Traveling also means eating – if not drinking – and tasting all those local delicacies that sometimes take us far from our culinary habits and “traditions”. Another world and other tastes to discover. Because after all, sometimes adventure happens at the bottom of the plate.
So we set out for the Far East and South Korea For the discovery of its gastronomy.
A cuisine that loves spices and sauces
For many Europeans, Far Eastern cuisine is truly synonymous with “another world”. There is no reason why the same cannot be true for South Korea.
This is a rich and diverse cuisine that, as often happens, reflects the history and culture of the country with the different influences that the country has experienced over the centuries.
It is characterized by the use of a large number of ingredients, such as rice (the basic element), vegetables such as cabbage, onions, mushrooms or carrots, as well as, to a lesser extent, meat, fish and fruit. It is also a cuisine that loves spices. (including pepper) and sauces.
At the traditional meal level, which includes rice and soup, it is customary for the main course to be accompanied by a series of mini appetizers. banchans) is served in small cups and we drink tea.
The truth is that if we eat “home-cooked” food in restaurants or at home, we also find many street stalls in Korea that serve this famous “street food” and find fans.
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Food, dessert, drinks
dishes
– Kimchi: It is a national dish and should be served with almost all dishes. It consists of fermented, acidic and spicy cabbage (or salad).
– Bibimbap: Another national dish consisting of a mixture of rice, vegetables, meat or shrimp and topped with a fried egg.
– Banchan: indispensable, or nearly so, consisting of a series of small hors d’oeuvres that precede or accompany the main course.
– Naengmyeon: Cold noodle soup with cucumber slices and Korean pear, egg, and sometimes meat. It’s all in a broth with vinegar, hot sauce, sugar and ice cubes. It’s perfect in the summer because it’s so refreshing!
– Guk: It is a soup that can be made with seaweed, chili, soybean paste or something else.
– Jeon: This is a fried pancake served with a mixture of soy sauce and salad dressing, somewhat similar to pizza, served with a variety of toppings. Great !
– Bulgogi: It is a barbecue of thinly cut and marinated beef wrapped in salad leaves.
– Mandu: a dish consisting of steamed or fried dumplings or dumplings stuffed with meat, vegetables or tofu.
– Japchae: It is a dish consisting of noodles, some vegetables and some finely chopped beef, sprinkled with sauce and cooked in a wok pan.
– Yangnyeom chicken: You can find this in restaurants, bars and also on the street and it is delicious! Melt-in-your-mouth fried chicken with lots of spices (hot sauce, shredded cheese, coconut milk, etc.).
– Tteokbokki: A very popular street food is a cylindrical cake sautéed in soy sauce and served with spicy sauce.
– Kimbap: A type of sandwich consisting of hot rice, omelette and vegetables, all wrapped in a layer of seaweed and cut into slices. Take it away and eat it anywhere.
Desserts
Desserts are not part of traditional menus in Korea, but you can buy pastries from street stalls or bakeries. Otherwise we may occasionally test:
– Patbingsu: A mixture of crushed ice, ice cream, fruit, chocolate, oatmeal, and other unexpected ingredients like tomatoes.
Hotteok: Pancake filled with cinnamon-peanut mixture. It’s so sweet and so hot, it’s sold on the streets.
– Bungeoppang: This is another (small) fish shaped bun filled with red bean paste and served piping hot.
Beverages
– Soju: It is rice alcohol and the national drink. It is cheap and can be drunk in any situation. It can also be mixed with beer to make somaek.
– Makgeolli: Another rice alcohol obtained by fermentation and often mixed with fruit flavors.
– Also try ginseng infusion and all those sodas that are usually made from rice but actually have a slightly milky texture.
Where to eat?
Your choice: street food or restaurants.
Street food is a must-try experience in Korea. Many stands open at dusk and you can eat there or take your food with you to enjoy while you walk. Among the offerings are “specialties” such as beondegi, which are silkworm chrysalis cooked in their own juice!
When it comes to restaurants, Korean tradition often states that “every food has its place” and therefore each establishment specializes in a single type of cuisine. This means that you can sometimes have lunch in a traditional restaurant, then have dessert in a pastry shop before drinking coffee in a bar.