Beondegi – a special dish made from pupae
Beondegi (번데기) is a general noun for dishes made from pupae. It is thought that pupae are only used to weave silk, but unexpectedly they also appear in many dishes with the characteristic flavors of the land of kimchi.
Beondegi has a history that began during the Korean War, when the Korean soldiers were fed protein when supplies were scarce. Since then, Beondegi has quickly become popular with the majority of Koreans until today.
Korean locals love to eat Beondegi. The proof is that Korean tourists only need to walk around the food streets to see many stalls selling this dish. And Beondegi itself is also an attractive street food that attracts many diners.
How to prepare BEONDEGI?
To make Beondegi, the pupae are first processed by smoking or boiling. Then, depending on each person's taste, there will be different ways of processing and seasoning.
The most typical way to prepare it is to stir-fry the pupae with spices. The vendor will place them on a large pan and season them to create a salty and sweet taste for the dish. When the pupae are dry and blistered, they can be enjoyed immediately.
Beondegi is often found in Korean family meals or on the menus of traditional restaurants. To enhance the flavor, these pupae are stewed with vegetables, stir-fried, or skewered. People even combine pupae with cheese or eat them with instant noodles, which is a very unique way to enjoy them.
BEONDEGI FLAVOR CHARACTERISTICS
Beondegi has a distinctive flavor that is so pungent that you can smell it from afar. Many who have tasted this dish say that it has a similar flavor to crab. In addition, the appearance of the dry, blistered pupae has also frightened many people when they see it.
Although Beondegi does not look appealing, if you dare to try it once, you will feel a very different taste. Inside the crispy and well-seasoned crust is an attractive fatty flavor. Just a light bite will spread it throughout the mouth, making everyone ecstatic.
BEONDEGI – NUTRITIONAL FOOD FOR THE BODY
With the main ingredient being pupae, Beondegi brings a lot of nutrients to the body. Such as providing natural sources of protein, calcium, phosphorus... and Koreans also take advantage of them to supplement their health.
Therefore, you can see Beondegi sold everywhere, from street stalls to restaurants. In addition, there are also fast food boxes made from pupae, sold in all supermarkets here. To help diners save time to enjoy this nutritious and unique Beondegi dish.
