Food has always been a stress reliever for most of us, may it be pastries, ice-cream, chocolate or whatever dish is inside your fridge.
Since I become a K-pop fan, embracing and knowing Korean culture has been a habit of mine, and that includes Korean dishes. I even enrolled in a Korean cuisine cooking class just to understand the culture better. Yes, if you like K-pop, you should also like the food!
I’m sure you know what bibimbap, kimbap, kimchi and samgyeopsal are but there is more than that! In no particular order, here are some Korean dishes that you must go ahead and try!
1. Mandu (Korean Dumplings)
This might not be new to you and your country might have its own version of this dish. Mandu are Korean dumplings that comes in two types; steamed and fried. Sometimes they are filled with minced meat, sometimes with shrimp and there are also filled with vegetables. This dish is very easy to cook and can be bought in your local Korean store, this is also best combined with fried rice!
2. Tteokbokki (Spicy Stir-fried Rice Cake)
This dish is my favorite Korean cuisine! The balanced sweet and spicy taste of the rice cake and the chili paste is enough to satisfy your palate. You can easily find this dish in the streets of Korea but since this dish is one of their most popular dish, Korean restaurants outside Korea also serve this awesome dish!
3. Cheese Ramyun (Cheese Ramen)
It has no difference with the usual ramen you know but the added cheese on it makes the normal ramen a more mouth watering dish. The cheese can minimize the spiciness of the ramen that also adds deliciousness to the dish; this is the best dish for rainy nights while watching your favorite K-drama.
4. Kimchi Jjigae (Kimchi Stew)
Stew is a very popular dish in Korea and it has a wide variety. One of the most popular stew is kimchi jjigae. It’s a kimchi based soup with various vegetables and pork. It is usually combined with steamed rice: a dish that is perfect to cure a hangover. A perfect fix for those who does not have much appetite.
5. Jajangmyeon (Black Bean Sauce Noodles)
Most noodles are either colored red or white, but this particular noodle dish has a black color! Black might not be so appetizing as a food color, but that does not stop this dish to be mouth watering. A noodle dish top with black bean sauce with diced meat and vegetables. Just make sure that you check yourself in the mirror before you smile at somebody.
6. Naengmyun (Cold Noodles)
If you are an avid Girls’ Generation fan then you probably know that this is one of Jessica‘s songs. I would say that it is pretty worth it to be a song, because this dish is an awesome food to try. A chewy noodle dish perfect for a sunny weather, served in a stainless-steel bowl with an ice broth, cucumbers, a slice of Korean pear topped with either a boiled egg or beef.
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