Samgyetang is a flavorful soup from South Korea, consisting of a whole young chicken cooked with ginseng, garlic, and rice. In Korea, ginseng is revered for its medicinal properties, as it lowers blood sugar and boosts the body's immune system and stamina, making samgyetang an ideal soup for hot summer days, when people fall into nutrition deficiency due to excessive sweating and loss of appetite.
The flavors of the soup are somewhat milder than other Korean and Chinese herbal medicinal soups, and the key to its popularity during the summer may also be in its price, as it is generally pretty inexpensive. If consumed in a restaurant, there will often be a small bottle of insangju ginseng alcohol served on the side, believed to boost physical and sexual stamina.
MOST ICONIC Samgyetang
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Galbi or kalbi refers to a variety of grilled beef short ribs dishes popular in South Korea. The ribs are marinated in a sweet sauce consisting of soy sauce, sugar, rice wine, sesame oil, and garlic. Although the name of the dish translates to ribs, chicken or pork meat can also be used.
The dish originates from 18th-century Korea, when killing cows was strictly forbidden. As workers were building the Hwa Castle, they needed to be well-fed, so King Jeongjo allowed the opening of only one slaughterhouse in the whole country to process beef and feed the hungry workers.
VARIATIONS OF Galbi
MOST ICONIC Galbi
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Kimchi jjigae is a flavorful Korean stew that employs kimchi as its base ingredient. Other elements usually include diced tofu, pork, or seafood, along with scallions and other vegetables such as potatoes or zucchinis. Kimchi stew is one of the most common dishes enjoyed in South Korea, and it is traditionally served as a communal meal, and should always be piping hot.
The dish is best prepared with older kimchi since it tends to impart more flavor to the stew. Kimchi jjigae is usually served with rice on the side, as well as other traditional Koran sides (banchan).
MOST ICONIC Kimchi jjigae
View moreKalguksu is a favorite summertime dish of many South Koreans, usually served during rainy seasons and on windy summer days. It consists of handmade wheat flour and egg noodles in a broth that is usually made with shellfish, dried anchovies, and kelp.
The noodles are cut with a knife, giving the dish its name, kalguksu, which literally means knife noodles. Although seafood kalguksu is the most popular variety, there are other versions of kalguksu such as spicy (jjanppong kalguksu), chicken (dak kalguksu), and mushroom kalguksu (beodeot kalguksu).
MOST ICONIC Kalguksu
Kongguksu is a Korean summer classic that combines noodles and a cold, soy milk broth. Traditionally, the broth is made from scratch by cooking and puréeing soybeans, occasionally with the addition of sesame seeds or different nuts. The dish is usually prepared with somyeon noodles, and it is finished off with the addition of different toppings such as finely sliced cucumbers or tomatoes.
Occasionally, ice cubes can be added to chill the soup.
MOST ICONIC Kongguksu
Often referred to as Korean sushi, gimbap is a Korean dish consisting of seaweed (gim), seasoned rice (bap), and other, optional ingredients that are usually rolled, sliced, and served. Almost anything can be added to the roll, but the most common ingredients are fishcakes, meat, spinach, eggs, and cucumbers.
There are several theories about the origin of gimbap. Many believe that it is a Korean take on Japanese sushi. Others say that it is a variation of gimssam, a wrap consisting of rice and seaweed. Regardless of the origins, gimbap remains one of the most popular Korean dishes.
VARIATIONS OF Gimbap
MOST ICONIC Gimbap
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Dak galbi is the South Korean variety of stir-fried chicken. It is a communal dish that's cooked tableside, on large cast iron skillets. Typical elements in dak galbi include various chicken cuts, cabbage, tteok rice cakes, carrots, chili peppers, and sweet potatoes.
When served in restaurants, the server will bring all the ingredients and cook the dish for the guests. Occasionally, perilla leaves are incorporated into dak galbi, but the final addition is always a generous amount of spicy sauce made with spicy chili paste, chili flakes, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and onions.
MOST ICONIC Dak Galbi
It's hard to say which is better: the succulent meat or spicy side dishes that define bulgogi, the Asian barbecue style in which thin slices of marinated meat are quickly cooked over high heat on top of a perforated, round metal plate that covers the grill's piping hot coals.
The name of the dish stems from bool and kogi, Korean words denoting fire and meat. The earliest form of the dish originates from the Goguryeo period, when the meat was marinated before grilling, unlike the standard Chinese practice of seasoning the meat after it has been grilled.
MOST ICONIC Bulgogi
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Jeon, also known as Korean pancakes, represents a number of pancake-like dishes in Korean cuisine that are often served as appetizers, side dishes, or consumed as snacks. Although jeon are typically prepared in savory versions, there are also some sweet varieties of these flavorful pancakes.
At their simplest, it is food that is first coated in flour and eggs, then pan-fried in oil. Jeon incorporates ingredients such as thinly sliced meat, poultry, seafood, and various vegetables. The pancakes are traditionally prepared every year during the Korean Lunar New Year and Korean Harvest Festival, although they are eaten daily throughout the year.
VARIATIONS OF Jeon
MOST ICONIC Jeon
View moreSamgyeopsal is a South Korean delicacy consisting only of pork belly, the most expensive cut of pork in the country. It is so popular in South Korea that the residents eat it approximately once every four days. The name of the dish consists of three words: sam (three), gyeop (layered), and sal (meat), so it can be literally translated as three-layered meat, referring to the three visible layers of the meat.
It is believed that the dish became popular in the 1960s, when the price of soju decreased and people needed a dish to go with it, so they chose pork belly due to its low price at the time. Whether at home or in restaurants, samgyeopsal is traditionally cooked at the table in a special pan which is designed to let the fat run off the sides of it.
MOST ICONIC Samgyeopsal
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