Hey everyone!!! For this blog entry I think it is about time I spoke
about something that symbolizes Korea and is a true "only Korea" aspect-
Kimchi.
I have always had an adventurous palate and have never been one to shy away from sampling foods that are new, foreign, multicultural, and even bizarre. Before moving to Korea, I had had some experience with Korean cuisine via some of my close friends that I had in America. Not only were some of my close friends Korean-American, but also my boss of Korean decent. In relation to this and because of my yearn for new experiences, I had long ago sampled the Korean staple food- Kimchi. Kimchi is pickled cabbage covered with hot pepper sauce and it is the most popular dish in Korea. Health Magazine named it one of the 5 healthiest foods in the world, and also claim that the average Korean eats 40 pounds a year of it. How is it possible to eat 40 pounds of cabbage a year? Well, many people Koreans eat it for breakfast lunch and dinner as it is seen as a staple side dish.
Kimchi is high in fiber, low in fat, and packed with vitamins that kill bacteria. Koreans are very prideful about the health impacts of kimchi
There's nearly 200 types of kimchi, but the basic ingredients are cabbage, salt and hot pepper sauce. You can also make it with onions, spices, etc. I have actually always enjoyed it and eat it at least 5 days a week as part of my school's lunch, and often at least once on the weekend either at home or at a restaurant.
I have always had an adventurous palate and have never been one to shy away from sampling foods that are new, foreign, multicultural, and even bizarre. Before moving to Korea, I had had some experience with Korean cuisine via some of my close friends that I had in America. Not only were some of my close friends Korean-American, but also my boss of Korean decent. In relation to this and because of my yearn for new experiences, I had long ago sampled the Korean staple food- Kimchi. Kimchi is pickled cabbage covered with hot pepper sauce and it is the most popular dish in Korea. Health Magazine named it one of the 5 healthiest foods in the world, and also claim that the average Korean eats 40 pounds a year of it. How is it possible to eat 40 pounds of cabbage a year? Well, many people Koreans eat it for breakfast lunch and dinner as it is seen as a staple side dish.
Kimchi is high in fiber, low in fat, and packed with vitamins that kill bacteria. Koreans are very prideful about the health impacts of kimchi
There's nearly 200 types of kimchi, but the basic ingredients are cabbage, salt and hot pepper sauce. You can also make it with onions, spices, etc. I have actually always enjoyed it and eat it at least 5 days a week as part of my school's lunch, and often at least once on the weekend either at home or at a restaurant.
Not only is it served as a side dish, but it is also
incorporated into main dishes such as soups, pajeons (veggie pancakes),
and many types of stir fries. I personally LOVE my kimchi hot and my
favorite kimchi dish is Soondubu Chigae (soft tofu and kimchi stew)
 |
| Soondubu Chigae, my favorite! |
 |
| Miyeon and I, making our kimchi ^_^ |
Kimchi has been around for nearly 3,000 years, so it’s a strong element of their culture. People even say "kimchi" when taking a picture, not "cheese." Most importantly, the process of making kimchi is an annual event in which the entire family participates in making kimchi before the winter comes and a lot of the cabbage crops go bad. This happens around early November. A few weekends ago, my good friend Miyeon and I took part in a Kimchi making event. IT was quite fun! Although it wasn't traditional family style, it was still a god experience. And I got to take home 5 KG of free kimchi! Huzzah!!!
 |
| In times past, kimchi used to be stored in stone pots underground, after making our kimchi we were able to see the process in which the pots are made. This is after the molding but before they are fire baked and glazed. |
 |
| And this is after they are baked and glazed. |
No comments:
Post a Comment