The food scene throughout America has incorporated international dishes and foreign culinary passions for decades. From New York City, the Mecca of culinary diversity, to the streets of Austin where all things Southern are accepted as equal, as a foodie you’ll always find what you’re looking for.
More recently, food-lovers have been expressing interest in the variety of exotic Korean dishes making their way into our cultural palates, bringing both culture and flavor to the plates of restaurants in almost every major U.S. city.
If you love food and have a taste for adventure, below is a list of the top Korean dishes you must try on your next night out.
Top Korean Cuisine Choices
Chicken Porridge – In Korea they call it Dakjuk, but in the U.S. we call it amazing. It’s a simple dish with chicken, onions, and lots of garlic. As most food lovers know, garlic is the cure for all bad foods. If you put garlic on a stale piece of bread it would taste good – any dish that compliments the flavor so well as Dakjuk is an automatic winner. Essentially, boiling a pot of water, seasoning it with garlic, and then adding onions and sushi rice will serve as the base of the dish, torn or shredded chicken complete it.
Japchae – This is one of the most popular Korean dishes on the planet. Whether you're in the country or visiting the local Korean market, Japchae is what many people refer to as the signature Korean dish. Simply put, Japchae is a dish made up of stir-fried noodles and usually adds some heat to the flavor profile. Unlike Chinese stir fry that many people order on the go or cook at home, this alternative is never bland and is bursting with sweet and spicy flavors.
Kimchi – One can’t discuss Korean cuisine without mentioning the country’s national dish. Kimchi is fermented cabbage with some serious heat to it. The word “fermented” frightens some folks but remember: we eat a ton of fermented foods in the U.S. every single day – cheese, yogurt, and bread are the best examples. Kimchi is coated meticulously with a spicy mixture of hot pepper flakes, garlic, onion, pear juice, and more secret (or at least varied) ingredients. Most Koreans allow the cabbage to sit for two to three days prior to consumption, but after the spice mixture as been applied, the product can be consumed immediately.
Mixed Riced – In Korea, this dish is known as Bibimbap and consists of rice topped with a sunny side up egg. The dish is usually served with a spicy sauce made from gochujang, a hot pepper paste. If you thought habanero was spicy, this stuff will knock your socks off. In Korean, “bibim” means mixed, and “bap” means rice, which is fitting for the ingredients and preparation of the dish. All of the ingredients are served at room temperature over the hot steamed rice with an egg prepared on top for good measure.
Bulgogi – Also known as beef BBQ, this Korean dish is one that you have to try -- and, in fact, many of us already have. In fact, Bulgogi is probably one the most sampled Korean dishes in American-based Korean restaurants today due to its versatility. It can be made into a stew or served off the grill or hot plates. Most of our restaurants will make Bulgogi part of a western style sandwich, similar to a pulled pork, but with marinated beef in place of the pork. However you slice it, it's a must-try.
Whether it's an exotic twist on the kind of meal you know and love or something entirely new and different, these dishes will give you a place to start next time you see an enticing restaurant on an empty belly. Or go to http://www.bentocafesushi.com and plan a little food travel excursion for your next outing.
Matthew Hall is a freelance writer and professional student who offers articles and insights into the foods and cultures he's come across, at home and abroad.
0 comments:
Post a Comment