Korean food has certainly grown in popularity thanks to the Korean culture wave that has taken over the world. People from all countries have been able to get a taste of some of the amazing traditional foods that have been introduced with the rise of Korean restaurants cropping up all over and with the increase in people visiting South Korea.
Social media has also played a major role in the rise of Korean food. There has been an incredible rise in Korean influencers sharing the Korean culture and introducing traditional Korean foods to their followers, along with recipes that are easy to follow. Korean food is packed full of flavor and is always a well-balanced meal with plenty of ingredients packed full of nutrition. If you want to immerse yourself in Korean cuisine, start with this list of popular mealtime staples.
Kimchi – You can’t have a list of the most popular without mentioning kimchi. The dish dates back hundreds of years and was created through fermentation, a technique that preserved food throughout the year so that people could eat vegetables all year round. There are hundreds of varieties of kimchi, but its most common variety is the cabbage varietal, and is served as a side dish or snack or an additive to any recipe.
Tteokbokki – Tteokbokki is a popular Korean street food made with rice cakes and a spicy red chili sauce. There are a few different varieties you can enjoy, but the classic snack or side dish is served at many street vendors throughout South Korea.
Budae Jjigae – This dish is also known as army stew and is a dish created during the Korean war by taking ingredients from the army bases and creating a stew. It included spam, sausages, American cheese, and a mixture of many popular Korean ingredients, such as rice cakes and instant noodles. The stew is the perfect option for comfort foods and to get a taste of the influences of westernization on Korean foods.
Bibimbap – One of the most popular Korean foods, it’s a dish that is made with warm rice topped with gochujang, doenjang, seasoned and sauteed vegetables like cucumber, soybean sprouts, mushrooms, and more. The dish is then topped with a protein like beef, pork, or chicken and a fried egg. This recipe is one that you can change up by adding different vegetables, proteins, and sauces.
Samgyeopsal – A Korean staple that is easy to make and even easier to enjoy. This dish consists of slices of pork belly cooked on a grill and can be typically Korean BBQ style. The meat is then wrapped in a sesame leaf or lettuce and served with dipping sauces and vegetables such as mushrooms, onions, garlic, kimchi, and more.
Bulgogi – Bulgogi is a popular dish used in Korean BBQ, where the food is cooked on a grill over an open flame. It’s a thinly sliced sirloin marinated in a mixture of soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, sugar, salt, and pepper. It’s marinated and cooked alongside onions and green peppers.
Trying traditional Korean cuisine will send you on a journey of exploration of sauces, seasonings, and flavors. Each ingredient comes together harmoniously to create balanced dishes that are delicious and nutritious.