Although South Korean cuisine contains the characteristics of Far Eastern cuisine, it has a unique structure with its own history, culture, and cooking methods. Especially with the recent increase in its popularity, it has become much more recognized in our country and in the world.  Korean cuisine, which has predominantly vegetable dishes, has flavors that will appeal to everyone's taste buds. Local Korean dishes, which are not only delicious but also healthy, are generally prepared with products with high nutritional value.

 

Meat and seafood are also widely used in dishes flavored with spices unique to Korea, while vegetables are consumed undercooked. While the dishes are usually cooked with the frying technique, different methods such as roasting, steaming, boiling, and grilling are also used. Spoons are used for drinking soup and eating rice; chopsticks called jeotgarak are used for other dishes.

 

 

In Korea, where spicy and hot dishes are at the forefront, red hot pepper is frequently used. Chili pepper, which can be used in all kinds of dishes from fried to boiled, is one of the indispensable elements of Korean cuisine. Rice, garlic, green onions, soy sauce, sesame oil, eggs, and spices are among the cornerstones of Korean cuisine. Rice is boiled and consumed as porridge as in Far Eastern cuisine. 

Whether it is breakfast, lunch or dinner, a bowl of rice is never missing from the Korean table. Sesame oil, which may seem different with its aroma and smell to those who will try it for the first time, is used as a flavor enhancer in meals. In Korea, eggs can be consumed both boiled and fried at every meal, while green onions and garlic are used as auxiliary ingredients in many dishes. 

 

 

Thanks to its increasing popularity recently, interest in Korean food has increased considerably. Let's take a look at the most well-known flavors of Korean cuisine, which attract the attention of the whole world with its food culture.

1. Kimchi: Kimchi, which Korean people love to consume with almost every meal, is made using Chinese cabbage. Kimchi, prepared by adding various vegetables, pepper paste, and red hot pepper, is a kind of Korean pickle.  

2. Bibimbap: One of the dishes that comes to mind when you think of Korea is bibimbap. This dish, which can be served cold or hot, is prepared by using vegetables such as cucumber, zucchini, mushrooms, spinach, soy sprouts, and seaweed on rice porridge. 

3. Gimbap: Known as Korean-style sushi, gimbap is made by placing rice, eggs, and various vegetables in seaweed. This dish, which can change the ingredients according to preference, is appreciated by sushi lovers.

4. Ramen: The main ingredient of ramen, which is frequently consumed in Far Eastern countries, is long noodles and broth. It is served with sliced meat, dried seaweed, green onions, boiled eggs, and various vegetables over juicy noodles. 

5. Tteokbokki: One of the most popular Korean street food dishes, tteokbokki is prepared using rice cakes cut into cylinders. The most well-known version of the dish, which can be prepared in many different combinations, is made by cooking rice cakes in hot sauce with Gochuhang (Korean chili paste). 

6. Bulgogi: Bulgogi, a popular meat dish among barbecue restaurants in Korea, is prepared by grilling beef or pork with various vegetables. This dish is prepared with a special sauce and served with spinach, lettuce, or sesame leaves. It is consumed with rice wrapped in the leaves served with it.

 

 

Koreans' tea culture, which dates back more than two thousand years, usually includes green tea, lotus tea, fruit-flavored teas, and various herbal teas. World-famous for their diversity, teas can have many different flavors, including sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and strong. Gingseng tea is the most well-known of the teas that have an important place in Korean cuisine. This tea, which is famous for providing energy, contains honey, pine nuts, and dates. 

 

 

Soju, one of the most popular drinks in Korea, which has a well-developed drinking culture, is an alcoholic beverage produced from rice using traditional methods. With an alcohol content of 17-20%, the drink has a taste reminiscent of vodka. Soju is a drink frequently consumed by locals and a must-try for tourists visiting the country.