Korean cuisine is famous for its delicious and unique flavors. One of the main staples in Korean cuisine is seaweed, which is used in many different dishes. Seaweed has been a part of Korean culture and cuisine for centuries, and its popularity continues to grow today.
This is our extensive guide, which means we're going to dive deep and discuss all things seaweed - from its history to its uses today.
We'll also introduce Gim, the most popular type of seaweed in Korea, and share a list of some of the best seaweed dishes you should try when exploring Korean cuisine. Finally, we'll discuss the health benefits of seaweed and how people in the Western world can introduce it into their diets based on Korean ideals and traditions.
Let's get into it! 🌿
What is Seaweed?
Seaweed is an edible aquatic plant that grows in shallow oceans and other bodies of water. It's packed with nutrients, making it a great addition to a healthy diet.
Despite the rather odd name (it gets weirder the more you think about it), this is simply the name given to an ocean plant that's actually classified as macroalgae. There are thousands of different types worldwide, and they can come in all kinds of colors, including red, brown, and, most commonly, green.
Due to its intimate connection to the coast and oceans, seaweed has long been a part of Korean culture and cuisine. For centuries, it has been harvested from the oceans and used in many different dishes. It has a slightly salty flavor that is both savory and complex. In Korean cuisine, seaweed is used to add flavor and texture to soups, salads, stews, and more.
The History of Seaweed in Korean Cuisine
While South Korea is known for being an incredibly wealthy and prosperous country, especially in terms of technology and the modern eSports world, this is only a recent standing for the country.
Korea has seen some incredibly difficult times in its past, battered by cold, harsh climates, foreign invaders, food shortages and famines, poverty and disease, and war. Back then, food was tough to find, and much of the population had to get food where they could; from free and easily accessible sources.
Seaweed was one of these food sources and was first used as a source of nutrition and to add flavor to soups and broths. Over time, the population acquired a taste for the sea plant, and so the popularity of seaweed increased, and it became an important part of traditional Korean dishes.
The first known records of seaweed date back to the period of the Three Kingdoms, a time of Korean history between the years of 57 BC and 668AD.
Of course, there weren't such things as seaweed farms back there, but individuals collected the seaweed from rocks and pieces of driftwood to which the seaweed would cling.
Seaweed, known in Korean culture as 'Gim,' has been mentioned countless times in Korean history books. In the Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty (1392 to 1897), Gim was referred to as the 'sea cloth.'
Even King Sejong the Great (15 May 1397 – 8 April 1450) had such a connection with seaweed that he described Gim as the representative product of the Chungcheong, Jeolla, and Gyeongsang regions of Eastern Korea.
In fact, the records show that as King Sejong was busy tackling the hardships of the East's people, the lands' subjects were required to come and offer a piece of seaweed as a royal offering in his presence. However, this practice was abolished once King Sejong discovered that a single piece of seaweed cost over 20 pieces of cotton.
Time and time again, seaweed comes into Korean history and culture in this way.
There are poems that mention seaweed, such as Baekheonjip, written by Lee Kyung-suk around the 17th Century. Before this, around the 15th and 16th centuries, it's recorded that Korea started the cultivation and production process of seaweed, making seaweed one of the oldest agricultural productions in the country.
Bringing all these tidbits together, you should start to see how much the Korean people relish the existence of seaweed and how much of an integral part of this wonder plant's culture.
Gim: A Popular Type of Seaweed
If you're interested in Korean seaweed and how it's used within the culture's cuisine, then you're going to come across the word 'Gim' very quickly.
Gim is the most popular type of seaweed in Korean cuisine. It is dried and sold in sheets or strips, which are then cut into small pieces before being added to dishes. Gim has a unique flavor and texture, which makes it popular in many Korean dishes.
What is the Taste of Seaweed?
If you haven't tried seaweed before, then admittedly, it may not sound as appealing as, say, kimchi or Korean barbecue. But don't be fooled by its appearance; seaweed is actually quite tasty and can add a unique flavor to your favorite dishes.
The taste of Gim, the most popular type of seaweed in Korean cuisine, is similar to nori (the dried seaweed used in sushi). It has an earthy and slightly salty taste and crunchy texture.
Seaweed has a distinct salty, savory, and slightly sweet taste. It is often used as an umami agent to add depth of flavor to soups, stews, and other dishes. It also has a unique texture that is chewy and slightly crispy.
Or, you can take a look at these teens and their impressions!
TEENS EAT SEAWEED | Teens Vs. Food
What are the Health Benefits of Seaweed?
Seaweed is incredibly nutritious, and it's no surprise that it has been a major part of Korean culture for centuries. It's packed full of vitamins and minerals, as well as antioxidants, which can help to boost your immune system and keep your body healthy.
It's quite interesting in the sense that Korea feels very ahead of its time. Nowadays, especially in the Western world, seaweed has become something of a superfood due to its health benefits. Let's take a little deep dive into what these benefits actually are.
Seaweed contains Tyrosine and Iodine
Don't worry if you're not sure what these hormone chemicals are because you don't need to understand them for these benefits to be valid. What's important is that seaweed contains Tyrosine, which helps your brain produce dopamine, and Iodine, which helps your body make thyroid hormones.
These hormones are essential for a healthy brain and bodily function. Your thyroid is essential for helping your body grow, for producing energy your body needs to do what it does best, and for cell reproduction and repair. Seaweed can help boost and enhance all these processes.
For an interesting perspective, the recommended daily intake (RDI) for Iodine in adults is around 140 mcg per day.
Some of the most popular forms of seaweed can help you achieve this spectacularly. Nori, a commonly dried seaweed, contains around 37 mcg (25% of RDI), Wakame offers 139 mcg (93% of RDI), and Kombu contains an outstanding 2523 mcg or 1,682% of your RDI.
According to Healthline, even a teaspoon of kelp (roughly 3.5 grams) contains 59 times your RDI, showing why seaweed is such an important part of Korean culture and cuisine.
Seaweed is a fantastic source of vitamins and minerals
Seaweed is known to be a great source of vitamins and minerals, all essential for a healthy diet.
It contains Vitamins A, C, E, and K, as well as B-Vitamins like riboflavin, niacin, thiamine, and folate. It also contains calcium, iron, magnesium, copper, phosphorus, potassium, and zinc.
All of these vitamins and minerals are essential for your body to stay healthy - from maintaining strong bones and teeth to keeping your energy up and aiding cell repair.
Seaweed provides you with fiber for a healthy gut
Fiber is essential for a healthy gut, and seaweed provides you with plenty of it. Eating seaweed can help keep your digestive system running smoothly and ensure that toxins are eliminated from your body more efficiently.
It also helps to reduce cholesterol levels and can aid the absorption of other nutrients such as vitamins A, C, E, and K.
These are some of the main benefits, and there's plenty of information and research online on the other health benefits seaweed can bring into your life, so we won't repeat it all here. Just as a brief overview, seaweed can help;
- Reduce your risk of heart disease
- Reduce the risk of Type 2 Diabetes
- Improve blood sugar level management
- Assist with losing weight and hunger management
- Give your body access to healthy Polysaccharides
- Provide a stunning amount of healthy and protective antioxidants
Bearing all this in mind, it should come as no surprise that seaweed is considered to have the superfood status, especially for a natural product that's so readily available in the world's oceans!
The Best Seaweed Dishes Everyone Should Try When Interested in Korean Cuisine
With Korea being such a seafood-orientated country (with statistics showing that Koreans eat more seafood than they do rice), it should be no surprise that seaweed can be found in many of the most popular dishes.
If you're ready to try some seaweed-centered dishes yourself, here are some of the best to start with:
Gimbap
A popular dish made with cooked rice and Gim rolled in a sheet of seaweed and served with various fillings. Gimbap, including 'Gim,' the popular seaweed type. Some of the most popular filling ingredients include things like vegetables, fish, and meats, and it resembles a kind of sushi dish, since the gimbap is made in large rolls and cut into discs.
However, gimbap is not actually like sushi, and don't let anyone say otherwise! Japanese sushi is traditionally made with rice that's seasoned with vinegar and uses raw fish, which is not the case with gimbap.
Eomuk-bokkeum
This is a popular Korean street food made with fish cake, vegetables, and Gim (the dried and salted seaweed commonly used in Korean cooking). It's usually served as an appetizer or side dish, but it can also be enjoyed on its own or as part of a meal.
The fish cake is cut into thin strips and stir-fried with the Gim, which gives it a slightly smoky flavor. You can also add other ingredients to the dish, such as onions, carrots, and mushrooms.
Haemul-pajeon
Pronounced' hae-mool pah-jeon', this traditional Korean pancake is made with various fillings and Gim. It's usually served as an appetizer but can also be eaten as part of a meal.
The batter is made from wheat flour, eggs, and Gim. The seaweed adds a distinct flavor to the pancake and makes it extra crunchy. You can also add a variety of ingredients to the batter, such as scallions, vegetables, seafood, and meats.
Miyeokguk
This nutritious Korean soup is usually eaten to celebrate birthdays or special occasions. It's made with miyeok (also known as wakame seaweed) and beef broth, which is simmered with the Gim. It's a popular soup because of its unique flavor and health benefits, as the seaweed is packed with vitamins and minerals.
Bibimbap
One of the most popular Korean dishes, made with white rice, vegetables, and a selection of toppings. It's then topped with Gim and sesame oil, which adds a wonderful flavor to the dish.
Depending on your preference, you can also add additional ingredients, such as eggs and meat. Bibimbap is usually served with a spicy chili sauce, which adds an extra kick to the dish.
Doenjang Jjigae
A traditional Korean stew made with fermented soybean paste (doenjang), vegetables, and Gim. It's usually served as a main dish and can be enjoyed with a bowl of white rice.
Doenjang jjigae is known for its savory and umami flavor, and the seaweed adds a unique texture to the stew. The Gim also helps thicken the broth and give it an even richer flavor.
Introducing Seaweed into Your Diet the Korean Way
For those of us in the Western world, introducing seaweed into our diets may seem intimidating. But it doesn't have to be!
The best way to start is by incorporating Gim (the most popular type of seaweed in Korean cuisine) into your dishes in small amounts. You can buy Gim in sheets or strips, which can be cut into smaller pieces and added to soups, stews, salads, and other dishes.
You can, of course, sample the many variations of seaweed snacks that are available both in and around Korea. Snacks like roasted seaweed chips, seaweed crisps, and even seaweed flakes are popular throughout Korea and make for a delicious (and nutritious!) snack.
Whether including seaweed in your main meal or snacking, all you need to do is experiment, and soon enough, you'll find yourself cooking up delicious seaweed dishes.
And if you want to get the best quality seaweed, then check out our store here at ManduMarket.
We have various authentic Korean products and ingredients that will bring your cooking to the next level! You'll find everything you need, from dried seaweed to snacks and seasonings, at ManduMarket.
So there you have it – an extensive guide to seaweed in Korean cuisine, history, and uses today! We hope you now feel more confident about introducing Gim into your cooking and snacking.
Happy Sea-weeding! ⛵🌿