The most common ingredients you’ll see in Korean recipes are short-grain rice, sesame oil, soy sauce, scallions, garlic, ginger, gochutgaru (pepper flakes), gochujang (fermented red chili paste), and doenjang (fermented soybean paste). Geographically, Korea is a peninsula so seafood is served in many dishes, as well as meats (bulgogi) that came about after meat was commercialized in the early 20th century.
Korean meals are typically served with many side dishes, known as banchan. Banchan can range from seafood, vegetables, meats, and condiments, which are all brought to the table at the same time. In a table setting, these dishes are meant to be shared along with the main course, and rice and soup are served as individual dishes. Examples of banchan include pickled vegetables, potato salad, and savory vegetable or meat pancakes (jeon).
Fermented foods are a key part of Korean cuisine. The use of fermented foods was to help preserve the lifespan of food by burying it in the ground in traditional pots called onggi, prior to refrigerators. Kimchi, a spicy fermented cabbage dish, is now well-known around the world. Today, there are hundreds of variations that use different vegetables and spice levels.
Start experimenting with Korean recipes below!