Baechu Kimchi (Napa Cabbage Kimchi)
You could say that Korean cuisine revolves around this spicy fermented Napa cabbage, which is why "kimchi season" is such a big deal in Korea. Families and often entire communities gather around mountains of cabbage to make this all-important staple, which is eaten with everything from steamed rice to instant ramyeon.
Sigeumchi Namul (Korean Marinated Spinach Banchan)
This classic banchan, or side dish, of blanched spinach marinated in garlicky sesame dressing, is as ubiquitous as baechu kimchi—served with Korean barbecue, soup noodles, spicy cheesy chicken, or plain rice. It's easy to make ahead so you can have a stash in your fridge at any time.
Jangajji (Korean Soy Sauce-Pickled Vegetables and Chiles)
Pickling is a huge part of Korean cooking and this jangajji is one of the quickest methods. You simply pour the hot brine over seasonal vegetables of your choice and let it pickle for at least 24 hours. It'll keep up to a month in the fridge.
Gamja Bokkeum (Korean Sweet Soy-Glazed Potatoes)
These glossy, sticky glazed potatoes are too good not to eat in one sitting. They're shallow-fried to crisp up the exterior, then braised in a savory-sweet soy sauce mixture until the interior is tender and creamy.
Continue to 5 of 26 belowGaji-Namul (Korean Marinated Eggplant Banchan)
Whether you're grilling galbi short ribs indoors or firing up the backyard barbecue, this sweet, savory, smoky summer banchan is the perfect accompaniment. The eggplant is roasted to draw out moisture so it can absorb more of the flavorful marinade and torn into strips for textural contrast.
Kkakdugi (Radish Kimchi)
If you're a fan of complex funk, then this crunchy fermented radish is for you. The inherent sweetness of the daikon and Korean moo radish balances nicely with the layers of savoriness from fish sauce and preserved shrimp and the spicy kick from fruity gochugaru—massaged in at the beginning to start the brining process and stain the radish a vibrant hue.
Stir-Fried Anchovy Banchan (Myeolchi Bokkeum)
Coated in a sweet-spicy-savory glaze, these stir-fried dried baby anchovies are an excellent banchan, not to mention a great snack...especially when you're throwing back shots of soju (as they often do in K-dramas). You can put this together in minutes and keep it in your fridge for whenever the munchies strike.
Oi Muchim (Korean Marinated Cucumber Banchan)
Tart, spicy, and slightly sweet, these make-ahead marinated cucumber slices are ideal for entertaining and offer a bright and refreshing alternative to dill sandwich pickles. Layer them on your burger or fried fish sandwich.
Continue to 9 of 26 belowKorean Corn Cheese
What is it about ooey, gooey, hot melted cheese and drinking? In Korea, this fondue-like concoction of canned corn topped with bubbly, molten cheese is one of the more popular anju offerings, or dishes specially designed to be served with alcohol. Our recipe swaps out canned corn (introduced during the Korean War) for fresh, though you could use frozen corn.
Korean-Style Fire Chicken (Buldak) With Cheese
This is hot chicken, Korean-style. It's tailor-made for partying—layered with different forms of chiles and pepper for depth and plenty of cheese to temper the heat. Who needs buffalo wings on game day when you can dig into a fiery skillet of buldak chicken and cheese?
Crispy Kimchi Cheese Rice
I don't know about you, but I purposely make extra rice just so I can have leftovers...to do stuff like this. Mix it with gochujang, soy sauce, and rice vinegar, crisp it up in a well-buttered cast iron skillet, layered with melted cheese and topped with kimchi and a shower of chopped scallions. Now, where's my beer?
Sweet Potato and Sausage Jeon With Yangnyeom Dipping Sauce
Stroll through any street market in Korea and you'll likely find several vendors frying up golden crispy pancakes called jeon—sliced meat, seafood, or vegetables (or a combination) bound in a light batter. Served hot or at room temperature, they can work as a side dish or an anju. Here, we've incorporated the flavor of Thanksgiving with sweet potato and sausage.
Continue to 13 of 26 belowCrispy Kimchi Pancakes With Shrimp
If you've gone through the trouble of making your own kimchi (and even if you haven't), don't let the precious brine go to waste. Add it to jeon batter and make these crispy shrimp pancakes, which are a great appetizer or snack.
Korean Fried Cauliflower (Vegan)
Kenji's vegan answer to the popular Korean fried chicken is these battered and deep-fried cauliflower florets, coated in spicy-sweet chili sauce and sprinkled with sesame seeds. So tasty, you won't miss the wings.
Kimchi and Spam Fried Rice
To some, kimchi fried rice with spam is the ultimate drunk food; to others, it's the breakfast of champions (or the world's best hangover cure). All the more reason to keep a can or two of spam in the pantry and a big jar of kimchi and a pot of leftover rice in the fridge. (See, I told you that was a reason why I always make extra rice!)
Kimbap (Korean Seaweed Rice Rolls)
Gimbap is perhaps the most popular on-the-go food in Korea—found in school lunches, workplace cafeterias, convenience stores, and even shops dedicated solely to making and selling varieties of seaweed rice rolls. You can start with classic fillings like what we have here, or use leftover banchan, tuna salad, avocado, bulgogi, and more.
Continue to 17 of 26 belowHomestyle Bibimbap
Like gimbap, bibimbap is another popular rice-based dish. You can go with our version here, seasoning each component separately. Or, you can go rogue and assemble it with a combination of freshly made components, like the ground beef, carrots, and beansprouts, and already-made banchan from the fridge. Top it with a fried egg, and you've got yourself a well-balanced meal.
Dwaeji Bulgogi (Korean-Style Spicy Grilled Pork)
Gochujang in the marinade provides the sweet background notes for this char-grilled pork favorite. Just be sure to choose a fattier cut of meat so it stays tender and juicy. The dish is traditionally served with lettuce and perilla leaves for wrapping, lots of ssamjang sauce, steamed rice, and a host of banchan on the side.
Grilled Beef Galbi (Korean-Style Marinated Short Ribs)
When it comes to Korean-style barbecue, you can't go wrong with beef short ribs or galbi. Asian pear in the marinade is what provides the galbi with its distinctive sweet flavor. Don't forget the kitchen shears—it's what the pros use to cut the meat.
Jaeyook Kimchi Bokum (Korean Spicy Marinated Pork With Chiles and Kimchi)
The key to this spicy pork stir-fry is to use a marinade similar to that for the galbi—consisting of gochujang, gochugaru, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, sesame oil, rice wine, and puréed Asian pear. It comes together easily, so it's perfect for a weeknight meal, served with plenty of steamed rice.
Continue to 21 of 26 belowSoondubu Jjigae (Korean Soft Tofu Stew)
The word stew usually connotes a lengthy cooking process, but this soft tofu stew comes together in about twenty minutes. Kombu and dried anchovies are quickly simmered for the stock, then very fermented kimchi juice adds a punch of flavor. Serve the bubbling hot, comforting stew with lots of steamed rice.
Easy Chicken and Ginger Soup With Rice Cakes, Chives, and Quick-Pickled Garlic
Simmering a whole cut-up chicken produces a rich broth that's made more flavorful with the addition of fresh ginger, fresh chiles, and pickled garlic. The chewy rice cakes provide a nice textural element.
Miyeok-Guk (Korean Seaweed and Brisket Soup)
This deliciously nutritious seaweed soup is traditionally served to women after giving birth to help replenish vital nutrients. Called "birthday soup," moms young and old also make it for their offspring to eat to celebrate the day of their birth. The process is fairly straightforward and the actual hands-on cooking time is fairly short.
Ssamjang (Korean Barbecue Dipping Sauce)
No Korean barbecue or Bossam (Korean boiled pork wraps) would be complete without plenty of this dipping sauce on hand. This go-to condiment—combining the savory funk of doenjang with the sweet heat of gochujang—is about as vital to Korean cuisine as kimchi, and that's saying a lot.
Continue to 25 of 26 belowSweet and Spicy Chili Sauce For Korean Fried Chicken
We've all become obsessed with KFC, and I'm not talking about the Colonel. Korean fried chicken, more specifically this sweet and spicy chili sauce, has taken the food world by storm. And it couldn't be easier to make—simply whisk together gochujang, soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, garlic, ginger, and sesame oil.
Korean Kimchi Barbecue Sauce
This just might be your new go-to barbecue sauce for beef, chicken, pork, or fish. It has the funk of kimchi and punch of gochujang. Need we say more?
26 Easy Korean Recipes You'll Want to Make All the Time
Savory, spicy, and sweet recipes with punchy flavors that will have you craving more.
Until about two years ago, my experience with Korean food was limited to occasional visits to a Korean barbecue joint. That all changed when I began watching (and obsessing over) K-dramas. All it took was 16 episodes of "Extraordinary Attorney Woo," and I was hooked. Food and drinking often play a significant role in K-dramas, so with every new show, I became increasingly drawn to Korean food culture.
Not surprisingly, this has led me to cook more Korean food at home. Armed with a few pantry staples like gochujang, gochugaru, doenjang, and dried anchovies—not to mention a huge jar of kimchi—I've set forth on a tasty culinary adventure that's taken me beyond Korean barbecue and into banchan, soup, stew, and even street food territory. I've discovered that while the flavors can be layered and complex, the recipes don't have to be—like the ones we've gathered here. From deeply flavorful marinades, sauces, and dips to make-ahead side dishes and indulgent "drinking" foods like cheesy fire chicken, these easy Korean recipes will keep you coming back for more to satisfy your cravings.