Food for New Mothers and New Babies: For the first three weeks after childbirth, mothers in Korea drink seaweed soup (miyuk gook). When I gave birth to my first child, my mother-in-law came to the hospital to visit me carrying a thermos filled with miyuk gook.
The Ultimate Health Food: Koreans believe that seaweed helps produce [...]
Chusok: An Overview
The Korean Harvest Moon Festival called “Chusok” is over 2,000 years old, but it is now also sometimes referred to as “Korean Thanksgiving” because it is the traditional time for Koreans to thank their ancestors for the year’s harvest. A three-day celebration that falls on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month, [...]
Whether you call them kimbap, sushi rolls, or maki, rice wrapped in seaweed makes for a gorgeous presentation. At its most basic, the black and white cut cross-sections are stunning on their own. But its the addition of color that can make your “kimbap cake” or “sushi cake” come alive. If you want to just [...]
Koreans like to eat rice cooked with different beans and mixed with a variety of vegetables, but kongnamul bab is a personal favorite of mine. We only had it at special meals growing up, so I still get really excited to eat it, whether it’s being served to me or I’ve made it with some [...]
Kimchi Fried Rice (Bokumbap) is humble food that is mostly enjoyed at home, but you might also see it in some casual Korean eateries. At home, it’s a great way to use leftover kimchi that’s a bit past its prime. I almost always make it if we have leftover rice and/or kimchi, and usually use [...]
This light, nutty tea is served year-round with Korean food. Healthy and mild, it can be served hot, warm, or cold.
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients:
2 Tbsp roasted barley*
8 cups water
Preparation:
In a small pot, bring barley and water to a boil.
Overview:
Soju, a clear distilled liquor made from rice, is the most popular alcoholic drink in Korea. Most bottles of soju will fall in the range of 20-40% alcohol (40-80 proof).
The Taste:
Soju has a clean, neutral taste that makes it a good accompaniment to Korean food or Korean snacks. People often say that the taste reminds [...]
A yogurt cocktail might sound crazy if you’re new to soju, but yogurt soju is popular in Korea and all over Asia. Both yogurt and soju go well with the fiery aspects of Korean cuisine, so it makes sense that they’d be mixed by Koreans. But be careful, as the most common complaint about yogurt [...]
This sour soju shooter is simple and not overly sweet or tart. I used a sour granny apple schnapps to mix the version in the photo, but it’s easy to make with almost any sour schnapps or your own homemade sour mix.
Ingredients:
Soju
Sour Schnapps
Preparation:
Pour 3 parts soju to 1 part sour schnapps into shot glass.
Drink and [...]
This refreshing apple soju cocktail is simple to mix for even the sloppiest bartender. Light and smooth, you can serve it in a martini glass with apple slices as garnish. If you want to do it up like a Korean bar, hollow out an apple to use as a cocktail glass.
Prep Time: 3 minutes
Ingredients:
Soju
Seltzer
Apple Juice
Preparation:
Using [...]