There’s nothing that screams comfort more than coming home after a year-long worth of school, stress, exams, and dorm food. As the summer season arrives and many are now on summer vacation, students are returning to their hometowns from university. If there’s one thing you absolutely need to do once you’re back home, it’s definitely eating some good homemade comfort meals. Here are ten of the best Korean comfort meals to try:
1. Kimchi Jjigae: One of the best meals you can ever have is a bowl of hot, steaming soup. And there’s nothing that screams Korean comfort food more than the classic kimchi jjigae. The rich, spicy broth, pieces of sliced kimchi, tofu, and a bowl of steaming rice make for a mouth-watering combination.
2. Juk: Also known as rice porridge, while it’s not commonly eaten daily, it’s a great way to get your body back on track after you’ve been sick. It’s definitely one of the most sought-after foods after an upset stomach or fever. What makes juk even better is that you can add whatever ingredients you want, as it comes in many different flavor combinations. Since juk is usually bland in taste I like to add a bit of salt to it.
3. Bulgogi: There’s nothing like the smell of freshly cooked bulgogi wafting from the kitchen and permeating the entire house. The bulgogi smell is as traditionally Korean as you can get. A simple, yet complex dish full of flavor. Pair it with some lettuce and a hot bowl of steaming rice, and your stomach will thank you.
4. Miyeok Guk: Although traditionally eaten during birthday celebrations, miyeok guk, also known as seaweed soup, remains one of the best comfort foods in Korea. Not only does it provide a deep flavor, but it’s also a lot simpler to make than it looks.
5. Gyeran Jjim: Fluffy, creamy, and airy gyeran jjim is definitely a Korean comfort food item that you need at the table. The key aspect is that it has to be steamed in one of those clay pots to get the full effect.
6. Doenjang Jjigae: A lot of Korean comfort foods lean towards soups and stews, so we can’t skip out on one of the best soups of all time: doenjang jjigae, also known as soybean soup. Its rich, fermented soybean flavor provides such an umami taste that it’s hard not to love it.
7. Bibimbap: Basically everything and anything, except the kitchen sink. Bibimbap has become a staple comfort food in many Korean households over the years. The beautiful arrangement of colors from all the vegetables, your choice of different proteins, and the crispy rice at the bottom of the bowl create a wonderful mix of flavors, colors, and tastes.
8. Gomtang: The hours spent boiling oxtail bones to get that clear, white broth are worth all the effort. What makes this soup so tasty is the fact that you can adjust how much salt you want to add. The dish itself doesn’t look like much, but once you dip your spoon into the broth, there’s no turning back.
9. Tteokguk: Not a commonly eaten soup, but tteokguk, also known as rice cake soup, is known to be a soup that brings a lot of healing. The chewy rice cakes, thin strips of egg, and pieces of roasted seaweed make tteokguk a beloved dish.
10. Muguk: Radish soup is also a great comfort dish. A key note when making muguk is to ensure you get the Korean radish that’s in season. Usually, Korean radishes are quite bitter if not in season and can ruin the taste of your soup.
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