Korean food is an international favorite. Korean restaurants have begun to pop up all over the world as Korean culture makes its way into the western world. People over the last few years have come to appreciate Korean food for what it is: delicious, full of flavor, and rich in culture. Korean food is exciting, and whether you’ve been enjoying Korean dishes for years or just diving in, here are 10 fun things about Korean food for you to digest.
There are Hundreds of Varieties of Kimchi – Kimchi is more than just a staple in Korean cuisine. It’s the national food of South Korea. Hundreds of variations featuring different vegetables, spices, and fermentation methods have evolved this Korean favorite to mix and match with just about any flavor palette.
Korea has a Long History of Using Soybeans – Soybeans have been used to create fermented bean paste for hundreds of years. Soy sauce (ganjang) and soybean paste (doenjang) have been used as a condiment and seasoning in cooking since before the Three Kingdoms period.
Rice was Once Used as Currency – Rice has always been a favorite food around the world, but throughout history, rice was once considered a commodity. Rice was valued incredibly highly that it was used to pay tributes and taxes. Even the farmers who grew rice were unable to afford to eat it. It was only added as a dish on special occasions, especially throughout the Japanese occupation.
Fermentation was Essential in Many Korean Staples – Many foods used in Korean dishes begin with fermentation, from kimchi to fermented soybean paste. Fermentation of different foods began hundreds of years ago as a way to preserve foods throughout harsh winters. It allowed people to be able to eat food only grown in certain seasons all year long.
Porridge is the Oldest Staple – Porridge, also called juk, has been a Korean staple throughout history. Traditionally served as a breakfast, variations of this dish made this meal filling and nutritious, and easy to digest. Some of the more popular juk included chicken porridge (dakjuk) and red bean porridge (patjuk).
Food is Medicine – While this belief is spread throughout many cultures, Koreans believe food can help heal and has been used to satisfy hunger and cure physical, mental, and emotional ailments. The medicinal food philosophy includes the healing powers of vegetables, grains, and herbs such as ginseng.
Seaweed Soup is a Traditional Birthday Soup – Seaweed soup or miyeok-guk is a soup that Koreans will eat on their birthday during breakfast. It signifies the remembrance and celebration of one’s mother. The soup is made up of seaweed, broth, and a protein choice of beef or seafood. It’s also served to women who have just given birth due to the high levels of calcium and iodine.
Side Dishes Signify Status – Side dishes or banchan signified status. The more side dishes you were able to enjoy with your meal, the higher up in court you were. Twelve side dishes were served to royalty at the royal table, but that number reached up to 100 different side dishes.
Korean cuisine is rich in history, flavor, and tradition that has been carried out through hundreds of years and is still practiced today.