Friday, January 29, 2010
KOREAN FOOD - KIND OF FOOD
Visitors to Korea will discover a wide array of unique and delicious Korean food.
Korea was once a primarily agricultural nation, and since ancient times rice has been cultivated as Koreans' staple food. These days Korean food also contains a large variety of meat and fish dishes along with wild greens and vegetables. Various preserved Korean food, such as kimchi (fermented spicy cabbage), jeotgal (seafood fermented in salt) and doenjang (fermented soy bean paste) are particularly popular due to their distinctive flavor and high nutritional value.
In Korean food all the dishes are served at the same time. A typical meal normally includes rice, soup, and several side dishes, the number of which vary. Traditionally, lower classes had three side dishes, while royal families would have twelve.
In Korea, like in neighboring China and Japan, people eat with chopsticks. However, a spoon is used more often in Korea, especially when soups are served. Formal rules have developed for table setting, which can vary depending on whether a noodle or meat dish is served.
Food is a very important part of Korea culture, and Koreans pay great attention to the way in which food is served.
Different Kinds of Traditional Korean Food
1. Bap (steamed rice) and Juk (porridge)
Boiled rice is the staple food for Koreans, it is eaten with almost every meal. In Korea people eat short-grained rice, as apposed to the long- grained Indian rice. Korean rice is often sticky in texture, and sometimes it is combined with beans, chestnuts, sorghum, red beans, barley or other cereals for added flavor and nutrition. Juk (porridge) is a light meal, which is highly nutritious. Juk is often made with rice, to which abalone, ginseng, pine nuts, vegetables, chicken, or bean sprouts can be added. As well as rice porridge, red bean porridge and pumpkin porridge are also delicious.
2. Guk (soup)
Korean meals traditionally consist of a soup served with rice. The soup can be made from vegetables, meat, fish, shellfish, seaweed, or beef bones.
3. Jjigae (stew)
Jjigae is similar to guk but is thicker and has a stronger taste. The most famous jjigae (doenjang-jjigae )is made from preserved soy bean paste. Jjigae is usually spicy and served piping hot in a heated stone bowl.
4. Jjim and Jorim (simmered meat or fish)
Jjim and jorim are similar dishes. Meat and fish are prepared with vegetables and soaked in soy bean sauce. The ingredients are then slowly boiled over a low heat.
5. Namul (vegetables or wild greens)
Namul consists of vegetables of wild greens, which have been slightly boiled or fried, and mixed with salt, soy sauce, sesame salt, sesame oil, garlic, onions, and other spices.
6. Jeotgal (seafood fermented in salt)
Jeotgal is a very salty food made from naturally preserved fish, shellfish, shrimp, oysters, fish roe, intestines and other ingredients.
7. Gui (broiled/barbecued dishes)
Gui is when marinated fish or meat are barbecued over a charcoal fire. The most popular gui dishes are meats, such as bulgogi and galbi, however, there are also many fish dishes which are cooked this way.
8. Jeon (pan-fried dishes)
Jeon is a kind of Korean pancake. Mushrooms, pumpkin, slices of dried fish, oysters, unripened red peppers, meat, or other ingredients are mixed with salt and black pepper, dipped in flour and egg and then fried in oil.
9. Mandu (dumpling)
Mandu are Korean dumplings, which are stuffed with beef, mushrooms, stir-fried zucchini, and mungbean sprouts. Pork, chicken, fish or kimchi are sometimes used instead of beef.
Korea was once a primarily agricultural nation, and since ancient times rice has been cultivated as Koreans' staple food. These days Korean food also contains a large variety of meat and fish dishes along with wild greens and vegetables. Various preserved Korean food, such as kimchi (fermented spicy cabbage), jeotgal (seafood fermented in salt) and doenjang (fermented soy bean paste) are particularly popular due to their distinctive flavor and high nutritional value.
In Korean food all the dishes are served at the same time. A typical meal normally includes rice, soup, and several side dishes, the number of which vary. Traditionally, lower classes had three side dishes, while royal families would have twelve.
In Korea, like in neighboring China and Japan, people eat with chopsticks. However, a spoon is used more often in Korea, especially when soups are served. Formal rules have developed for table setting, which can vary depending on whether a noodle or meat dish is served.
Food is a very important part of Korea culture, and Koreans pay great attention to the way in which food is served.
Different Kinds of Traditional Korean Food
1. Bap (steamed rice) and Juk (porridge)
Boiled rice is the staple food for Koreans, it is eaten with almost every meal. In Korea people eat short-grained rice, as apposed to the long- grained Indian rice. Korean rice is often sticky in texture, and sometimes it is combined with beans, chestnuts, sorghum, red beans, barley or other cereals for added flavor and nutrition. Juk (porridge) is a light meal, which is highly nutritious. Juk is often made with rice, to which abalone, ginseng, pine nuts, vegetables, chicken, or bean sprouts can be added. As well as rice porridge, red bean porridge and pumpkin porridge are also delicious.
2. Guk (soup)
Korean meals traditionally consist of a soup served with rice. The soup can be made from vegetables, meat, fish, shellfish, seaweed, or beef bones.
3. Jjigae (stew)
Jjigae is similar to guk but is thicker and has a stronger taste. The most famous jjigae (doenjang-jjigae )is made from preserved soy bean paste. Jjigae is usually spicy and served piping hot in a heated stone bowl.
4. Jjim and Jorim (simmered meat or fish)
Jjim and jorim are similar dishes. Meat and fish are prepared with vegetables and soaked in soy bean sauce. The ingredients are then slowly boiled over a low heat.
5. Namul (vegetables or wild greens)
Namul consists of vegetables of wild greens, which have been slightly boiled or fried, and mixed with salt, soy sauce, sesame salt, sesame oil, garlic, onions, and other spices.
6. Jeotgal (seafood fermented in salt)
Jeotgal is a very salty food made from naturally preserved fish, shellfish, shrimp, oysters, fish roe, intestines and other ingredients.
7. Gui (broiled/barbecued dishes)
Gui is when marinated fish or meat are barbecued over a charcoal fire. The most popular gui dishes are meats, such as bulgogi and galbi, however, there are also many fish dishes which are cooked this way.
8. Jeon (pan-fried dishes)
Jeon is a kind of Korean pancake. Mushrooms, pumpkin, slices of dried fish, oysters, unripened red peppers, meat, or other ingredients are mixed with salt and black pepper, dipped in flour and egg and then fried in oil.
9. Mandu (dumpling)
Mandu are Korean dumplings, which are stuffed with beef, mushrooms, stir-fried zucchini, and mungbean sprouts. Pork, chicken, fish or kimchi are sometimes used instead of beef.
KOREAN FOOD - SNACKS
Korea is considered paradise when it comes to food. You can find everything from Korean, Western, Chinese, and of course such fast food restaurants like McDonald's and Burger King to foreign restaurant chains like Bennigan's and Outback Steak House. Among these choices the most reasonably priced food can be found at street vendors. Korea is unique in that not only does it have street carts to buy food from, but at night the streets are transformed with small tents that pop-up selling reasonably priced food and alcohol. At street carts, you can choose to eat standing beside the cart or have your food wrapped-up to bring home. Most Korean people consider the food sold here as a snack and do not usually eat it as a main meal. Many street vendors can be found near Sinchon, E-dae, Hongdae, and near many other university areas, as well as in the popular shopping districts of Apgujeong, Jongno, Myeong-dong, and Gangnam Station. Seasons also have unique specialties; bingsu is a refreshing iced treat in the summer whereas warm soup, gimbap, hotteok and bungeo-ppang are enjoyed in the fall and winter.
김밥 (Gimbap)
Cooked rice is slightly seasoned with sesame oil, salt, and sesame seeds. Then it is placed on a sheet of dried laver.
Strips of ham, pickled radish, seasoned
spinach, and egg are then placed close together on the rice;
it is then carefully rolled together until the roll is evenly shaped. The street vendors usually sell a mini-roll.
Taste:
Price: 1,500 - 4,000 won per roll
부침개 / 전 (Buchimgae/Jeon)
Kimchi or seafood is stirred in a flour mixture, and then pan-fried in oil. Depending on the ingredients of choice, some types of buchimgae include kimchi-jeon and seafood-jeon.
Taste: Kimchi-jeon -
Price: 3,000 - 5,000 won per dish
떡볶이 (Tteokbokki)
Rice powder is steamed and made into a long cylinder-shaped rice cake called garaetteok. It is cut into finger size pieces and cooked in a spicy and sweet sauce. Meat, vegetables or ramyeon can be added depending on different tastes. Tteokbokki, along with gimbap and odaeng (skewered fish cake), is one of the most common foods sold by street vendors.
Taste: (depending on place)
Price: 2,000 - 4,000 won per person
순대 (Sundae)
This is a traditional sausage made of pig intestines stuffed with a mixture of bean curd, vegetables and potato noodles.
Taste: (depending on place)
Price: 2,000 - 4,000 won per person
어묵 (Eomuk)
This is usually referred to as odaeng. Odaeng is a kind of fish cake. It is made of ground fish. This fish cake is skewered and soaked in boiling water along with radish and green onions. This popular dish is especially loved during the cold winter months.
Taste:
Price: 500 - 1,000 won for one skewer
튀김 (Twigim)
This crispy fried treat is made in the same style as Japanese Tempura. Squid, dumplings, sweet potatoes, imitation crab, and assorted vegetables are among some of the most popular varieties of twigim that are served up on the street.
Taste: oily
Price: 2,000 - 3,500 won for 4-6 pieces
붕어빵/국화빵/계란빵
(Bungeo-ppang/ Gukhwa-ppang/ Gyeran-ppang)
Bungeo-ppang gets its name from its fish-like shape. This sweet snack is molded in the shape of a carp, which is called bungeo in Korean. A pancake batter-like shell is filled with red-bean paste and then baked; it is especially enjoyed in the winter. Gukhwa-ppang is shaped like a flower and is slightly smaller than that of the similar tasting bungeo-ppang. Gyeran-ppang is also made of a pancake batter-like shell, but this is filled with an egg instead of the red bean filling.
Taste: sweet
Price: 500 - 1,000 won per piece
호떡 (Hotteok)
Flour and sugar are kneaded together and shaped into a small ball. Vegetables are sometimes added to the batter. Sugar and cinnamon are usually the staple fillings.
Taste: sweet
Price: 500 - 1,000 won per piece
쥐포, 마른 오징어 (Jwipo/ Dried Squid)
Jwipo is a type of dried fish. At street carts, jwipo and dried squid are roasted over a bed of pebbles.
Taste:
Price: depending on size and taste, average prices range from 1,500 - 3,500 won and upwards one piece.
와플 (Waffle)
Like Europe and America, Korea has also begun to enjoy the taste of the waffle. Waffles are usually topped with honey or apple jam and butter.
Taste:
Price: 1,000 - 3,500 won per piece
닭꼬치 (Dak-kkochi)
Small pieces of chicken are skewered, coated in spicy sauce, and then grilled.
Taste:
Price: 1,500 - 2,000 won per skewer
김밥 (Gimbap)
Cooked rice is slightly seasoned with sesame oil, salt, and sesame seeds. Then it is placed on a sheet of dried laver.
Strips of ham, pickled radish, seasoned
spinach, and egg are then placed close together on the rice;
it is then carefully rolled together until the roll is evenly shaped. The street vendors usually sell a mini-roll.
Taste:
Price: 1,500 - 4,000 won per roll
부침개 / 전 (Buchimgae/Jeon)
Kimchi or seafood is stirred in a flour mixture, and then pan-fried in oil. Depending on the ingredients of choice, some types of buchimgae include kimchi-jeon and seafood-jeon.
Taste: Kimchi-jeon -
Price: 3,000 - 5,000 won per dish
떡볶이 (Tteokbokki)
Rice powder is steamed and made into a long cylinder-shaped rice cake called garaetteok. It is cut into finger size pieces and cooked in a spicy and sweet sauce. Meat, vegetables or ramyeon can be added depending on different tastes. Tteokbokki, along with gimbap and odaeng (skewered fish cake), is one of the most common foods sold by street vendors.
Taste: (depending on place)
Price: 2,000 - 4,000 won per person
순대 (Sundae)
This is a traditional sausage made of pig intestines stuffed with a mixture of bean curd, vegetables and potato noodles.
Taste: (depending on place)
Price: 2,000 - 4,000 won per person
어묵 (Eomuk)
This is usually referred to as odaeng. Odaeng is a kind of fish cake. It is made of ground fish. This fish cake is skewered and soaked in boiling water along with radish and green onions. This popular dish is especially loved during the cold winter months.
Taste:
Price: 500 - 1,000 won for one skewer
튀김 (Twigim)
This crispy fried treat is made in the same style as Japanese Tempura. Squid, dumplings, sweet potatoes, imitation crab, and assorted vegetables are among some of the most popular varieties of twigim that are served up on the street.
Taste: oily
Price: 2,000 - 3,500 won for 4-6 pieces
붕어빵/국화빵/계란빵
(Bungeo-ppang/ Gukhwa-ppang/ Gyeran-ppang)
Bungeo-ppang gets its name from its fish-like shape. This sweet snack is molded in the shape of a carp, which is called bungeo in Korean. A pancake batter-like shell is filled with red-bean paste and then baked; it is especially enjoyed in the winter. Gukhwa-ppang is shaped like a flower and is slightly smaller than that of the similar tasting bungeo-ppang. Gyeran-ppang is also made of a pancake batter-like shell, but this is filled with an egg instead of the red bean filling.
Taste: sweet
Price: 500 - 1,000 won per piece
호떡 (Hotteok)
Flour and sugar are kneaded together and shaped into a small ball. Vegetables are sometimes added to the batter. Sugar and cinnamon are usually the staple fillings.
Taste: sweet
Price: 500 - 1,000 won per piece
쥐포, 마른 오징어 (Jwipo/ Dried Squid)
Jwipo is a type of dried fish. At street carts, jwipo and dried squid are roasted over a bed of pebbles.
Taste:
Price: depending on size and taste, average prices range from 1,500 - 3,500 won and upwards one piece.
와플 (Waffle)
Like Europe and America, Korea has also begun to enjoy the taste of the waffle. Waffles are usually topped with honey or apple jam and butter.
Taste:
Price: 1,000 - 3,500 won per piece
닭꼬치 (Dak-kkochi)
Small pieces of chicken are skewered, coated in spicy sauce, and then grilled.
Taste:
Price: 1,500 - 2,000 won per skewer
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