other convenience store brands such as GS25 followed suit. Eventually, triangle kimbap became a staple in the quick-meal Korean diet. 

Since its origin, triangle kimbap has expanded in variations and flavor combinations. You can buy flavors such as tuna with mayonnaise, spicy tuna, kimchi, bulgogi, and so on. When making triangle kimbap at home, the flavor combinations are endless. You can add whatever type of filling you are in the mood to eat! 

Step-By-Step Guide to Using a Triangle Kimbap Mold

Below, we have step-by-step instructions and pictures on how to use your triangle kimbap mold. We hope this helps you! 

Making the Rice Portion of Triangle Kimbap

First, prepare your seaweed by placing it in front of you. The side with numbers should face down with the number one sitting at the top. 

Second, place your mold on top of the seaweed. It should sit at the top and on the center of the seaweed sheet. 

Triangle kimbap mold on top of the seaweed strip.
Kimbap Molds Are Easy to Use!

Third, using your prepared rice, place it into the mold. Fill the mold approximately 1/3 full. 

Triangle kimbap mold filled 1/3 with rice.
Fill the Mold With Lots of Rice!

Fourth, place your fillings into the center of the mold. Do not use so much of the ingredients that they burst out the back, front, or sides. 

Tuna and Kimchi added on top of rice in the triangle kimbap mold.
Tuna and Kimchi Are a Common Filling.

Fifth, top the mold with rice, finally filling it to the top. You should completely cover the fillings underneath.

Rice filling the triangle kimbap mold.
Top the Filings With Rice!

Sixth, use the top of the mold to press down and secure the rice for the triangle kimbap. You need to tightly pack the rice together. Typically, kimbap molds have an instructional line to try to reach when pressing down. Note: If you cannot reach the line because you added too much rice, do not fret. Instead, just press down until your rice is packed down. 

An overhead photo of the triangle kimbap mold lid pressed down.
Press Until the Rice Packs Tight.

Finally, remove the outside mold from the rice by lifting it upward. Once you remove the exterior mold, take off the top of the mold. 

An overhead shot of pressed rice in a triangle form.
Pressed Rice Is Easy To Remove From the Mold.

Next, we need to fold the kimbap. We listed the instructions with photos below!!!

Folding the Seaweed for the Kimbap

First, fold the bottom of the seaweed up and around the rice. You are trying to reach the number one marker on the back of the seaweed.

An overhead photo of folding the seaweed up over the rice.
Fold the Seaweed Up!

Second, you need to fold the corners of the triangle kimbap. Start with the left side, which has the number two. Then, fold in the right side, which has the number three on the back. Note: Try to tightly fold the seaweed around the rice. At first, you may find this difficult to do as your hands will be doing many things at once. Eventually, after practice, it will become much easier to accomplish. 

Overhead photo of corners pressed down to fold the seaweed around the rice.
Press the Corners Down to Fold Around the Rice.
Overhead shot of the corners folding over the rice to create a triangle shape.
Remember, Fold the Two Side Before the Three Side!

Finally, while holding everything together, place a sticker over the connecting points. You now have a triangle kimbap! 

Photo of sticker added to the triangle kimbap.
Add the Sticker to Finish!

How to Open Your Triangle Kimbap

Just follow the numbers when opening your triangle kimbap! First, start with the number one. Peel the center strip around the kimbap. You will need to tear through your sticker on the back. Next, you pull the corner labeled number two. The corner should pull off the entire right half of your kimbap. Finally, doing the same thing, pull at the corner labeled number three. Once again, it should pull off the entire other half of plastic. 

Once all the plastic is off, you can enjoy eating your triangle kimbap!!! 

Adding Your Fillings  

When buying triangle kimbap there are so many options you can pick and choose from. You can buy:

  • Bulgogi
  • Spicy Tuna
  • Tuna Mayo
  • Fried Kimchi
  • Bibimbap
  • Cheesy Spicy Chicken
  • And More! 

We wanted to start with a classic and highly popular version of triangle kimbap: pan-fried kimchi and tuna. 

The recipe takes very little time to make. First, prepare equal amounts of canned tuna and kimchi. Then, while heating a pan, chop up the kimchi into small pieces. Next, drain any liquid from the can of tuna. Heat a tablespoon or two of oil on the heated pan. Once the pan and oil are hot, add the tuna and kimchi. Stir fry until the kimchi is caramelized. 

Note: If your kimchi is too sour, add a little sugar to the mixture as you stir fry! 

Flavoring Your Rice

Koreans usually flavor the rice when making triangle kimbap. Typically, they add a little bit of salt and sesame oil to add fragrance and taste. Otherwise, it can taste a bit bland. 

Once the rice is cooked, add a little sesame oil and salt. Then, with a spoon, fluff the rice and mix the added ingredients. While the rice may taste a little salty and strong on its own, it will not when you add the fillings and seaweed. 

Have You Ever Tried Triangle Kimbap? 

Do you have a favorite version of triangle kimbap? If so, we would love to hear from you! Leave a comment below to tell us your favorite, or send us an email at [email protected]

If you are interested in further Korean recipes check out our: 

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Triangle Kimbap (Kimchi Tuna Triangle Kimbap)

Recipe by Emily
5.0 from 1 vote
Course: Entrées, RecipesDifficulty: Easy
Servings

2

Triangle Kimbap
Prep time

30

minutes
Cooking time

15

minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 Uncooked Short Grain Rice

  • 1 TSP Sesame Oil

  • 1/4 TSP Salt

  • 4 Oz Canned Tuna

  • 4 Oz Kimchi

  • 1 TBSP Olive Oil

  • Optional: Sugar

  • 10 Sheets of Triangle Kimbap Seaweed Wraps

Directions

  • First, cook your rice using your preferred method. Once the rice is cooked, add the sesame oil and salt to the rice and mix to combine.
  • While the rice slightly cools, heat a pan over medium high heat. Once heated, add your tuna and kimchi together. Cook until the kimchi caramelizes. Add a pinch of sugar if your kimchi is too sour.
  • Prepare your triangle kimbap using a mold once your fillings and rice are ready.
  • First, place your seaweed on a flat surface. The numbers need to face down. Center the mold at the very top of the seaweed.
  • Fill 1/3 of the mold with your prepared rice.
  • Add the filling on top of the rice. When adding the fillings, make sure it doesn’t touch the edges of the mold.
  • Place rice overtop the triangle kimbap filling until it reaches the top. Then, with the top of the mold, press down until the rice is fully compact.
  • Leaving the top of the mold, release the sides of the mold by lifting up. Once the sides are removed, take off the top of the mold.
  • Start by folding the bottom of the seaweed up and over the rice. It should go above the top part of the triangle. Then, press down the sides to fit the seaweed around the rice.
  • Next, checking the back side of the seaweed, look for the number two. Fold the number two side over the rice to secure the side of the triangle. Do the same with side number three. At this point, seaweed should be wrapped completely around the rice.
  • Add a sticker to the center where all the folded sides meet.
  • You now have wrapped triangle kimbap!! To eat, follow the number steps to remove the plastic. First, start with number one by removing the center peel. Then, pull the plastic from the corners numbered two and three. Enjoy once all the plastic is removed!

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