The mere mention of Korean food and the first thing that comes to mind is kimchi – the spicy red-tinged fermented vegetable dish. It is as distinctly Korean as hamburger is American, and pasta Italian. But like every other country, while a hint or more of spice is vital to Korean food recipes, there is so much more to their cuisine than just kimchi.
A lot of the food consumed by present-day Koreans came from the cuisine and customs of the royal court. Korean food is one of the healthiest cuisines because it is vegetable-based and meats are cooked without a lot of oil. A full meal is balanced, considering spiciness, texture, temperature, and careful presentation.
A complete Korean meal is called Hanjoungshik and is composed of fish, steamed ribs, and other meat and vegetable dishes, rice, soup, and of course, kimchi. There is also twoenjang-guk, a fermented soybean paste soup with clams. There are many banchan or side dishes which are shared, and each side dish must complement the others. Usual side dishes are steamed vegetables, kimchi, beef, fish, and bean taste soup.
You can see the richness and diversity of Korean recipes during gatherings and special occasions, because various dishes are cooked in many different ways. Some are stewed, pan-fried, fermented, simmered, steamed, or eaten raw. But the one dish that must always be present is kimchi.
Kimchi is known for its spicy tangy crunch, and is considered a digestive aid and appetite stimulant. It can be seasoned with pepper, garlic, radish, green onions, ginger, and other ingredients. But red chilli pepper flakes is what gives it its red coloring and makes it hot and spicy. Served during every Korean meal, it is said to be good in Vitamin C and fiber. There are more than 100 varieties of kimchi, the most popular of which is the baechu or napa cabbage variety.
If you want to try Korean dishes but are not into spicy food, don’t worry. Korean food recipes also include meat dishes and these are usually eaten with vegetables or beans. The most popular of these is the samgyeopsal – thinly-sliced pork belly meat that resembles bacon. You can also try their bulgogi or marinated barbecued beef, and the galbi – grilled beef ribs wrapped in lettuce and doused with chilli, soybean paste and garlic.
Soup is made from vegetables and meat or seafood, and would bring relief and warm a person during cold weather. Maeuntang is composed of white fish, vegetables, soybean curd, and of course red pepper powder to make the soup spicy.
Korean cuisine is based on practical and healthy living, but Koreans make sure their food is always still delicious. So if you are on the lookout for a healthy alternative to your usual diet, try some Korean food. You might just find yourself loving it.