Samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup)

Samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup) (Korean Bapsang)

Samgyetang is a chicken soup made with a small, whole chicken and ginseng. It’s an iconic summer dish in Korea. As strange as it sounds, Koreans eat this boiling-hot soup to beat the heat and stay energized during the summer. In my house, it’s a nourishing comfort food that we enjoy all year around.

Typically, samgyetang is made with a young chicken, which is known as a Cornish hen in the U.S., for its tender and tasty meat. If you need to feed more people, cook two small chickens in a larger pot rather than a large chicken.

The chicken is stuffed with soaked sweet rice (a.k.a. glutinous rice). Garlic, ginger and jujubes (dried red dates) are other common ingredients. Some people stuff the chicken with ginseng, jujubes, etc., along with the rice, but I like to boil them in the broth to draw out the maximum flavors. Whatever you do, leave enough room in the cavity for the rice to expand in volume as it cooks, or the rice will be undercooked.

The ginseng-flavored meat is tasty and tender, and the broth is rich and delicious. Also, the sticky rice stuffing that’s infused with the chicken and ginseng flavors is to die for. If you’re trying it for the first time, samgyetang will be nothing like any other chicken soup you’ve had before.

1 to 2 servings

Ingredients:

● 1 small, young chicken (about 700 grams)

● 1 fresh ginseng root

● 3 tablespoons sweet rice, soaked for 1 hour (yields about 4 tablespoons soaked)

● 5-6 plump garlic cloves

● 1 thin ginger slice (about 2.5 centimeters)

● 2 to 3 jujubes (dried red dates)

● 1 scallion (white part)

● 5-6 cups of water

● 2 scallions, finely chopped, to garnish

● Salt and pepper to serve on the side


Clean the chicken. Do not cut off the neck or tail if they are still attached. They help keep the rice inside the cavity. Place the cleaned chicken on a cutting board or a large plate. Clean the inside of the cavity with a paper towel to remove the blood.

Stuff the cavity with the sweet rice and a couple of garlic cloves, leaving room (about 1/4 of the cavity) for the rice to expand as it cooks. 

Tightly close the cavity with a toothpick or a small skewer. This will keep the rice inside the cavity while being cooked. Then, cross the legs and tie together with kitchen twine. Or, you can make a cut on the bottom part of one thigh and insert the other thigh through to keep the legs crossed.

In a medium-size pot, place the chicken and add 5 to 6 cups of water (or enough to cover the chicken). Add the garlic, ginger, jujubes and ginseng to the pot. If the chicken came with the neck cut off, add to the pot. 

Bring it to a boil over medium heat. Skim off the foam on top. Cover, and boil for 20 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium-low and boil, covered, for about 20 to 30 minutes. Adjust boiling time depending on the size of the chicken.

Spoon off any visible fat. Serve piping hot with the chopped scallions and salt and pepper on the side so each person can season to taste.

Oi kimchi (cucumber kimchi)

Oi kimchi (cucumber kimchi) (Korean Bapsang)

One of the greatest joys of summer is the abundance of fresh vegetables. Here, I made a quick and easy kimchi with cucumbers. Summer cucumbers are very crispy and tasty! Always look for cucumbers that are firm and slender. Lightly salt the cucumbers first and let them stand for a while to draw out water. This process gives the cucumbers an extra crunch. You can eat this cucumber kimchi 20 to 30 minutes after making it. If you like it mellow, leave it out at room temperature for a few hours overnight. It is best eaten within three to four days.

Ingredients:

● 3 Korean cucumbers or 5 to 6 kirby (pickling) cucumbers

● 1 tablespoon coarse sea salt (less if using table salt)

● 1/4 small onion, thinly sliced

● 1 to 2 scallions, roughly chopped 

● 1 1/2 tablespoons Korean red chili pepper flakes (gochugaru) (use 2 tablespoons for spicier kimchi)

● 1 tablespoon fish sauce (myulchi aekjeot)

● 1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic

● 1/4 teaspoon grated ginger

● 1/2 teaspoon sugar

● 1 teaspoon sesame seeds

Cut the cucumbers crosswise into 4-centimeter-long pieces. Quarter each piece lengthwise. Sprinkle the salt evenly all over the cucumber pieces. Let them sit for about 30 minutes.

Drain the cucumbers in a strainer to remove any water. Do not rinse the cucumbers.

Add the onions, scallions and all the remaining ingredients to the salted cucumbers.

Toss everything until the cucumbers are well coated with the seasonings. The cucumbers will look dry at this point but will release moisture as they absorb the seasonings. 

Hobak buchim (zucchini pancakes)

Hobak buchim (zucchini pancakes) (Korean Bapsang)

One of my favorite things to make with summer zucchinis is hobak buchim. Like pajeon and kimchijeon, hobak buchim (also called buchimgae) is a variation of savory Korean pancakes. You can make this recipe simply with zucchini, or add some other vegetables such as perilla leaves, chili peppers, scallions or onions to complement. I added sliced sweet onions in this recipe. Salt the julienned zucchinis and squeeze out the liquid for a crunchy texture. Save the zucchini-flavored liquid to make the batter. This recipe makes a few small pancakes, but you can make them larger, and then cut them into small pieces before serving, or simply tear them with chopsticks as you eat. 

Ingredients:

● 1 medium zucchini (about 220 grams)

● 1/2 teaspoon salt

● 1/4 medium onion, thinly sliced

● 1/2 cup flour or buchim garu (Korean pancake mix)

● 1 egg

● Vegetable or canola oil for frying

Cut the zucchini into match sticks. Place in a bowl and sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Let it sit for about 15 minutes until it is wilted and has released some liquid. Squeeze the liquid out from the zucchini, keeping the liquid in the bowl. 

Add the onion slices, egg and flour (or buchim garu) to the bowl. Mix well with a spoon. If the zucchini mix is too stiff, add a tablespoon or two of water.

Heat a skillet with two tablespoons of oil over medium heat. Add about 2 heaping tablespoons of the batter and spread it evenly into a thin round shape. Depending on the size of the pan, you can cook 4 to 5 pancakes at once. Cook until the bottom is light golden brown, about 2 minutes. 

Turn it over, adding more oil, and press it down with a spatula. Cook until the other side is light golden brown, about 2 minutes. 

Repeat the process with the remaining batter. Serve hot with a dipping sauce.

Dwaejigogi doenjang gui (doenjang marinated pork)

Dwaejigogi doenjang gui (doenjang marinated pork) (Korean Bapsang)

This doenjang (Korean fermented soybean paste) marinated pork is another great option for your Korean BBQ this summer. No doubt, pork marinated in a spicy gochujang sauce ― dwaeji bulgogi (aka jeyuk bokkeum) ― is more popular these days. But this preparation, which is also known as maekjeok, dates back to early Korean history, long before chili peppers were introduced to Korea. Maekjeok evolved over time, and it’s believed to be the origin of today’s bulgogi. 

Pork butt (aka Boston butt) is the best cut of meat for this dish. Pork loin works well too. The salty, savory doenjang adds a deep umami flavor to the pork without overpowering it. I added a little bit of acidity to the marinade to brighten the doenjang taste and bring the flavors together. Doenjang-flavored pork pairs well with buchu (garlic chives). I served it on a bed of stir-fried garlic chives and minari (water dropwort) along with the vegetables in which to wrap the meat and ssamjang.


Ingredients:
450 grams pork (Boston butt or loin), thinly sliced 

For the marinade:

1 1/2 tablespoons doenjang (Korean fermented soybean paste)
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons rice wine
1 teaspoon vinegar or lemon juice
1 tablespoon sesame oil
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon sugar
2 tablespoons grated onion
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon finely grated (or juiced) ginger
Pepper to taste

For optional vegetables:

60 grams buchu (garlic chives)
60 grams minari (water dropwort) 
Salt to taste
Oil for stir-frying

For the wraps:
1 or 2 heads of red or green leaf lettuce
10 to 15 perilla leaves (kkaennip)
Crown daisy (ssukgat)
Ssamjang

Thinly slice the meat, if not presliced.

Combine all the marinade ingredients in a bowl and mix well.

Add the meat, and mix well until evenly coated. Marinate for at least 30 minutes.

Cut the optional vegetables into 5-7 centimeter lengths. Heat a skillet with a tablespoon of oil, and briefly stir-fry the vegetables until slightly wilted. Salt to taste. Transfer to a plate.

Heat a grill pan or a skillet over medium-high heat and add the pork slices. Immediately lower the heat to medium. The marinade will burn if the heat is too high. Cook until the pork is cooked through and slightly caramelized, one to two minutes each side. Turn over a couple of times to prevent the marinade from burning.

Serve on a bed of the optional stir-fried vegetables along with the vegetables for the wraps and ssamjang.

Hwachae (Korean traditional fruit punch)

Hwachae (Korean traditional fruit punch) (Korean Bapsang)

Hwachae is a Korean traditional fruit punch, which is made with various fruits and sweet drinks. There are many variations, and some are even made with edible flower petals or grains such as barley or rice cakes. Traditionally, the base drink is water sweetened with honey, syrup or sugar. These days, carbonated drinks and fruit juices are also commonly used. Hwachae made with watermelon (subak) is a summer favorite. I made it here with ginger ale, but any clear carbonated drink works well. I also added a little bit of drinking vinegar made with black raspberries (bokbunja) to add color, acidity and, of course, another layer of flavor. You can use pomegranate or cranberry juice as a substitute. Add any other fruit you like. I added some deliciously ripe honeydew. If you want to make it really fancy, add some rice cake balls, which aren’t hard to make. Play around with different fruits and drinks, and enjoy hwachae this summer. It’s easy, refreshing and full of summer flavor! 

4 servings

Ingredients:

● about 2 cups watermelon, balled or cubed
● about 1 1/2 cups honeydew, balled or cubed
● 2 cups ginger ale
● 3 tablespoons Korean drinking vinegar (or pomegranate or cranberry juice)
● pine nuts for garnish ― optional

12-16 rice cake balls (gyeongdan) ― optional (Recipe follows.)


Make the optional rice cake balls as shown below. 

Scoop out watermelon and honeydew with a melon-baller. (Or, cut into about bite size cubes.) Place them in a large bowl along with any juice from the fruit. 

Add the ginger ale and the drinking vinegar (or pomegranate or cranberry juice) to the fruits. Stir gently. Taste the drink and adjust acidity or sweetness by adding more drinking vinegar (or juice) or sugar.

Simple rice cake balls:
● 1/2 cup sweet/glutinous rice powder, chapssal garu
● 2 teaspoons sugar
● pinch of salt
● 4 tablespoons boiling hot water

Mix the rice powder, sugar and salt in a bowl. Mix in the boiling hot water with a spoon. When cool enough to handle, knead by hand until a dough is formed. 

Shape the dough into a 2-centimeter thick cylinder. Cut into (or pinch off) about 2-centimeter pieces. Roll each piece between the palms to make a small ball. 

Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add the rice cake balls. Cook until all the balls float. Transfer to a large bowl with cold water to cool. Drain. 

Kkaennip (perilla leaf) jeon

Kkaennip (perilla leaf) jeon (Korean Bapsang)

Kkaennip (perilla leaf) jeon is a type of jeon that’s pan-fried in egg batter, similar to jeon dishes such as hobakjeon (zucchini) and saengseonjeon (fish). It’s a variation that’s stuffed before being coated with the egg batter. The perilla leaves lend a distinct, robust flavor to the mildly flavored filling and provide an overall textural contrast. You can also stuff zucchini rounds (by cutting out the middle interior) or green chili peppers with the same filling for more variations. Enjoy it as an appetizer or side dish with any Korean meal.

Ingredients:

12 kkaennip (perilla) pieces

For the stuffing:
100 grams zucchini and 1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 small carrot
2 to 3 mushroom caps
1/4 small onion
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
100 grams ground beef (or pork)
1 teaspoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon sesame oil
Salt (about 1/4 teaspoon) and pepper
1 tablespoon of egg batter

For the batter:
1/4 cup flour
3 large eggs, beaten
Oil for panfrying

Finely chop the zucchini. Lightly salt. Set aside for about 10 minutes. Squeeze out the liquid. 

Finely chop the carrot, mushrooms and onion. Combine all the stuffing ingredients well by hand until evenly blended. 

Wash both sides of the perilla leaves under running water, one leaf at a time. Shake off the excess water. Do not dry completely. Dredge both sides of the perilla leaves in the flour, one leaf at a time.

Place a perilla leaf on your hand. Add about a tablespoon of stuffing to the upper half of the perilla leaf. Spread evenly with a spoon. Bring the other half of the leaf over to cover the stuffing. Lightly flatten it with your hand (do this step for each leaf before the next step).

Heat a large nonstick skillet and lightly oil, using a couple of teaspoons of oil, over medium-low heat. Dip each stuffed leaf, one at a time, in the egg batter, carefully placing it in the heated skillet. You can cook a few of them at once. 

Cook each side for 2 to 3 minutes, adding a teaspoon or two of oil, until slightly golden without browning. Repeat until all the pieces are panfried. Serve warm with a dipping sauce.

Bibim guksu (spicy cold noodles)

Bibim guksu (spicy cold noodles) (Korean Bapsang)

Bibim guksu is a cold noodle dish that is usually made with thin wheat flour noodles (somyeon) or buckwheat noodles (memil guksu). The noodles are typically mixed in a sweet and sour gochujang sauce along with crisp fresh vegetables. You can toss it all together before serving, or arrange everything in a serving bowl so it can be mixed at the table. The latter allows each person to adjust the amount of sauce to his or her liking. 

As with its rice counterpart, bibimbap, this is a very versatile dish. A simple version I recall from my childhood is made only with sliced kimchi and fresh cucumbers. I added red cabbage and lettuce here to create a nice combination of colors, flavors and textures. Carrots, scallions, kkaennip (perilla leaves) or colorful bell peppers would be excellent additions as well. This spicy, cold noodle dish is perfect for warm days.

2 servings

Ingredients:

● 8 ounces buckwheat (memil guksu) or thin wheat flour noodles (somyeon)

● 1 small cucumber, julienned

● 3 to 4 red cabbage leaves, thinly sliced

● 3 to 4 lettuce leaves, thinly sliced

● 1/2 cup thinly sliced kimchi

● 1 boiled egg, cut in half 

Sauce:
● 3 tablespoons gochujang (red chili pepper paste) 

● 1 tablespoon gochugaru (red chili pepper flakes) 

● 1 teaspoon hot mustard paste (gyeoja) ― optional 

● 2 tablespoons sugar (or honey or corn syrup) 

● 2 tablespoons rice vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)

● 1 tablespoon soy sauce

● 1 tablespoon sesame oil

● 1 teaspoon sesame seeds

● 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic

Mix all sauce ingredients, and keep it cool in the fridge. 

Prepare the vegetables, and keep them cool in the fridge, too, or in ice water (drain before using).

Bring a medium pot of water to a boil. Cook the noodles according to the package instructions. Drain quickly and shock in icy cold water to stop cooking. Drain and rinse in icy cold water again until the noodles are very cold. Make two one-serving size mounds. Place the mounds in a colander to drain.

Place the noodles in the middle of the serving bowl and nicely arrange the vegetables over the noodles. Top with half a boiled egg. Drop a few ice cubes so the noodles can stay cool while eating. The sauce can be served on top or separately.