The colourful and unique Korean cuisine is known for its rich and diverse culinary traditions that are increasingly gaining global recognition, courtesy of captivating K-dramas. It is characterised by the use of fresh ingredients as well as the blending of spicy, sweet, sour, salty, and umami tastes. Kimchi, bulgogi and bibimbap, along with an assortment of rice and noodle dishes, are some of the most popular dishes. More and more Korean restaurants are opening worldwide. Korean foods also draws the attention of people interested in green lifestyles, due to the wide variety of vegetable dishes. For instance, the snack ‘dalgona’ won the world’s attention after being featured in the popular series ‘Squid Game’, as viewers sought out the snack to experience it. Another influence would be the ‘Fire noodle challenge’, which has been sweeping social media for years.
Tornado Potatoes
Tornado potatoes, also known as twisted or spiral potatoes, are a popular street food in South Korea, but their popularity has extended to many other countries. The simplest method for achieving the spiral cut is using a tornado cutter, but there are other methods to achieve that shape with easily available items at home. To start with, peel the potatoes and cut them into large cubes and put them on a cutting board, align two chopsticks on either side and proceed to slice the potatoes into 2mm to 4mm thick sections. Cut the potato from one end to the other, ensuring not to cut through the potato by guiding the knife down to the level of the chopsticks. Now, insert a skewer into the bottom of the potato and gently pull to achieve the tornado shape. Fry the potato until it turns golden brown and crispy. Sprinkle it with salt, pepper, ketchup or other seasoning of your choice. Each bite is a perfect balance of fluffy potato inside and satisfyingly crunchy on the outside.
Korean Chilli Garlic Potato
Gluten-free and vegan, these lip-smacking potato bites with chilli and garlic are truly remarkable to try out. If you decide to serve them, their mushroom shape is certain to draw your guests’ attention. With a crunch and mouth-melting texture, these potato bites are the perfect starter for a small family to get together. Of course, this also seems to be the ideal recipe for lovers of garlic, and the aroma along with the flavours in this recipe is just astonishing. What you need is simply boiled potatoes, oil, and corn flour to give a chewy texture. Season it up with roasted garlic, some soya sauce for the needed sourness, sugar to balance the sharpness of the sauce, salt, red chilli powder for spiciness, and top it all off with spring onions or coriander for garnish.
Korean Braised Potatoes
Korean braised potatoes, also known as gamja jorim in Korean, are the ultimate comfort side dish, offering a balance of savoury, sweet, and slightly spicy flavours that are irresistible. The potatoes are tender and rich from slow braising in a sauce made of soy sauce, sugar, garlic, and sesame oil, giving them a deep, umami-packed flavour with a satisfying sweetness. The addition of sesame seeds and green onions provides a crunch and freshness, making each bite perfectly balanced. The sweet-savoury sauce coats the potatoes beautifully, giving them a glossy finish that’s both appetising and comforting. The smell of garlic and soy sauce brings warmth that makes you feel like you are truly at home. It is perfect for those days when you want something hearty but not too heavy. It pairs wonderfully with rice, grilled meats, or even on its own as a light snack. If you are looking for a dish that’s full of flavour, easy to prepare and guaranteed to leave everyone wanting more, this is the recipe you need to try.
Korean Sticky Potato
These potatoes are first roasted or pan-fried and then simmered in a sweet soy sauce to give them that sticky and deliciousness. Then add water, soy sauce, corn syrup, sugar, ketchup and garlic. Simmer until potatoes are cooked and the sauce thickens and is no longer runny. The longer you cook, the stickier it will become. Sprinkle it with sesame, and the dish is ready. The key to this potato dish is to make sure they are brown before adding the glaze. It just adds a whole bunch of flavour. Simmer the potatoes in the sauce; the longer they simmer, the thicker and stickier the glaze will get. This recipe is easy and fast, and is a must-try.
Korean Potato Salad
This Korean-style potato salad, also known as ‘Gamja Salad’ in Korean, is a balance of fluffy mashed potatoes, crunchy carrots, fresh cucumber and fatty egg pieces in a sweet and savoury seasoning with rice syrup and mayonnaise. What makes this different from other potato salads is the addition of rice syrup for sweetness and ingredient add-ons like cucumber, carrots, raisins or apples. This salad's consistency is fluffy but still holds its shape. Take the mashed potato and season it with mayonnaise, add the rest of the ingredients and mix in a large bowl. Before serving, it's best to chill the salad in the fridge until it's nice and cold. What’s best about it is you can make this dish ahead of time and serve it when you want.