VI
EN
Tteokguk
Tteokguk is a traditional Korean New Year's soup. Because of its shape resembling ancient Korean coins and the white color of the rice cakes, this delicious soup symbolizes prosperity and the completeness of all things in the world.
Manduguk
In some regions of South Korea, Manduguk is a substitute for Tteokguk. Additionally, many families in Korea create another version for the New Year, called Tteok Manduguk. This is a combination of Manduguk and Tteokguk, with rice cakes and dumplings as the main ingredients.
Kimchi Mandu
Mandu, also known as dumplings, are a type of Korean steamed bun. If you're a fan of Korean cuisine, you'll surely be familiar with the steaming baskets of dumplings that appear in many reality TV shows. During the Lunar New Year, Korean families will make these small, beautiful dumplings themselves to enjoy or to use as ingredients for Manduguk.
Heart Mattal Jeon
Jeon is made from various ingredients, such as thinly sliced meats, vegetables, and seafood, mixed with flour or egg batter, and then fried. It's a very important appetizer, often placed on ancestral altars on New Year's Day. This visually appealing heart-shaped egg dish is very popular and well-liked in Korea.
Pyogo Beoseot Jeon
Pyogo Beoseot Jeon is made with minced beef and tofu. Alternatively, it can be stuffed with seafood or other ingredients according to personal preference. Shiitake mushroom-stuffed Jeon is a popular Jeon recipe during the New Year in Korea. This dish is particularly high in protein, delicious, and very healthy.
Bulgogi
Bulgogi, originating from the Goguryeo period, is a dish of sweet and savory marinated beef that was a frequent feature on Korean dinner tables during special occasions. Bulgogi is made with the finest, most tender cuts of beef, along with a rich sauce made from soy sauce, sugar, and pear juice. All these ingredients blend together to create an irresistible and captivating dish.
Galbijjim
Galbijjim is a braised pork rib dish often featured during important holidays, especially the traditional Korean Lunar New Year. Tender beef slices are coated in a savory-sweet sauce, enhancing the flavor and making it irresistible to even the most discerning diners.
Japchae
The main ingredients for Japchae are Bouncy glass noodles (which resemble vermicelli), sweet potatoes, and various vegetables. This appetizer is a unique blend of savory and sweet flavors. When enjoyed, diners will experience the delicate harmony between the crispness of the vegetables and the softness of the noodles.
Yaksik
Koreans often prepare the nutritious Yaksik dessert to treat guests during the New Year. One of the main ingredients that gives this dish its perfect sweetness is honey. Other ingredients that make up delicious Yaksik include sweet rice, dried fruits, nuts such as chestnuts, pine nuts, sunflower seeds, along with sauce, honey, soy sauce, sesame oil, and cinnamon powder.
Sujeonggwa
Sujeonggwa is a popular Korean dessert drink made with ginger, cinnamon, and a little sugar. With its sweet, bitter, and aromatic flavor, a cup of Sujeonggwa will warm you up on chilly early-year days in Korea. Additionally, this drink is known for being very good for digestion.
Sikhye
Besides Sujeonggwa, Sikhye is another popular traditional Korean drink, symbolizing a good start to the new year. Sikhye is made from malt flour, sugar, and cooked rice. In addition to its sweet and delicious flavor, Sikhye is also good for digestion.
