An Introduction to

Korean Food

Sung Kim
International Korean Educators Network
September 2019
The Characteristics of the
Korean Food (1)
◼ For centuries, the Koreans have
eaten the products of the sea, the
field, and the mountains because
of the features of Korean
peninsula.
◼ Three parts of Korean peninsula
(east, west, and south) are
surrounded by the sea. The
climate is bitterly cold in winter,
and very humid and hot in
summer.
◼ The particular climate of the
Korean peninsula makes Korean
food more abundant and varied.
 The Characteristics of the
Korean Food (2)
◼ A diverse array of foods and dishes can be found throughout
Korea.
◼ Korea was once primarily an agricultural nation, and
Koreans have cultivated rice as their staple food since
ancient times.
◼ Today Korean cuisine is characterized by a wide variety of
meat and fish dishes along with wild greens and vegetables.
◼ Various fermented and preserved food, such as kimchi
(fermented spicy cabbage), jeotgal (seafood fermented in
salt) and doenjang (fermented soy bean paste) are notable
for their specific flavor and high nutritional value.
 The Characteristics of the
Korean Food (3)
◼ Koreans take unusual pride in
preserving the recipes and cooking
methods of their ancestors.

◼ Korean food is particularly appealing

to foreigners because of the wide
range of selections, delicious flavors,
and nutritional value.

◼ The variety one experiences in eating

Korean food is provided by side
dishes. The food is known for its
distinct aromas and peppery tastes.
 Korean Spice
◼ The most unique feature of
Korean food is the spice.
◼ The basic seasonings-red
pepper, green onion, soy
sauce, bean paste, garlic,
ginger, sesame, mustard,
vinegar, and wine have been
combined in various ways to
enhance Korean foods.
Hanjoungshik (한정식)
◼ The full course Korean meal is
called Hanjoungshik. It is
composed of grilled fish, steamed
short ribs, and other meat and
vegetable dishes with steamed
rice, soup, and cabbage (kimchi).

◼ Korean food includes various side

dishes. Favorite side dishes are
bean-taste soup, broiled beef, fish,
kimchi and steamed vegetables.
 Kimchi
◼ Kimchi is the best known
Korean food. It is a vegetable
dish, highly seasoned with
pepper and garlic.
◼ It is served with every kind of
Korean meal and it stimulates
the appetite.
◼ Kimchi contains significant
amounts of good nutrition
such as vitamin C and fiber.
 Origin of Kimchi
◼ Kimchi is derived from chimchae, which means preserved vegetables with
salt, and as time went by, the word had been changed: dimchae-
kimchae- kimchi. And now it is called kimchi.

◼ Kimchi in the early days was simply pickled vegetables; however, since
the 18th century, red pepper has been used. There are three major
reasons that kimchi had been developed as fermented food specially in
Korea.

◼ First, Koreans, whose main industry was agriculture, enjoyed cabbage.

Second, people discovered that fermenting this widely-produced
vegetable created a tasty delight they called kimchi. Third, technology
used salt to preserve fish: this process was adapted for kimchi.
 Efficacy of Kimchi
1. Cleaning the intestines by
lactic acid bacteria
2. Prevention of geriatric
disease
3. Promotion of metabolism
and digestion
4. Sufficient vitamins
5. Keeping balance of nutrition
Barbecued Beef-Pulgoki
◼ Barbecued beef (pulgoki) is the one
of the most popular dishes in Korea,
and also Westerners are pleased
with the taste.
◼ Pulgoki literary means fire beef,
but it is called generally called
Korean barbecue.
◼ Thin, tender slices of beef are
marinated in a soy sauce and
cooked over a hot charcoal grill at
the table.
◼ If it is made with pork, the recipe
will be slightly different because of
the particular odor of pork. Usually
Korean barbequed pork includes
red pepper paste and lots of ginger
that creates an appealing aroma.
 How to Cook Pulgoki
◼ Ingredients (4 servings)
◼ · 1/2 lb beef rib steak
◼ · Roasted sesame oil
◼ · 9 tbsp. finely chopped green onion
◼ · ½ cup of each sliced vegetable (onion, green pepper, green onion, egg-plant, or pumpkin slices)
◼ · For marinade ( 4 cups ) 1.2 medium apple, quartered and sliced or 1/2 can of coke
◼ · 1 oz ginger root, thinly sliced
◼ · 1 oz garlic, thinly sliced
◼ · 2 cups soy sauce
◼ · 1/2 cup cooking wine
◼ · 6 oz sugar (Hint: You can buy the marinated sauce at the Korean market.)
◼
Methods
◼ 1. Slice the beef thinly and make it tender using knife.
◼ 2. Pour the coke and sugar to beef and mix well until the meat softens
◼ 3. Mix the marinated beef with the soy sauce, garlic, sesame oil, MSG, and sesame salt and let it stay
for 2 hours.
◼ 4. Broil the seasoned beef over hot grill.(Hint: when using oven, 570 degree of F for 10
minutes is good.)
 Broiled beef rib-Kalbi

◼ Broiled beef rib (kalbi) is

also the popular dishes.
◼ The recipe is very close to
that of barbecued beef.
◼ However the taste is quite
different. Just try it !!. (It
needs delicate trimming of
the ribs)
 How to Cook Kalbi
◼ Ingredients (4 servings)
◼ · 4 Ib. beef ribs
◼ · Roasted sesame oil
◼ · 9 tbsp finely chopped green onion
◼ · vegetables ( onion, green pepper, green onion, egg-plant, or pumpkin slices)
◼ · For marinade (2 cups) and seasonings, refer to "pulgoki" barbeque sauce
◼ (You can buy the marinate sauce at the Korean market.)

Methods
◼ 1. Cut spareribs into serving pieces, remove excess fat from the meat carefully.
◼ 2. With meaty side down, insert knife under bone and slice, leaving the end uncut.
◼ 3. Open out flat and slice the meat into half thickness, leaving the end uncut and open
out flat.
◼ 4. Make a slit along the center of each bone. When grilled, it makes the meat apart
easily.
◼ 5. Marinate and mix with seasonings and vegetables and let it stand for 2 hours or more.
(Refer to the recipe of "pulgoki" barbecue )
◼ 6. Broil both sides on preheated grill.
Mixed vegetables with
beef-chapche
◼ Mixed vegetables with beef
(chapche) was usually made
for a particular celebration or
party. Chapche is now served
anytime people want it and it
is also very easy to make.
◼ The dish contains seasoned
beef, vegetables, and noodles.
◼ It is very delicious as it has a
very sweet taste.
 How to cook Chapche
◼ Ingredients (4 servings)
◼ 5 oz lean beef
◼ A: 2 T soy sauce, 1 T sesame oil,1 t sugar, 1/2 cooking wine.
◼ Crushed garlic, roasted sesame seeds, finely chopped green onion
◼ 1 3/4 oz bean threads, i green onion, 4 dried mushrooms, soacked in water, 1 oz carrot, 1/3 oz dried cloud ear
mushrooms, soacked in water.
◼ 1 green peper, 2/3 t salad oil, salt and pepper.
◼ B: 1 t roasted sesame seeds, 2/3 t soy sauce, 1/2 t sugar
◼ 1/3 t sesame oil, crushed garlic, pepper, MSG
◼
Methods
◼ In salted boiling water, cooked bean threads 3- 4 minutes until transparent.
◼ Drain and cut into 2 1/2 inch length.
◼ Cut beef and make it into strips.
◼ Combine A and add beef to marinate.
◼ Slice green onion diagonally.
◼ Cut mushrooms into strips.
◼ Cut carrot and green pepper into the strips.
◼ Heat salad oil and add green onion. Cook briefly and seas on with salt and pepper. In the same manner cook all
vegetables.
◼ Heat salad oil and cook beef strips.
◼ Combine B. Add bean threads and mix well.
◼ Add vegetables and beef. Mix and serve it.
 Vegetables and beef on
rice- bibimbap
◼ Bibimbap is made from
cooked rice mixed with
bits of meat, seasoned
vegetables, and egg.
◼ If desired, it can be eaten
with kochujang (a red hot
pepper paste).
◼ It is a very nutritious and
delicious food.
 How to cook Bibimbab
◼ Ingredients (4 servings)
◼ 4 cups of rice, 100g of young zucchini, 100g of broad bellflower roots, 100g of bracken,, 100 g of
soybean sprout, 100g of carrots, 100g of beef, 4 eggs,, (You can substitute with egg plants, bean
sprouts, cucumbers, or onions. The cooking method is similar. Slice into finger sized thin stripes and
sauté.)

◼ Methods
◼ Soak the sliced young zucchini in salted water for a little while. Squeeze the water out and sauté in a
pan.
◼ Take out the bitterness from the broad bellflower roots by rubbing them with salt. Rip them into thin
strips and season with salt, sugar, and chili powder. And sauté in a pan.
◼ Sort the bracken into the lengths of 4-5cm and wash them. Sauté slightly in a pan after mixing well
with seasoned soy sauce.
◼ Wash thoroughly soybeans and boil in a pot. After cooling down, mix them with seasonings: salt,
black pepper, sesame oil, chopped garlic and green onions.
◼ Slice a carrot into thin pieces and sauté briefly in a pan.
◼ Cut beef into thick strips and marinate 5 minutes. Sauté in a pan.
◼ Fry 4 eggs sunny side up and put aside.
◼ Arrange the prepared beef and vegetables nicely onto the freshly cooked rice.
◼ Put a fried egg on the top of the ingredients.
◼ Place a spoonful of red bean paste "kochujang" and a tea spoonful of sesame oil per serving. The
amount of red bean paste depends on the preference of individuals.
◼ Mix everything nicely and enjoy Bibimbab!
Rice beef noodle soup -
Sollongtang
◼ Sollongtang is rice beef
noodle soup seasoned with
sesame seeds, salt, pepper,
scallions, and sesame oil.
◼ It is served with rice as the
main meal and is
accompanied by side dishes
and a radish kimchi called
kaktugi.
 Pork and kimchi casserole
-kimchichigue
◼ Pork and kimchi casserole,
kimchichigue, is a kind of soup
but saltier than most soups.
◼ If the taste is salty and
contains less water, we call it
chigue.
◼ It is made with kimchi and
pork. The taste is hot and
spicy. Usually Koreans eat the
soup as a main dish.
Mustard salad -Kyujachae
◼ Mustard salad, Kyujachae,
is a cold vegetable salad
with a hot mustard sauce
that is very flavorful.
◼ This salad is quite similar
to salads served in the
West.
 Nine-section dish -
kujulpan
◼ At an elegant Korean dinner, the first
course might be kujulpan.
◼ Strips of cooked meat and vegetables
are arranged in a large sectioned dish
with a stack of Korean pancakes in the
center.
◼ The Korean pancakes are made up of
rice flour, not wheat flour, so they are
a little sticky and softer. They are
cooked in a same way as American
pancakes are made.
◼ The fillings are wrapped inside the
pancakes with a seasoned soy sauce.
Persimmon punch-
sujunggwa
◼ It is the one of the most
popular traditional
drinks in Korea.
◼ Usually Koreans drink it
with pine seeds in the
winter.
◼ It is also a very healthy
drink which contains
lots of vitamin C.
Food Pyramid
 Health Benefits of Grains
◼ Grains are important sources of many nutrients, including
dietary fiber, several B vitamins and minerals (iron, magnesium).
◼ Consuming foods rich in fiber, such as whole grains, as part of a
healthy diet, reduces the risk of coronary heart disease.
◼ Consuming foods rich in fiber, such as whole grains, may reduce
constipation. Fiber is important for proper bowel function.
◼ B vitamins play a key role in metabolism – they help the body
release energy from protein, fat, and carbohydrates. B vitamins
are also essential for a healthy nervous system.
◼ Eating at least 3 ounce equivalents a day of whole grains may
help with weight management.
◼ Eating grains fortified with folate before and during pregnancy
helps prevent neural tube defects during fetal development.
◼ Iron is used to carry oxygen in the blood.
 Health Benefits of Vegetables
and Fruits
◼ Vegetables are important sources of many nutrients, including
potassium, dietary fiber, folate (folic acid), vitamin A, vitamin E, and
vitamin C.
◼ Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables may reduce risk for stroke
and perhaps other cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and certain
cancers, such as mouth, stomach, and colon-rectum cancer.
◼ Diets rich in foods containing fiber, such as fruits and vegetables, may
reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.
◼ Eating fruits and vegetables rich in potassium may reduce the risk of
developing kidney stones and may help to decrease bone loss.
◼ Eating foods such as vegetables that are low in calories per cup instead
of some other higher-calorie food may be useful in helping to lower
calorie intake.
◼ Vitamin A keeps eyes and skin healthy and helps to protect against
infections.
◼ Vitamin E helps protect vitamin A and essential fatty acids from cell
oxidation.
◼ Vitamin C helps heal cuts and wounds and keeps teeth and gums
healthy. Vitamin C aids in iron absorption.
 Health Benefits of Milk
Products
◼ Milk and milk products are important sources of many essential nutrients such as
calcium, potassium, and vitamin D.
◼ Diets rich in milk and milk products help build and maintain bone mass
throughout the lifecycle. This may reduce the risk of osteoporosis.
◼ The intake of milk products is especially important to bone health during
childhood and adolescence, when bone mass is being built.
◼ Diets that include milk products tend to have a higher overall nutritional quality.
◼ Calcium is used for building bones and teeth and in maintaining bone mass. Milk
products are the primary source of calcium in American diets. Diets that provide 3
cups or the equivalent of milk products per day can improve bone mass.
◼ Diets rich in potassium may help to maintain healthy blood pressure. Milk
products, especially yogurt and fluid milk, provide potassium.
◼ Vitamin D functions in the body to maintain proper levels of calcium and
phosphorous, thereby helping to build and maintain bones. Milk that is fortified
with vitamin D is a good source of this nutrient. Other sources include vitamin D-
fortified yogurt and vitamin D-fortified ready-to-eat breakfast cereals.
◼ Milk products that are consumed in their low-fat or fat-free forms provide little or
no solid fat.
 Health Benefits of Meat and
Beans
◼ Meat, poultry, fish, dry beans and peas, eggs, nuts, and seeds supply many
nutrients. These include protein, B vitamins, vitamin E, iron, zinc, and
magnesium.
◼ Proteins function as building blocks for bones, muscles, cartilage, skin, and
blood. They are also building blocks for enzymes, hormones, and vitamins.
Proteins are one of three nutrients that provide calories (the others are fat and
carbohydrates).
◼ B vitamins help the body release energy, play a vital role in the function of the
nervous system, aid in the formation of red blood cells, and help build tissues.
◼ Vitamin E helps protect vitamin A and essential fatty acids from cell oxidation.
◼ Iron is used to carry oxygen in the blood. Many teenage girls and women in their
child-bearing years have iron-deficiency anemia. They should eat foods high in
heme-iron (meats) or eat other non-heme iron containing foods along with a
food rich in vitamin C, which can improve absorption of non-heme iron.
◼ Magnesium is used in building bones and in releasing energy from muscles.
◼ Zinc is necessary for biochemical reactions and helps the immune system
function properly.
 Health Benefits of Oil
◼ Most of the fats you eat should be polyunsaturated (PUFA) or
monounsaturated (MUFA) fats. Oils are the major source of MUFAs
and PUFAs in the diet. PUFAs contain some fatty acids that are
necessary for health—called “essential fatty acids.”

◼ The MUFAs and PUFAs found in fish, nuts, and vegetable oils such as
sesame oil do not raise LDL(“bad”) cholesterol levels in the blood. In
addition to the essential fatty acids they contain, oils are the major
source of vitamin E in typical Korean diets.

◼ While consuming some oil is needed for health, oils still contain
calories. In fact, oils and solid fats both contain about 120 calories per
tablespoon. Therefore, the amount of oil consumed needs to be
limited to balance total calorie intake.
 Resources
◼ Connor, Mary E. The Koreas: A Global Studies
Handbook (2002). Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, Inc.
pp. 246-247.
◼ http://www.koreainfogate.com/taste/food/recipema
in.asp
◼ http://asiarecipe.com/kormain.html#bul
◼ http://www.asiafood.org/koreafood.cfm
◼ http://efl.htmlplanet.com/korean_food.htm
◼ http://www.mypyramid.gov/