Korean Summer Foods
- yujinchoiris
- May 1, 2023
- 3 min read
With summer just around the corner, the weather has been warming up and the days getting longer. With the bright sun warming our days and the green grass starting to crop up on our lawns, it is hard to stay immune to the optimism that is in the air. Finally, summer is close! One of the best parts of the summer season is arguably the seasonal food that we get to enjoy in the warmer months, such as fresh peaches and smoky barbeque. It seems many countries have their own summer culinary favourites, and Korea is no exception. In this article, I will be highlighting some of Korea's most popular summer dishes.
1. Kong-guksu
Kong-guksu, a beloved favourite in Korea, is a dish of wheat flour noodles in a cold soy bean soup. The nutty, creamy taste of the soup is lightly seasoned with a sprinkle of salt and the dish is garnished with fresh cucumbers and often a boiled egg for added protein. Although it is not strongly seasoned, the deep flavour of the soup gives the dish a robust, delicious taste. Not only is kong-guksu delightfully refreshing, it is high in nutrients as well. The soy bean soup adds protein and healthy fat, while the cucumber topping promotes much needed hydration in the summer.
2. Samgyetang
Samgyetang is a rich dish of a small chicken stuffed with a variety of nutritious ingredients, such as rice, ginseng, jujube, and garlic. This dish is a summer staple, and it was traditionally eaten on the hottest day of the year, known as sambok. It was eaten as a way to balance body heat with the outside temperature and maintain energy during the hot summer season. Not only is the tender chicken delicious, but this dish is known to have a serious of health benefits such as the promotion of blood circulation and restoration of energy and appetite. Why not try this mouthwatering dish and improve your overall health!
3. Naengmyeon
Naengmyeon is a popular dish featuring thin, chewy buckwheat noodles in either a chilled radish kimchi (dongchimi) broth or smothered in an addictive spicy sauce. The version with the chilled broth is called mul-naengmyeon, and the spicy version is known as bibim naengmyeon. Both are equally delicious and are popular in Korea mainly in the hot summer season, but can be found year-round. The chewy noodles and refreshing broth makes naengmyeon one of the most popular dishes in Korea.
4. Patbingsu
Of course, no summer feast is complete without a sweet treat. Patbingsu is a traditional Korean dessert made of shaved ice topped with a mound of sweet red bean paste and a variety of other toppings, such as nuts, condensed milk, jujubes, or other fruit. Bingsu is now available in hundreds of other innovative flavours such as sweet potato, peach, and matcha, but the original flavour is the red bean version. The dessert is not too sweet, yet the creamy red bean paste and the decadent toppings make for a refreshing, melt-in-your mouth treat that is not to be missed!
5. Sikhye
Sikhye, or rice punch, is a traditional Korean beverage that was often served during special holidays in the past, but is now enjoyed year round, especially in the summer. The sweet, refreshing flavour makes for a perfect escape from the heat of summer. In addition, this delicious beverage is known to have a host of health benefits, such as the prevention of indigestion and promotion of blood circulation. Thus, sikhye is often served in Korean restaurants after a meal to promote digestion and cleanse the palate. If you are looking for a cool drink to quench your thirst this summer, give sikhye a try!
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