Recreate the UK's top takeaways at home

We are currently living through the age of 'one-click away', where we can hop on our phones and order pretty much anything directly to us. With most takeaways, the food you've ordered will even arrive within the hour! But convenience comes at a price - takeaways are the most expensive they've ever been and frequently ordering them is no good for your health. That's why fakeaways are the tasty solution to your fast food cravings.

Deliveroo recently published the UK's top trending dishes and we are going to show you exactly how you can cook up your very own fakeaway versions of each dish landing in the top 10. In 9th place is a famous Korean dish - the gochujang chicken bibimbap bowl.

Ingredients (for two servings)

For the Gochujang Chicken:

• 2 chicken breasts (approximately 400g), thinly sliced
• 2 tbsp gochujang (Korean chilli paste)
  
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
  
• 1 tbsp honey or sugar
  
• 1 tbsp sesame oil
  
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
  
• 1 tsp ginger, grated
  

For the Bowl:

• 150g rice (short-grain or sushi rice preferred)
• 1 carrot, julienned
  
• 1 cucumber, julienned
  
• 100g spinach, blanched and squeezed dry
  
• 1 small zucchini, julienned and lightly sautéed (optional)
  
• 2 eggs
  
• Sesame seeds for garnish
  
• Spring onions, chopped for garnish
  

For the Sauce:

• 2 tbsp gochujang
• 1 tbsp sesame oil
  
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
  
• 1 tbsp honey or sugar
  
• 1 tbsp water
  
• 1 tsp rice vinegar
  

Method

1. Marinate the Chicken:

• In a bowl, mix together the gochujang, soy sauce, honey, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger. Add the chicken slices and marinate for at least 30 minutes, or overnight for more flavour.

2. Cook the Rice:

• Rinse the rice under cold water until the water runs clear. Cook according to package instructions. Keep warm.

3. Prepare the Vegetables:

• Julienne the carrot and cucumber. Lightly sauté the zucchini if using. Blanch the spinach in boiling water for 1 minute, then cool under cold water and squeeze out excess moisture.

4. Cook the Chicken:

• Heat a pan over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until it's fully cooked and the sauce has reduced, about 7-10 minutes.

5. Fry the Eggs:

• In a separate pan, fry two eggs to your liking. A runny yolk is traditional for bibimbap.

6. Make the Sauce:

• Mix together all the sauce ingredients in a small bowl. Adjust to taste if needed.

7. Assemble the Bibimbap:

• Divide the cooked rice between two bowls. Arrange the chicken, carrot, cucumber, spinach, and zucchini (if using) on top of the rice.
• Place a fried egg on top of each bowl. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and chopped spring onions.
  
• Serve with the sauce on the side and enjoy!
  

Approximate cost & savings
As of Feb 2024

Wagamama chicken gochujang rice bowl - £14.00 for one serving

Fakeaway gochujang chicken bibimbap bowl - £11.74 for two servings (£5.87 for one serving)

• Chicken Breasts (400g): £3.00 - £4.00
• Gochujang (200g jar, using 4 tbsp): £2.50 for a jar (you'll use about 1/4, so approx. £0.63)
  
• Soy Sauce (150ml, using 2 tbsp): £1.50 for a bottle (minimal cost per use, approx. £0.10)
  
• Honey (340g, using 2 tbsp): £1.80 for a jar (minimal cost per use, approx. £0.20)
  
• Sesame Oil (250ml, using 2 tbsp): £2.50 for a bottle (minimal cost per use, approx. £0.20)
  
• Garlic (bulb, using 2 cloves): £0.30 per bulb (minimal cost per use, approx. £0.05)
  
• Ginger (100g, using 1 tsp): £0.80 for 100g (minimal cost per use, approx. £0.08)
  
• Rice (1kg, using 150g): £1.50 for a bag (approx. £0.23)
  
• Carrot (each): £0.10
  
• Cucumber (each, using half): £0.50 (approx. £0.25)
  
• Spinach (200g, using half): £1.50 for a bag (approx. £0.75)
  
• Zucchini (each, optional, using half): £0.60 (approx. £0.30)
  
• Eggs (6 pack, using 2): £1.20 for a pack (approx. £0.40)
  
• Sesame Seeds (100g, minimal use): £1.00 for a bag (minimal cost per use, approx. £0.05)
  
• Spring Onions (bunch): £0.55
  

Total estimated savings: £8.13 (for one serving)

This is an approximate cost breakdown based on generic supermarket prices in the UK. Prices can vary based on the store, brand, and quality of ingredients. Keep in mind that prices can fluctuate and specials or bulk purchases can reduce costs.

A dish that looks fancy on the surface, but is actually really easy to make! Keep checking back for more recipes that recreate your favourite takeaways.