Undoubtedly, Korean dishes have gained quite a popularity in recent years. Due to its intense taste, rich colors, and substantial variation of components, an increasing number of people are making Korean dishes at home. The good news is you don’t have to be an expert chef to make good Korean dishes!
Here are five simple Korean recipes you can try at home, even if you are a novice in Korean cooking.
Introducing Korean Food
Before venturing any deeper into the recipes, let me give you a brief on what exactly makes Korean food stand out from the rest.
Some key features include:
- The intense and meaty flavors of the Korean red chili paste, gochujang, and the fermented soybean paste called doenjang
- For example, pairing sweet and savory meat such as bulgogi meat with caramelized vegetables is a good idea.
- Kimchi, veggies, herbs, and sesame – clear, invigorative, and pure.
- Rice and noodle-filling Recipes
- Meat, seafood, tofu and vegetables
The following recipes aim at proving that the Korean food is as diverse as it is nevertheless the ingredients used are generally available. Time to get cooking!
1. Dakgangjeong, a dish that refers to the sweet, spicy fried chicken.
Jakjae Dakgangjeong is one of the favorite Korean Fried chickens, which is crispy outside and saucy inside. This has a thick, sweet, and spicy sauce, making it a meal best served anytime one feels like they need something familiar on their plate.
Ingredients:
- Chicken pieces
- Potato starch
- Oil for frying
- Gochujang
- Soy sauce
- Honey
- Garlic
- Sesame seeds
Instructions:
1. Pat the chicken pieces with potato starch.
2. Deep fry chicken pieces in oil for about 5 minutes until they turn crispy.
3. Prepare sauce by mixing gochujang, soy sauce, honey, minced garlic and some water.
4. Check that all portions have been sufficiently covered in sauce, and then flip the fried chicken into the sauce.
5. Serve garnished with sesame seeds.
Follow our easy recipe, which takes fewer ingredients and time: not more than 30 minutes and you will get sweet and spicy dakgangjeong.
2. Japchae translated means Korean Glass Noodles.
If meat is not okay, then japchae is one of the best Korean noodle dishes made from sweet potato glass noodles, protein, and veggies. The texture of the noodles is a little slippery and slightly hard, which best compliments the caramelized meat and vegetables.
Ingredients:
- Carrots
- Onions
- Spinach
- Beef or chicken
- Soy sauce
- Sesame oil
- Sugar
Instructions:
1. Noodles should be softened by soaking and then drained.
2. Carrots, onions, spinach and proteins should be stir fried.
3. Add noodles and add soy sauce, sesame oil and sugar.
4. Stir fry everything for 2-3 minutes for the noodles to be cooked.
Dietary fiber can be increased by on averting the use of the meat; Make it veggie, simply remove the meat! This is one of those light meals that you can prepare and finish within 30 minutes.
3. Tteokbokki – Rice Cake Snack in Spicy sauce
Having soft rice cake covered in the spicy, sweet-n-salted sauce, tteokbokki is the Korean favorite street food. Making the rice cakes from scratch is not easy but it has become more accessible of late thanks to manufacturers who make ready made rice cakes.
Ingredients:
- Rice cakes
- Fish cakes
- Gochujang
- Soy sauce
- Sugar
- Onion, leek
- Cheese (optional topping)
Instructions:
1. Stir fry the rice and fish cakes with the veggies and gochujang sauce.
2. Seasoning: Add soy sauce, sugar and soup stock into the pot to preferred taste.
3. Top with chopped scallions before serving and sprinkle with cheese.
This a quick one-pot meal to highlight the fact that this meal is on your table faster than waiting for take out.
4. Kimchi Buchimgae – Kimchi Pancake
Kimchi buchimgae or jeon, crispy, savory pancakes, are a snap to make and served as a side dish, a snack, or a light meal. This simple batter takes only a few minutes to make and the spicy kick comes from the kimchi.
Ingredients:
- Kimchi
- Flour
- Egg
- Water/milk
- Green onion
- Oil
Instructions:
1. For simple batter, use flour, egg, and water/milk mixed together.
2. Then add in chopped kimchi and green onions.
3. Drop spoonfuls of batters in a pan with oil and cook until golden brown.
Savor it alone or with a fried egg on top of the pancakes!
5. Yachae Mari – The classic is a veggie roll omelette.
Try this vegetable laden omelette known as yachae mari or mari gochujang for a quick vegetarian bite. Stuffed with kimchi and other vegetables it forms a roll which is sliced for eating sake or as a snack.
Ingredients:
- Eggs
- Kimchi
- Assorted veggies
- Green onion
Instructions:
1. Whisk eggs and then make a very thin omelette with this egg liquid.
2. Place half of the omelette over the kimchi, veggies and green onions.
3. Roll up tightly in log shape.
4. After preparing the slices of rolled omelette the dish should be portioned and served in bite size portions.
You can add more sesame oil or gochujang if you’d like some extra flavor.
Enjoy your kitchen journey with these 5 accessible Korean favourites! One can experiment with aspects of Korea at virtually any meal – as a crispy coating on fried chicken, in noodles stir fries, as a snack to go with soju and beer, and in vegetable egg rolls. Remember, the base of the protein, veggies, and spices is always adjustable so try several times until the amount of sweetness, spiciness, and savory taste satisfies you. So go and whip up a Korean storm and enjoy your meal!
Comments