With vegetables taking center stage and the reduced use of oil, Korean food is one of the healthiest on the planet! Besides veggies, Korean cuisine is largely based on steamed rice and simply-cooked meats. And obsessed with kimchi, apparently! Are you up to for exploring this amazing Asian cuisine? Here is what to stock up on:

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Vegetables: napa cabbage, Korean radish, cucumber, spinach, potato, sweet potato, bean sprouts, garlic, scallions, chili peppers, zucchini, mushrooms, seaweed, lotus root, wild greens, as well as medicinal herbs like ginseng.

napa cabbage, Korean radish, cucumber, spinach, potato, sweet potato, bean sprouts, garlic, scallions, chili peppers, zucchini, mushrooms, seaweed, lotus root, wild greens, as well as medicinal herbs like ginseng. Meat: beef, chicken, pork, seafood, fish.

beef, chicken, pork, seafood, fish. Grains and legumes: short-grain rice is the most widely used grain, whereas, when it comes to legumes, the use of soybeans and soybean products prevails, followed by mung beans and azuki beans.

short-grain rice is the most widely used grain, whereas, when it comes to legumes, the use of soybeans and soybean products prevails, followed by mung beans and azuki beans. Spices and condiments: fermented bean paste, fermented red chili paste, sesame oil, soy sauce, garlic, pepper flakes, ginger, and salt.

10 Essential Korean Food Recipes

#1 Kimchi

The fact that there are over a hundred different types of kimchi speaks best about Korean love for this food. The term ‘kimchi’ refers to fermented vegetables & vegetable dishes usually made with napa cabbage, Korean radish, or cucumber, brined in a mixture made with garlic, ginger, chili peppers, and scallions. The variations and uses of kimchi are endless. It can be served as a side dish or be a part of rice recipes and soups. Besides great taste, kimchi also offers a plethora of nutrients such as vitamins A, thiamine, riboflavin, and B2, minerals like iron and calcium, as well as lactobacilli, good bacteria that aids digestion.

Kimchi, Bacon and Shitake Mushroom Omlete

This simple breakfast dish is a perfect combination of flavors covered in fluffy eggs and melty cheese!

Zucchini and Kimchi Quinoa Salad

The secret ingredient in this salad is the flavorful gochujang dressing, also known as Korean barbecue sauce. It combines sweet, salty, tangy, and hot flavors and will turn any salad into an exotic delight. Don’t forget to sprinkle some sesame seeds on top for crunchiness.

#2 Noodles

Noodles have been an integral part of Korean cuisine since ancient times. They appear in a wide variety of dishes and can be combined with almost anything in soups, wraps, stir-fries, and more!

Jap Chae (Korean Stir-Fry Noodles)

Throwing a party or a potluck? Jap Chae is the perfect dish for you! Spicy, savory, flavorful and most importantly, simple to make. For a vegetarian variety, simply leave the meat out!

Korean-Style Teriyaki Beef Lettuce Wraps

Even though the recipe calls for a rather large number of ingredients, it is quite easy to make, considering you can prepare the meat & noodles in advance. The final result? Exotic, sweet, and spicy lettuce wraps, perfect for summer dinners.

#3 Soups and Stews

Soups are an integral part of every Korean meal. In fact, they’re served as a part of the main course rather than as a starter. Korean soup recipes are generally divided into two broad categories:

Guk, made with meat, shellfish, and veggies.

Jjigae, thicker, more heavily seasoned soups and stews.

Unlike soups, jjigae stews are served as a shared side dish. Common ingredients include fish, tofu, and seasonal veggies.

Korean Miso Soup (Dengjang Chigae)

Korean miso soup is made with the Korean form of miso called dengjang, which contains uncrushed beans for extra texture. That’s the base; other than that, you can add anything – chili paste, meat or tofu, onions, zucchini…

Korean Spicy Chicken Stew

Make sure to visit a Korean grocery store before you start preparing this recipe. Go to the marinated meats section and find special pre-marinated chicken under the label ‘chicken stew’. Combine it with some potatoes & carrots, and spice it up with Korean chili paste and chili powder.

#4 Banchan

Banchan is a broad term that covers all side dishes in Korean cuisine (excluding soups and stews but including kimchi!). More precisely, banchan are small dishes of food served along with cooked rice in the center of the table to be shared. There are several banchan subcategories:

Jjim, dishes made by steaming or boiling marinated meat or fish and seon, which refers to steamed vegetables.

dishes made by steaming or boiling marinated meat or fish and which refers to steamed vegetables. Gui, grilled dishes, usually comprised of meat or fish accompanied by fresh or grilled vegetables.

grilled dishes, usually comprised of meat or fish accompanied by fresh or grilled vegetables. Hoe, raw dishes, especially raw fish dipped in a sauce and served with lettuce or other greens.

raw dishes, especially raw fish dipped in a sauce and served with lettuce or other greens. Namul, refers to a variety of edible leaves & grass or dishes made of them.

refers to a variety of edible leaves & grass or dishes made of them. Jeon, savory pan-fried pancakes made of wheat flour, with an addition of seafood or kimchi. Jeon pancakes are usually dipped in a mixture of soy sauce, red pepper, and vinegar.

Kimchi Pancake (Kimchijeon)

Take ripe, crispy, juicy, and spicy kimchi and transform it into a crispy, savory, fulfilling snack that will make your kitchen smell divinely! Add some of the kimchi brine to get a vivid-colored pancake. The rest of the ingredients is at your discretion; think meat and all sorts of vegetables.

Korean Spinach Salad

Replace vegetable oil with sesame oil to give the spinach a deep, nutty, & earthy flavor. Serve this salad with grilled meat or individually as a main meal!

#5 Desserts

In Korean cuisine, desserts are divided into two general categories:

Tteok, traditional rice cakes which are served as a snack or dessert. Rice cakes can be served filled or covered with sweetened red bean paste, mung bean paste, raisins, or mashed red beans. Other fillings can also include sweetened sesame seeds, black beans, jujubes, honey, chestnuts, or pine nuts.

traditional rice cakes which are served as a snack or dessert. Rice cakes can be served filled or covered with sweetened red bean paste, mung bean paste, raisins, or mashed red beans. Other fillings can also include sweetened sesame seeds, black beans, jujubes, honey, chestnuts, or pine nuts. Hangwa is a term that refers to all traditional confectionery which covers tea foods, fried-dough sweets, jelly-like sweets, fruits and roots boiled in honey or sugar, and much more.

Black Bean Dipping Sauce with Maple Syrup

Fermented black soy beans are salty and somewhat tangy. In this recipe, their strong taste is tamed with the addition of sweet maple syrup and creamy peanut butter. This tasty mixture can be used as a dipping sauce but also as an addition to meat dishes.

Bonus –Vegetarian Korean Food

Vegetarian cooking developed under the influence of Buddhist traditions in the past. Today, there is a large number of vegetarian restaurants throughout the country. They usually serve cold buffets, with vegetarian kimchi and tofu-based dishes like Bibimbap. These Korean restaurants don’t serve alcoholic beverages; instead, they offer a wide range of teas.

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Vegetarian Korean Bibimbap Bowls

Bibimbap is a rich dish full of textures, flavors, and nutrients. There are varieties made with meat, but tofu is the best protein choice for vegans and vegetarians. Top it with vegetables, fried egg, and sauce.

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