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22 recipes · South Korea

Korean kitchen

22 Korean recipes you can cook at home, from Beef Bibimbap, Beef Bulgogi and Dakbokkeumtang (Korean Spicy Chicken Stew) to Hotteok (Korean Sweet Pancakes).

22 recipes

About Korean food

The Korean kitchen

Rice, soup and small shared sides give many meals in South Korea their shape. Fermented cabbage, soy sauce and chile pastes bring depth, while garlic, scallions and sesame oil give quick stir-fries and gently simmered soups a recognizable finish. The table can hold both fiery food and mild greens or broth.

Start with a few versatile seasonings and learn what each contributes: gochujang is thick and sweet-hot, gochugaru is fruity dried chile, and sesame oil is a finishing aroma as much as a cooking fat. Serve a bold main with plain rice and one or two vegetable sides, letting the contrasts do the work.

Questions, answered

Is all Korean food spicy?

No. Clear soups, sesame-seasoned greens, rice porridge and many soy-based braises are mild. Chile heat is one part of the cooking, balanced by plain rice and gentler side dishes.

What is the difference between gochujang and gochugaru?

Gochujang is a fermented chile paste with sweetness, salt and body. Gochugaru is dried chile flakes or powder. They do different jobs and cannot always replace each other spoon for spoon.

What are banchan?

Banchan are small side dishes served with a meal, often shared. They can include seasoned vegetables, kimchi, braised foods and other preparations that add contrast to rice and the main.

Is kimchi vegetarian?

Not always. Many kinds contain fish sauce or salted seafood. Check the ingredient list or choose kimchi specifically labeled vegan when preparing a vegetarian meal.

What Korean dishes can I make at home?

Start with Beef Bibimbap, Beef Bulgogi, Croffles, Dakbokkeumtang (Korean Spicy Chicken Stew) and Dakgalbi. Every recipe here is written for a home kitchen, with substitutes for anything hard to find.

What's the quickest Korean recipe?

Dalgona Coffee, ready in 10 min.