Throughout the Asian continent we can find a variety of cultures, which bring with them thousands of flavors and culinary techniques, each with its particular characteristics. One of the most prominent is the korean cuisinewhose interesting Dishes are the product of thousands of years of history.
The truth is that the typical korean cuisine dishes They have left their mark and continue to this day. In fact, it is more and more common to find restaurants specializing in Corean Food all over the world.
So if you are interested in Asian gastronomy, today we are going to present you some typical south korean dishes that you cannot miss. Join us and fall in love with Korea through its best recipes.
South Korean cuisine
South Korean cuisine has developed over time and due to various political and cultural situations that have affected it throughout its history. And so on until evolving to the extensive modern south korean cuisine.
This is characterized by being very healthy and balanced without losing its traditionality. Well, it derives directly from ancient agricultural customs of the nomadic cultures of that part of the world.
It is also characterized by the use of very varied garnishes, mainly made from various previously fermented vegetables. This to accompany their very balanced dishes, which usually make use of rice, along with various types of vegetables and various meats.
Best typical dishes of South Korea
The time has come for you to discover the delicacies of the typical south korean food with the following list of its typical dishes.
kimbap
A great example of the influence that Japan left at the beginning of the last century in Korea is the Kimbap. Since this is a Korean version of Japanese maki sushi, it consists of the same thing, stuffed rice rolled up with a seaweed called kim.
The differences between the two are very few, but some can be highlighted, such as the fact that kimbap rice is cooked with sesame oil. And also that this dish is always served with a pickled radish called danmuji.
bibimbap
Between the typical korean dishes the bibimnap stands out. Without a doubt, this dish is an emblem of that culture, as it is recognized not only in Korea, but in many parts of the world. And that really, it is not a complex dish, neither in terms of preparation nor in flavor.
The bibimbap is just a rice dish, which is mixed with various ingredients. Mainly with vegetables and meat, although eggs and seaweed are also often added. The result is a very tasty dish that is valued by Koreans.
Samgyeopsal or Korean BBQ
The truth is that with this dish you will not only enjoy the food, but also the experience of consuming it. This is because Samgyeopsal is usually served accompanied by friends or family, They sit around a table that includes a grill in the center.
And that grill is the essence of this dish, well everyone chooses the meat or vegetables to put in it to be cooked and then consumed. It is also accompanied by rice or noodles and the typical side dishes that are never lacking on the table.
Gomtan
It is a well-known soup throughout Korea, which is also a great example to avoid wasting food, because in it all parts of the beef are used. This soup has its origin in the Korean fields, where they tried to take advantage of absolutely everything they could from the cattle.
the current plate consists of using the bones and cartilage, which are boiled to remove the tissues and fat to make a gelatinous soup. This preparation is only seasoned with salt, and is highly appreciated for its high nutritional value.
Pajeon
The pajeon, is in a few words the Korean omelette, a salty pancake made from flour and egg. This dish can be served with different accompaniments and is quite well known, especially in the country’s capital, where the most famous is haemulpajeon.
The variety of the haemulpajeon is that this is accompanied by seafood, although there are hundreds of ways to serve and prepare it. But in conclusion, pajeon is one of the main dishes that you must try if you go to Korea.
Tteokbokki
This little snack is incredibly popular, and in South Korea you can find it everywhere. From a street stall, to a store. The curious thing about this preparation is that formerly it was only served to members of the court.
They are made from rice flour, and are cooked in a typical Korean hot sauce called gochujang with a little sugar. Every good Korean, he is always willing to eat a tteokbokki, accompanied by some delicious seafood.
yugwa
In Korea, to refer to sweets and candies, they use the word “hangwa”, and one of the most prominent hangwa is the yugwa. It’s about a small cake that sweetens the day to day of many inhabitants from South Korea.
They are handmade cakes rice flour base, which is prepared and kneaded with oil and honey, to later give them their peculiar shape. They are then passed through oil and finally baked. They are usually consumed accompanied by a good cup of tea or any other drink.
Galbitang
This dish, without a doubt, is one of the most traditional in Korea that you can find, because has been prepared for more than 800 years. Initially, when Galbitang began to be prepared, beef was too expensive, so it was only prepared in special situations.
But at present, this beef rib soup with an intense flavorIt can be eaten at any restaurant. And it forms an important part of Korean culture.
naengmyeon
It may sound strange to think of a cold soup, but when you get used to the idea, you will surely fall in love with this dish. the naengmyeon It is a very spicy and tasty soup that is served quite cold.
This soup is made with many vegetables and ingredients, but it mainly contains radish, Korean pear, egg, cucumber and small pieces of meat. Usually, the person who orders it adds vinegar to taste, to intensify its flavor.
jajangmyeon
East typical south korean dish, with such a succulent appearance, it is a true delight that just seeing it makes you want to eat it. In addition, it is one of the best known in this culture and derives from zha jiang mian, which is a similar Chinese dish.
The Jajangmyeon consists of thick wheat noodles that are covered with a black sauce made from black beans and soybeans, called chunjang. It also has vegetables and meat chopped into small pieces, although in some places in Korea seafood is added.
Eomuk
If something abounds between typical south korean food, are the maritime ingredients, mainly represented with shellfish and algae. Fish is also widely used, an example is eomuk tang, or jeongol eomuk.
It’s a typical korean dish that reigns in the streets, since it is one of the street foods that is sold the most in the Asian country. If you are a fish lover, when you try Korean eomuk, you will love it even more.
bulgogi
Bulgogi is another korean barbecue, only in this case the beef is sliced into strips. They are then marinated in sesame oil, garlic and soy sauce. It is usually accompanied with various vegetables and of course the inevitable rice.
Also it is customary to serve it on a bed of lettuce leaves to eat it by hand. Without a doubt, a fairly simple dish, but delicious.
Hotteok
Another well-known dish in Korea, and one that has delighted everyone who has tried it, is hotteok. This rich and sweet dish consists of some Sweet Korean pancakes that are quite simple.
They are prepared with wheat flour, eggs, milk, yeast and, obviously, sugar, are also usually fillers. Among the fillings that are usually used are honey, walnut cream, or cream cheese. Certainly one of the typical south korean desserts that you can not miss.
Sannakji
Finally, we have the sannakji, which although it is an authentic typical Korean dish, we include it in the list more as a curiosity than as a culinary recommendation. since it is one of the most adventurous dishes in the worldwhich even the person can die ingesting.
It is a plate of octopus tentacles so fresh that they still retain their movements. And if they are not chewed properly they can cling to the diner’s throat causing suffocation. But, despite the risk involved, people who try them find it quite delicious.
The breadth of this gastronomy makes it impossible to mention all its delicious dishes, desserts, appetizers and sandwiches in a single list of typical dishes of korean cuisine. But the ones we mentioned above are the most prominent and acclaimed by consumers.
So now you know what options to order when you go to a Korean specialty restaurant, to fully enjoy this interesting culture..