subject: Korean Treats to Heat You Up This Winter Part1 [print this page] Korean Treats to Heat You Up This Winter Part1
What's the best way to survive Korea's long cold winters? Try munching on a freshly roasted sweet potato or one of the countless other steamy snacks that have been sold by Korean street vendors since the olden days. And don't forget to stock up on kimchi by helping with gimjang, the yearly kimchi making ritual that occurs right before the cold winter sets in. Read on to learn more about how to eat yourself to health and happiness this winter!
Winter Street Snacks
Only seen on the streets after the frost sets in, the most popular winter snacks are baked sweet potatoes, roasted chestnuts, hoppang (steamed buns) and bungeobbang (fish shaped red bean pastry). Despite Korea's rapid development, these traditional snacks remain almost unchanged, bring back vivid childhood memories for Korean who stops for a bite. Warm up while take a bite of traditional Korean culture!
Bungeobbang / Ingeobang (fish-shaped pastry filled with sweet red bean paste)
The bungeobbang or ingeobbang, also known as hwanggeum Ingeobbang (golden fish shaped bun), is made of wheat flour and glutinous rice flour dough filled with red bean paste. Bungeobbang is chewier than hobbang because of the glutinous rice flour. The bungeoppang bakers can be seen all over the streets of Seoul and the fruits of their labour can be smelled all around. Five bungeobbang can be bought for just 2,000!
It is said that the way you eat your bungeobbang says a lot about your character. Do you eat yours head first or tail first? If you answered "head first", you are probably a positive and passionate person. If you are a "tail first" person, you are likely to be sensitve, romantic and fashionable. Of course, it's just for fun, but try testing out your friends!
[ For Fun ] Bungeoppang Character Analysis
*Eats head first:An easy-going optimist, unconcerned with trivial things. Says whatever comes to mind, is passionate, but the passion can dwindle easily.
*Eats tail first: Cautious. A romanticist concerned with the smallest things; is slow in catching onto other's feelings.
*Eats stomach first: Masculine, active, bright, and outgoing.
*Eats fins first:Temperamental and childish. A loner.
*Cuts it in half and eats the tail first: Polite, good at saving money, and a rationalist.
*Cuts it in half and eats the head first: Strong willed who goes through with a plan once it is decided. Stingy, and does not like to lend money.
Hobbang (steamed bun)
Along with the cold winds and early sunset, hobbang is a sign that winter has arrived in Korea. Although there is not a specific reason for hoppang to be a winter snack, it is not seen in any other season. Hoppang is made of wheat flour dough filled with red bean paste, and other types of fillings including vegetable, pizza, curry, and more. Hoppang usually costs about 700 ~ 1000, and is found in convenience store or small supermarkets. They are warm and filling.
Baked Sweet Potatoes and Roasted Chestnuts
Chestnuts are autumn nuts, and sweet potatoes are ripe for gathering in November. Thus, late fall begins the roasted chestnuts and baked sweet potatoe season.
Roasted chestnuts are actually broiled and they take a long time to cook thoroughly. Thoroughly cooked chestnuts are not only tastier, but are easier to peel and eat. They are usually sold in small paper bags, and cost about 2,000 ~ 3,000. However, prices may vary depending on the size of the bag or the amount of chestnuts.
Baked sweet potatoes are usually baked over a hot fire in a large iron barrel. Baked sweet potatoes are sweeter than steamed sweet potatoes, and are best to eat when they are hot. Although prices vary depending on the size, they generally cost about 2,000 for 3 potatoes.
Both of these snacks are usually found near resident houses, subway stations, or schools. Many young college students sell them in the wintertime as a side job.
Tteokbokki(spicy Korean rice cakes)
Tteokbokki is one of the most famous street dishes in Korea. It has a very distinctive spicy, yet sweet flavor. Garae Tteok are long, white rice cakes that are sliced and then boiled, and are traditionally served on New Year's Day, one of Korea's major holidays. However, Garae Tteok can be enjoyed all year round in Tteokbokki. Here they are mixed with eomuk, boiled fish paste and various fried foods, and then this is all marinated with red pepper paste and cooked over a fire. It is accompanied hot drink, which is made of the broth used to boil the eomuk. The dish is especially popular during the cold winter seasons as tteokbokki and hot eomuk broth warm up the body and cure hunger pains. It's a dish that is enjoyed by people of all ages. Tteokbokki is sold by street vendors and can be found in all the busy locations in Seoul, such as Myeong-dong and Jongno. The dish usually ranges from 2,500 won to 3,000 won per serving and the complimentary hot eomuk broth is refillable.
Kkochi Eomuk(skewered fish cake)
As the cold winter winds and freezing weather settle in, Koreans begin to crave delicious eomuk skewers. Broad and flat eomuk is prepared on skewers, then boiled in water flavored with radishes and kelp. This creates a richly flavoured broth, which can be sipped on while eating the skewers. The eomuk is not spicy at all, so everyone, including young children and people not accustomed to spicy food can enjoy it. Eat it along with Eomuk to compliment tteokbokki's spicy taste. A tip for eating great eomuk: select an eomuk skewer that has been brewing in the broth for a long time and dip it in the soy sauce marinade. These days, in addition to regular eomuk skewers, red-colored eomuk is becoming popular. It is marinated in red pepper paste and boiled in only a small amount of broth, so it has a distinctive spicy flavour.
Eomuk skewers will usually cost anywhere from 500 won to 1000 won, and they are sold on almost every street during the winter.
