Enjoying Korean BBQ as a Vegan

vegan

Enjoying Korean BBQ as a Vegan

vegan

Source

Who said that you cannot have your own Korean BBQ feast if you are a vegan? You may not be eating any form of meat and dairy, but that does not mean that you are automatically excluded from all things delicious and fun that only a typical Korean BBQ meal can provide. Here are some tips on how you can prepare and enjoy your vegan-style Korean BBQ:

Enjoy your fill of vegetable banchans

You already know by now that Korean BBQ meals always have those tasty banchans on the side. Given that Korean cuisine always emphasizes balance in all of its meals, expect that there will be lot of vegetable-based banchans to rule the dining table. Have your fill of fresh vegetables such as lettuce, radish, peppers, cucumbers, mushrooms and eggplant. And of course, how can we even forget tofu which is considered by many as a great substitute for meat!

Have fun grilling your vegetables

If you are worried that you will not really be able to enjoy a Korean BBQ as a vegan because you won’t be able to grill cuts of meat, then you’re mistaken! Pumpkins and eggplants are just two vegetables that are commonly found in a lot of Korean meals that just taste so great when grilled. On top of that, you can also grill to perfection peppers, potatoes, carrots, cabbage, sweet potatoes, and even mushrooms. Do not hesitate to experiment!

Host your own vegan Korean BBQ party!

Now that you know that you can actually enjoy Korean BBQ despite being a vegan, then why don’t throw your own Korean BBQ feast at home? It’s time to make use of that portable skillet or set up your own Korean BBQ grill. Marinate all those mushrooms, extra firm tofu and some vegetables of your choice. Cook some rice and prepare some kimchi and radish salad on the side. Or perhaps you fancy making some vegan kimbab and pancakes as additional banchans? And lastly, invite everyone to grill the vegetables and enjoy everyone’s company. Wow, we’re confident that this is just one perfect vegan Korean BBQ experience.

Have you tried a vegan Korean BBQ feast before? Share your experience with us! And if you want to bring authentic Korean BBQ to your home, then Korean BBQ Online has your back. Contact us today so we can serve you!

Cold Korean Food for the Summer

Cold Korean Food for the Summer

Koreans surely do love their spices, but that does not mean that they do not have a wide array of cold dishes that will make the hearts of non-spicy food lovers leap. There is actually a lot of cold Korean comfort food items that one can enjoy during the sweltering summer days. Here are a few of them:

  1. Mixed Rice with Sashimi (Hwe Dub Bap)

a_won_hwe_dup_bap

Source

Hwe Dub Bap tastefully combines rice, fresh seafood and spices in one savoury bowl. This dish is best eaten with a sweet-spicy sauce, although you can of course experiment with your own sauce depending on the level of spiciness that you prefer. We personally recommend using salmon and tuna for this dish because these two complement well with a sweet-spicy sauce.

  1. White Kimchi Cold Noodle Soup (Dongchimi Gooksu)

dong

Source

This refreshing cold noodle soup has a tartly and refreshing taste that is just perfect to excite your taste buds and replenish you on a hot day. There are ready-made dongchimis that you can buy in almost all Asian stores, although there are those who prefer to make the noodles from scratch, which will take approximately 3 days.

  1. Fresh Spring Rolls with Spicy Korean Dipping Sauce

Vietnamese-Fresh-Spring-Rolls-with-Hoisin-Peanut-Sauce-760x428

Source

This Korean version of fresh spring rolls is made out of perilla leaves and Korean pepper paste. The great thing about this dish is that you can stuff your perilla leaves with seafood like shrimp and other vegetables of your choice. We personally love this cold dish not only because it is so nutritiously balanced but it is also a delightful crunchy dish to devour. Don’t forget to pair these spring rolls with a peanut dipping sauce.

  1. Cold Cucumber Soup (Oi Naengguk)

Oi Naengguk Korean Cucumber Soup

Source

This refreshing soup, which is sometimes referred to as oi naengchae, is one of the best Korean cold dishes to consume to invigorate your body during the summer months. This is perfectly paired with almost any warm rice meal because of the crispy taste of the cucumbers and cool taste of the soup.

  1. Cold Buckwheat Noodles (Mul Naengmyun)

mul

Source

Naeng myun is a cold buckwheat noodle dish that combines the decadent flavours of meat, vegetables, egg and a tangy broth. This dish is often consumed by those who live high up in the mountains so that they can better cope with the body effects of living on high altitudes. But now, this cold noodle dish that used to be eaten during the winter months is now a great dish to cap off one’s summer days due to its very refreshing taste.

What are your favourite cold Korean dishes to devour on a typical hot summer day? Don’t forget to spread the word about Korean BBQ Online, your most trusted Korean BBQ online shopping and delivery service that will never let you down. Drop us a line today to see how we can help!

 

Delicious Korean Anjus for your next drinking session

korean chicken

Delicious Korean Anjus for your next drinking session

We’ve already featured the alcoholic drink soju and how it is considered as Korea’s national drink. We’ve also emphasized the fact that drinking is a big part of Korean culture and how it plays a major role in Korea’s social scene. The act of drinking itself might already be fulfilling, but a typical Korean drinking session will not be complete if anjus or drinking snacks are not served. Just like the famous banchans or side dishes that are being served during a normal Korean BBQ meal, there are different types of anjus that will make every drinking activity more enjoyable. Here are the three types of anjus that you should watch out for:

1. Nut, Fruit and Finger Foods

nuts

Source

Nuts and other forms of salty food are very familiar types of anjus in Korea because of their ability to absorb alcohol and possibly minimize the occurrence of hangover. If Americans have their bowls of popcorns and chips to go with their beers, Koreans have nuts, fresh and dried fruits such lemons, apples, pineapples, persimmon, oranges, crackers, dried squid, dried anchovies, and other salty items.

2. Savory and Fried Foods

korean chicken

Source

One of the most popular types of anjus are the savoury and fried ones because these food items just go well with soju and most Korean alcoholic beverages in general. These savoury food items are usually Korean fried chicken, pa jun, and Korean blood sausage. Koreans also occasionally serve food items that have been deep-fried in vats of oil to cater to some drinking patrons who prefer to have some grease with what they are drinking.

3. Spicy Dishes and Strong Flavors

tofu

Source

Koreans love their spicy food so much that this type of anju shouldn’t even surprise you anymore. Typical spicy anjus are stir-fried octopus, squid, kimchi with tofu, rice and fish cakes, and many more. Koreans just love the explosion of flavour that these food items will give them, which becomes even more appetizing when they become mixed with alcohol.

What are your personal favourite anjus? Don’t forget to share them with us. And also, do not hesitate to contact Korean BBQ Online to help you with all of your Korean BBQ needs!

All about the Gimjang (kimchi-making) tradition

gimjang6

All about the Gimjang (kimchi-making) tradition

gimjang6

Source

Kimchi is already considered as an integral part of Korean identity. Koreans value kimchi so much that it does not come as a surprise anymore that there’s a specific ceremony dedicated to its preparation.

What is gimjang?

Gimjang refers to the lengthy process of preparing kimchi, a tradition that stems from the old days when villagers and other people from communities would gather together to prepare kimchi just before wintertime comes. The vegetables back then that are needed to prepare kimchi are seasonal and not really available year-round, so people always planned ahead in terms of gathering all the necessary ingredients so that the kimchi that they produced would last them throughout the entire winter season. Although fresh vegetables and even kimchi itself are now cultivated to be made available all throughout the year, this still has not stopped Koreans from partaking in gimjang.

The preparation

One of the reasons why gimjang is celebrated is to highlight the hard work that the people who are involved in the process invest in producing the best-tasting kimchi. Gathering all the required ingredients is tough, but ensuring that the proportion of each ingredient is just right is even more challenging. We are not even mentioning here the possibility that the weather might not cooperate. Anyway, kimchi’s usual ingredients of cabbage, radish, mustard leaves, spring onions, ginger, chili pepper power, seafood like shrimp and anchovies, and garlic are the usual items that must be prepared.

The process

The enjoyable part of gimjang is the point when everyone is just involved in every step of the process, from harvesting to slicing other ingredients. It is a collective effort! Families who will take part in gimjang will usually harvest around thirty cabbages, wash them, and put all of them in a saline solution so that the cabbages will lose their crispiness. The rest of the ingredients will be chopped and sliced, particularly the mustard leaves and spring onions. Seasoning will also be added to further enhance the flavor.

There are various opportunities to participate in gimjang, most especially when you’re in Korea. We recommend that you participate in one and then you let us know how your experience went!

Korean BBQ Online is ready to deliver fresh and delicious kimchi straight to your doorstep. Contact us today so we can serve you today!

All about Hanbok, Korea’s Traditional Costume

kpop

All about Hanbok, Korea’s Traditional Costume

kpop

Source

If you have already been to Korea, then you must have already seen some locals donning very colorful and visually appealing costumes. Chances are you might have already observed the hanbok tradition in action.

Hanbok is Korea’s traditional outfit and is often worn to celebrate special moments such as birthday parties, festivals and anniversaries. For instance, children celebrate their first birthdays wearing hanbok. Couples who get married also wear one, and also those who just turned 60. Even those who attend funerals to pay tribute to their loved ones who passed away also wear hanbok. Hanbok is indeed a big part of Koreans’ biggest life milestones. But did you know that back in the day, hanbok is actually worn daily? This explains why in some Korean provinces and villages, hanbok is even worn as a casual wear.

Traditional Koreans are usually seen wearing white hanbok or those with lighter tones. This explains why many people refer to Koreans as “people in white”. However, modern versions of hanbok can now be seen in various colors. In fact, the variety of colors that is present on a hanbok somehow symbolizes one’s social status. Usually, the brighter and more colorful hanbok is, the richer the person who is wearing it is. Now you can see more ultra-chic types of hanbok in the global fashion scene.

Koreans always have a strong connection with nature, so this explains why a lot of their traditional clothing are made out of natural materials such as silk and cotton. Designers of hanbok often favored curvy lines rather than straight ones on hanbok so that the body’s line will be more graciously emphasized. This is the reason why so many people are saying that hanbok looks so much better when it is worn by someone than when it is just left on a hanger.

What are your impressions of hanbok? Don’t hesitate to post some of your thoughts on the comments section below.

Bring an authentic taste of Korean cuisine to your home by hosting your own Korean BBQ party! Korean BBQ Online delivers fun, simple and amazingly tasty Korean BBQ just for you.

 

Delicious chapchae recipe for you to try

chap

Delicious chapchae recipe for you to try

chap

Source

One of our personal favourite banchans is chapchae. What is there to not like about this side dish? Korean glass noodles that are stir-fried to perfection plus some generous serving of pork and vegetables tossed in? Oh, this is just too mouth-watering.

Fortunately, making chapchae right at the comforts of your own home won’t even take away a significant chunk of your time. Today we are providing you with a simple chapchae recipe that will surely please your Korean foodie heart:

INGREDIENTS (serves 4):

  • 4 ounces beef, filet mignon (or pork shoulder), cut into ¼ inch wide and 2½ inch long strips
  • 2 large driedshiitake mushrooms, soaked in warm water for 2 to 3 hours, cut into thin strips
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons sugar
  • 2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoonsoy sauce
  • 2 tablespoonssesame oil
  • 1 tablespoontoasted sesame seeds
  • 1 large egg
  • 4 ounces spinach, washed and drained
  • 4 ounces ofdangmyeon (sweet potato starch noodles)
  • 2 to 3 green onions, cut crosswise into 2 inch long pieces
  • 1 medium onion (1 cup), sliced thinly
  • 4 to 5 white mushrooms, sliced thinly
  • 1 medium carrot (¾ cup), cut into matchsticks
  • ½ red bell pepper, cut into thin strips (optional)
  • ground black pepper
  • salt
  • vegetable oil

 

PROCEDURE

Marinate the beef and mushrooms

  1. Put the beef and shiitake mushrooms into a bowl and mix with 1 clove of minced garlic, 1 teaspoon sugar, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper, 2 teaspoons soy sauce, and 1 teaspoon of sesame oil with a wooden spoon or by hand. Cover and keep it in the fridge.

Make the egg garnish (jidan):

  1. Crack the egg and separate the egg yolk from the egg white. Remove the white stringy stuff (chalaza) from the yolk. Beat in a pinch of salt with a fork.
  2. Add 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil to a heated nonstick pan. Swirl the oil around so it covers the pan, and then wipe off the excess heated oil with a kitchen towel so only a thin layer remains on the pan.
  3. To keep the jidan as yellow as possible, turn off the heat and pour the egg yolk mixture into the pan. Tilt it around so the mixture spreads thinly. Let it cook using the remaining heat in the pan for about 1 minute. Flip it over and let it sit on the pan for 1 more minute.
  1. Let it cool and slice it into thin strips.

Prepare the noodles and vegetables:

  1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the spinach and blanch for 30 seconds to 1 minute, then take it out with a slotted spoon or strainer. Let the water keep boiling to cook the noodles.
  2. Rinse the spinach in cold water to stop it from cooking. Squeeze it with your hands to remove any excess water. Cut it a few times and put it into a bowl. Mix with 1 teaspoon soy sauce and 1 teaspoon sesame oil. Put it into a large mixing bowl.
  3. Put the noodles into the boiling water, cover and cook for 1 minute. Stir them with a wooden spoon so they don’t stick together. Cover and keep cooking for another 7 minutes until the noodles are soft and chewy.
  4. Strain and cut them a few times with kitchen scissors. Put the noodles into the large bowl next to the spinach. Add 2 teaspoons sesame oil, 1 teaspoon soy sauce, and 1 teaspoon sugar. Mix well by hand or a wooden spoon. This process will season the noodles and also keep the noodles from sticking to each other.
  5. Heat up a skillet over medium high heat. Add 2 teaspoons vegetable oil with the onion, the green onion, and a pinch of salt. Stir-fry about 2 minutes until the onion looks a little translucent. Transfer to the noodle bowl.
  6. Heat up the skillet again and add 2 teaspoons vegetable oil. Add the white mushrooms and a pinch of salt. Stir-fry for 2 minutes until softened and a little juicy. Transfer to the noodle bowl.
  7. Heat up the skillet and add 1 teaspoon vegetable oil. Add the carrot and stir-fry for 20 seconds. Add the red bell pepper strips and stir-fry another 20 seconds. Transfer to the noodle bowl.
  8. Heat up the skillet and add 2 teaspoons vegetable oil. Add the beef and mushroom mixture and stir fry for a few minutes until the beef is no longer pink and the mushrooms are softened and shiny. Transfer to the noodle bowl.

Mix and serve:

  1. Add 1 minced garlic clove, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 tablespoon sugar, ½ teaspoon ground black pepper, and 2 teaspoons of sesame oil to the mixing bowl full of ingredients. Mix all together by hand.
  2. Add the egg garnish and 1 tablespoon sesame seeds. Mix it and transfer it to a large plate and serve.

 

Source of recipe: http://www.maangchi.com/recipe/japchae

Don’t forget to serve your delicious version of chapchae on your next Korean BBQ feast! We at Korean BBQ Online will provide you with the best Korean BBQ meats and sides that you could possibly ever taste. Place your orders today and receive them right at your doorstep. So fast and hassle-free!

Guide to Korean Pojangmacha

pojangmacha

Guide to Korean Pojangmacha

pojangmacha

Source

Today we are going to feature pojangmacha, one of the iconic symbols of Korea’s undying love for food. It’s almost impossible for anyone to not see a pojangmacha in Korea for they are everywhere. Or perhaps you’ve seen some of them already in those Korean movies that you barely understood. Let’s get down to its basics, shall we?

Pojangmacha, or more popularly known as pocha, are outdoor tents that are commonly found along Korean streets and night markets that are set up to accommodate street food and drinking patrons. This Korean term, when translated to English, means covered wagons. Technically speaking, pochas are small eateries that sell a diverse range of Korean street food like kimbap, spicy race cakes, fried rice cake skewers, ice-cream filled waffles, tornado potatoes, and a whole lot more. The characteristics of a pocha almost resemble that of an American food truck if you would like a point of comparison.

There are two types of pocha: those that are set up during the daytime where most of the items being sold are snacks and those that are set up during the evening when most of the drinking sessions happen. The evening pochas are the perfect places to observe how the Koreans down their sojus and makollis, and also to join them for some chill drinking session with some savoury drinking snacks (anjus) on the side. Most of these evening pochas start appearing like mushrooms all throughout the city at around 8 PM or so and would remain in operation even until the wee hours of the morning.

How did the pojangmacha phenomenon start?

Pochas only started appearing in Korea after the country achieved its independence from Japan back in 1945. The set up of pochas back then was very simple – they are just small eateries by the roadside that serve cheap yet filling meals to ordinary workers. Pochas back in the day didn’t have chairs for their patrons because these small eateries were meant to be quick food stops. The owners of these roadside eateries eventually added chairs upon realizing that more and more people preferred to hang out at these eateries longer given the conversations that would usually happen among the patrons. The 1970s saw Korea experiencing a significant economic development, and this period provided the perfect time for pochas to exponentially flourish. The reason for pochas’ increased presence is to meet the demand for cheap yet tasty food, which generally came from the increasing number of workers from various corporations and companies. Pochas just became one of the chillest hang-out spots for a majority of Koreans after going through a long day’s worth of work.

Pojangmacha in modern Korea

There are over 4,000 pochas scattered all throughout Seoul alone. The visibility of pochas throughout the city is widespread considering that the Korean government continues to exert efforts to shut them down because of food and city cleanliness issues. Some of the owners of these pochas also don’t have legal permits to operate. But despite the crackdown efforts and discouraging measures being employed by the Korean government, a lot of locals and foreigners still consider pochas as a colorful part of Korean culture. As many people would say, you haven’t really experienced authentic Korean living until you’ve eaten under one of those colorful outdoor tents.

Have you ever experienced eating pojangmacha food? Tell us all about your experiences!

Meanwhile, if you are craving for some Korean BBQ, then let Korean BBQ Online serve you today. Just order your favourite Korean BBQ meats online and we’ll deliver them to you. Looking forward to hearing from you soon!

Awesome Miyeokguk (Seaweed Soup with Beef) Recipe

miyteokguk

Awesome Miyeokguk (Seaweed Soup with Beef) Recipe

miyteokguk

Source

Miyeokguk or seawood soup is one of the healthiest Korean dishes and is even considered a super food in the US. If you want a hearty source of omega acids, Vitamins B1 and B3, iron, calcium, anti-oxidants, and a whole lot of other nutrients and minerals, then miyeokguk will be your best friend. This dish is highly nutritious that Korean women who just gave birth eat it so that their bodies can recover properly. Koreans also slurp some miyeokguk when they celebrate their birthdays to pay tribute to their respective mothers who gave birth to them and raised them.

We know that you can’t wait to cook your own miyeokguk and experience its amazing health benefits, so here’s a recipe for you and your family:

INGREDIENTS (serves 4-5 people)

1.5 ounces dried miyeok (yields about 3 cups soaked)
5 ounces beef (brisket or stew meat)
2 teaspoons minced garlic
2 tablespoons soup soy sauce (gukganjang)
1 tablespoon sesame oil
salt and pepper
10 cups water

PROCEDURE

  1. Soak the dried miyeok for about 30 minutes. Rinse 2 or 3 times thoroughly. Drain after each rinse, and squeeze or knead (as if you are working with bread dough) to remove excess salt used in the drying process and rinse off any hidden sand. Drain well, and cut into bite sizes.
  2. Cut the beef into thin bite size pieces. Marinate with 1 tablespoon of soup soy sauce, garlic, and a pinch of pepper.
  1. Heat a large pot over medium high heat. Sauté the meat with the sesame oil just until the meat is no longer red.
  1. Add miyeok and 1 tablespoon of soup soy sauce, and continue to sauté for 4 to 5 minutes.
  2. Add the water, and bring it to a boil. Skim off any scum. Add salt and pepper to taste. Lower the heat to medium low. Boil, covered, for 20 to 30 minutes until the meat is tender and the broth is slightly milky.

Source of recipe: http://www.koreanbapsang.com/2013/12/miyeok-guk-beef-seaweed-soup.html

How do you make your own version of miyeokguk? Don’t forget to share your recipes on the comments section below. Also, feel free to visit Korean BBQ Online today so you will know how we can help you have unforgettable Korean BBQ dining experiences.

Savoury Oxtail Soup (Kkori Gomtang) Recipe

Korean-Oxtail-Soup_main-HipFoodieMom

Savoury Oxtail Soup (Kkori Gomtang) Recipe

Korean-Oxtail-Soup_main-HipFoodieMom

Source

Korean oxtail soup or kkori gomtang is one of those dishes that are usually a part of every Korean’s childhood. This dish that features a very flavourful broth with bones that contain oxtail meat perfectly goes well with sticky rice and some banchans of your choice. People who are fond of this soup know too well that eating it can be messy. You get the bones and slurp them until you chew on the very tender oxtail meat. If the weather is cold and you need something to eat that will make your mornings and evenings warmer, then we suggest you try doing the very easy-to-do oxtail soup recipe below.

INGREDIENTS (serves 4 people)

  • 7, 8 (3 lbs) sections of oxtail
  • 1 bulb of garlic, peeled
  • 1 onion, halved
  • 1 tbsp whole black peppercorns
  • 2 scallions, thinly sliced (green only)
  • salt and pepper (to taste)
  • dangmyun (glass noodles; optional)

PROCEDURE

  1. In a large stock pot, cover the oxtail pieces with water and bring to a rapid boil. Skim off any foam or scum that float to the top. Reduce heat to medium-low and let simmer for an hour minimum, two hours at most. Some water may be added if reduced during this time.
  2. Discard half of the broth and new water (filter or purified water recommended) to desired amount. Add garlic cloves, peppercorns, and onion. Continue to skim off any foam or floating impurities that will continue to appear. Let simmer for 2 hours and let the stove do the work.
  3. At this time, the oxtail meat should literally fall off the bone (or be extremely tender to the touch). Either strain the broth through a cloth into another pot or strain directly from the pot.
  4. Serve the oxtail soup with salt and pepper ready for desired taste. The meaty broth should be clean and refreshing. Sprinkle scallions and serve with rice and side dishes.

*Most Koreans soak the oxtail pieces in water for an hour to remove blood and impurities, but I skip this step to save time (but without sacrificing taste). The oxtail pieces get cooked long enough to remove any impurities or “bad blood.”

**Koreans love eating every bit of the oxtails, including the gelatinous and semi-crunchy end caps of the bone. During childhood I didn’t fancy this part too much and gave them to the parents (which they were more than happy to oblige eating), but ironically I find myself looking forward to them.

Source of recipe: http://www.grouprecipes.com/132707/gori-gomtang-korean-oxtail-soup.html

Don’t forget to order oxtail soup in your next Korean BBQ restaurant adventure! But if you have you want to have an authentic Korean BBQ experience at home, then Korean BBQ Online is here to help you make it reality. Top-notch quality Korean BBQ meats, sides and equipment delivered straight to you. Contact us today!