A collage of traditional Korean Chuseok dishes: songpyeon, jeon, galbi-jjim, and hangwa, showcasing the variety of festive foods

Top 5 Chuseok Dishes You Must Try

Introduction

Chuseok, also known as Koreaā€™s harvest festival, is known to be a time to eat, drink, and spend time with your loved ones. If youā€™re going to visit Korea during or even after Chuseok, then read more to find out the top five Chuseok dishes you must try.Ā 

Are you ready to get hungry? Letā€™s jump right in!

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1) SongpyeonĀ (ģ†”ķŽø)

Songpyeon (half-moon shaped rice cakes) in white and purple colors, decorated with flower designs, arranged on pine needles in a red plate


You may have or have not heard about this famous classic Chuseok treat, but Songpyeon is a half-moon shaped rice cake that comes in many colors. You can find them anywhere as they are sold in most markets.

Songpyeon is made from kneaded flour, and then formed into half-moon shapes. There are different types of fillings such as sesame seeds, brown sugar, or nuts, and usually, many add vegetable juice in the batter to make Songpyeonā€™s colorful. The half-moon cakes are then steamed on top of pine needles, and once itā€™s done, you can gobble them up as many as youā€™d like!

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2) JapchaeĀ Ā (ģž”ģ±„)

A bowl of japchae (stir-fried glass noodles) with vegetables and sesame seeds


High in calories but all the more delicious, Japchae is made from potato starch-based noodles and is stir-fried with vegetables, egg or meat, and seasoned with sesame oil and soy sauce. Japchae is known to be an important dish too for most holidays, including Chuseok. Just like Jeon, Japchae takes time to make so many would head over to the market or their local store to get some ready-made japchae for their table.



3) HangwaĀ (ķ•œź³¼)

An assortment of colorful Korean rice cakes and sweets (hangwa) arranged on a woven basket plate with a teapot


Hangwa are traditional Korean confections and are important for the Chuseok table. There are a variety of Hangwa that come in different shapes, sizes and colors. Hangwaā€™s are snacks made from glutinous rice flour dough and is either steamed, dried, fried, or coated with grain syrup. They are eaten inĀ mostĀ celebrations and can easily be found in traditional markets for an affordable price.Ā 

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4) JeonĀ (ģ „)

A Korean pancake (jeon) made with vegetables, being dipped in sauce using chopsticks


Jeon, also known as buchimgae (
ė¶€ģ¹Øź°œ)Ā Korean pancakes, are a must on every Koreanā€™s table in holidays. It looks like an omelette, but the batter is different because of its variety of ingredients.

In Chuseok, Jeon usually include minced pork, beef, fish, pumpkin, green chili pepper, or tofu. The classic Jeon is called pajeon (
ķŒŒģ „)Ā made from pa (ķŒŒ)Ā meaning onion in Korea, that acts as a main ingredient. However, you can try a lot of other famous types of Jeon if youā€™re feeling a little bit more adventurous.

  • KimchijeonĀ (ź¹€ģ¹˜ģ „)Ā - Made from KimchiĀ (ź¹€ģ¹˜)
  • GamjajeonĀ (ź°ģžģ „)Ā - Made from potato (ź°ģž,Ā gamja)
  • Haemulpajeon (ķ•“ė¬¼ķŒŒģ „)Ā Made from seafood (ķ•“ė¬¼,Ā haemul)Ā 
  • Modeum JeonĀ (ėŖØė“¬ģ „)Ā - Made from simple battered vegetables

Jeon might look easy to make, but it is time consuming so many prefer to buy some from the market to save time.Ā 

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5) Galbi-jjimĀ (ź°ˆė¹„ģ°œ)

A bowl of galbi-jjim (braised short ribs) with vegetables in a rich brown sauce


Galbi-jjim is made with either pork ribs or beef and is simmered in soy sauce, sugar, and other ingredients to make it more flavorful. The meat is super tender and once you eat it, you wonā€™t be able to stop yourself. This dish is best served with rice, and is usually the centerpiece on the table.Ā 


Conclusion

Traditional Korean delicacies are a must-try if youā€™re going to visit Korea during Chuseok. You wonā€™t just experience the joy of savoring these classic dishes, but also experience the culture and history of Korea. These dishes are sure to bring a smile to your face, and make your visit to Korea worth it.

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Image Sources

https://www.maangchi.com/recipe/songpyeon

https://www.thekitchn.com/japchae-recipe-2-23470982

https://en.gastronomiac.com/lexicon/hangwa-korean-cuisine/

https://www.masterclass.com/articles/jeon-recipe

https://www.koreanbapsang.com/galbijjim-korean-braised-beef-short/

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Author: Aaliyah







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