Recipes

Welcome to my Korean recipes! I hope you find something you like! If there's a dish that you want to learn that's not here, please request it. If you're new to Korean cooking, you can check out my Beginner's Guide to Korean Cooking. and if you make something delicious with one of my recipes, you can upload a photo of it to my photo page, or tag it #maangchi on Instagram or Twitter.

If you need Korean groceries, you can find them in Korean grocery stores in your area, or on Amazon.

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Newly released!

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The all-time most-loved recipes on my website!

Recipes by category

All the recipes on my website, organized by type.

Soups "Guk" (38 recipes)

Korean soup, or guk is an essential element of Korean food culture. Many Koreans feel that along with rice, kimchi, and banchan, no meal is complete without it.

Also: Seaweed soup with beef | Spicy fish stew | Spicy mixed-up seafood noodle soup | Rice cake soup | Soybean sprout soup | Pork bones soup | Soy milk noodle soup | Soybean paste soup with cabbage | Dried pollock soup | Spicy raw fish soup | Mugwort soup | Spicy radish and beef soup | Squid soup | Cold noodle soup with radish water kimchi | See all soup recipes

Types of Kimchi (17 recipes)

Kimchi is a traditional Korean dish made of seasoned vegetables and salt. Koreans eat it at nearly every meal. It can be fresh, like a salad, or it can be fermented. While the most popular variety is spicy kimchi made of cabbage, there are hundreds of different types of kimchi made of different vegetables, and not all of them spicy. Kimchi is also a main ingredient in many other Korean dishes.

Also: Spicy stuffed cucumber kimchi | Young summer radish water kimchi | Radish water kimchi | White Kimchi | Napa cabbage kimchi | Spicy stuffed green chili pepper kimchi | Vegetable and fruit water kimchi | Quick, fresh kimchi | Stir-fried kimchi | Vegetarian kimchi | Kimchi sujebiSee all kimchi recipes

Preserved side dishes "Mitbanchan" (33 recipes)

Korean mitbanchan are essential side dishes that are well-preserved and kept on hand in large batches. The most well-known example is kimchi. With a few of these on hand, you can quickly make a delicious, nutritious meal by serving a few portions on small dishes with fresh rice.

Also: Fried dried squid | Soybean side dish | Stir-fried dried anchovies and peanuts | Broccoli pickles | Salty beef side dish | Seasoned dried shredded squid | Radish salad | Fermented squid side dish | Seasoned seaweed | Spicy bellflower root side dish | Korean spicy dipping sauce | Tofu pickles | Seasoned Dried Radish Strips | Perilla leaf pickles | See all preserved side dish recipes

Noodles (23 recipes)

Korea has a long history of noodle making and eating. Korean noodles, called "guksu" or "myeon" are everyday food, but also frequently served on birthdays and weddings. Traditionally a long noodle symbolizes a long life, so serving it to someone on their birthday expresses your desire that they live long and happily.

Also: Spicy mixed-up seafood noodle soup | Soy milk noodle soup | Hand-torn noodle soup | Spicy raw fish soup | Braised chicken with vegetables | Spicy whelks with noodles | Spicy mixed noodles | Cold noodle soup with radish water kimchi | Korean ramen | Cold, spicy, chewy noodles | Homestyle chicken noodle soup | Dumpling wrappers | Noodle soup | Spicy, chewy, sweet & sour cold noodles | See all noodle recipes

Pancakes "Jeon" (26 recipes)

The Korean word "jeon" is often translated as "pancake," but jeon are not just a breakfast food, they're eaten at all meals as side dishes, or as snacks. At their simplest they're food coated in flour and egg and then pan-fried with a bit of oil. Some incorporate vegetables, meat, and fish into a batter which is pan-fried with a bit of oil. Hoddeok is not jeon, but it's closer to the western idea of a pancake.

Also: Breaded cod fillets | Vegetable pancake | Vegetable pancake with Asian chives | Pan-Fried Sweet Rice Cakes with Edible Flowers | Squash pancakes | Sweet pancakes with brown sugar syrup filling | Skewered pancakes with vegetables and beef | Green onion pancake | Pollock pancake | Potato pancakes | Ramp pancakes | Kale Pancakes | Shrimp Pancakes | Pan-fried rice cakes with sweet red bean filling | See all pancake recipes

Porridges "Juk" (9 recipes)

Korean porridge or juk, is made by slow-boiling rice or some other grain, in water, often with other ingredients as well. Porridge has long been an essential part of the Korean diet, and because it's so easy on the system, it's great for people recovering from illness or surgery.

Also: Abalone porridge | Black sesame seeds porridge | Beef and vegetable porridge | Red bean porridge | Bean porridge | Knife-cut noodle soup with red beans

BBQ (11 recipes)

The Korean method of grilling beef, pork, chicken, or other types of meat, usually involves having a grill right on (or sometimes in) the table, where people can talk, cook, and eat at the same time. Usually the meat is already cut into small pieces before grilling, and are then wrapped into bite-sized lettuce leaf packages (ssam) with garlic, vegetables, seasoning sauce, salt, and/or sesame oil.

Also: Grilled pork belly | Spicy pork BBQ | Easy bulgogi | Doenjang pork skewers | Spicy stir-fried chicken with vegetables | Minced, seasoned, and grilled beef ribs | Spicy BBQ chicken drumettes | Minced, seasoned, and grilled beef ribs with cheese

Korean fried chicken "KFC" (7 recipes)

Korean fried chicken is typically crispy and crunchy, achieved by double-frying and with creative batter mixes. It's a modern Korean take-out food and drinking snack often served with beer and pickled radishes called chicken-mu.

Also: Sweet and crispy fried chicken | Popcorn chicken gizzards | Spicy garlic fried chicken | Korean market-style fried chicken

Rice cakes "Tteok" (17 recipes)

Rice cake, called tteok in Korean, is a much-loved traditional dish with many many variations. No festival day, anniversary, or celebrations is complete without them. They are very chewy, and may be an acquired taste, but once you get hooked you'll crave them all the time.

Also: Rice cake | Rainbow rice cake | Mugwort rice cake | Rice cake | Korean-style mochi rice cake | White steamed rice cake | Long, cylinder-shaped rice cake | Korean Royal court stir fried rice cakes | Sweetened rice with dried fruits and nuts | Pan-fried rice cakes with sweet red bean filling | Squash rice cake | Layered rice cake with red beans | Super-nutritious rice cake | Grilled cheese & rice cake skewersSee all rice cake recipes

Dumplings "Mandu" (6 recipes)

Korean dumplings (mandu) can be steamed, pan fried, made into soup, or dropped into other soups. They're very versatile and can be served as a snack, a main dish, or as a way to add deliciousness to another dish.

Also: Dumpling wrappers | Shrimp and Asian chive dumplings | Fluffy steamed buns filled with sweet red beans

Lunchbox items "Dosirak" (38 recipes)

Dosirak (also spelled "doshirak") are Korean packed lunchboxes, usually made at home, but sometimes store-bought. They are similar to Japanese bento or Indian tiffin, and are usually made with a few different vegetable and meat side dishes, some kimchi, and a serving of rice.

Also: Seaweed rice rolls | Rolled omelette sidedish | Spicy stir-fried fish cakes | Broccoli pickles | Triangle-shaped rice packet wrapped in dried seaweed sheets | Pan fried tofu with spicy sauce | Grandma-style kimchi pancake | Fried tofu stuffed with rice | Green chili pepper pancake | Tuna pancake | Pollock pancake | Steamed shishito peppers | Seasoned Dried Radish Strips | Pan fried tofu in soy sauce | See all lunchbox recipes

Drinks (10 recipes)

Koreans have long made punches, teas, and alcoholic beverages at home, using the fruits, grains, and herbs at hand to give them flavor and variety.

Also: Soju Watermelon Cocktail | Ginseng jujube tea | Pomegranate tea | Korean rice liquor | Iced coffee | Yuja tea | Omija punch with pear

Desserts (41 recipes)

Traditionally, Korean meals don't usually have desserts served at the end. The sweet things in this category are meant to be served on special occasions, by themselves as refreshments, or with tea.

Also: Rice cake | Sweet red bean soup | Rice cakes steamed in pine needles | Pan-Fried Sweet Rice Cakes with Edible Flowers | Ginger cookies | Sweet pancakes with brown sugar syrup filling | Candied sweet potato | Mugwort rice cake | Baked sweet pastry | Rice cake | White steamed rice cake | Steamed pear | Crunchy sweet potato fries | Sweet red bean jelly | See all dessert recipes

Appetizers (51 recipes)

A Korean meal doesn't usually have an appetizer as Western meals do. Side dishes may come out first, but are considered part of the main meal, not as a prelude. These dishes, however, could be used as appetizers in a Western meal.

Also: Breaded cod fillets | Fried dried squid | Potato & soy sauce side dish | Pumpkin porridge | Eggplant sidedish | Spicy stir-fried fish cakes | Pan fried tofu with spicy sauce | Squash pancakes | Mung bean jelly side dishes | Skewered pancakes with vegetables and beef | Grandma-style kimchi pancake | Green onion pancake | Pollock pancake | Steamed shishito peppers | See all appetizer recipes

Fermented dishes (28 recipes)

Korean cuisine has a long, rich history of fermentation going back thousands of years, and it's part of what makes Korean food distinctly Korean and incredibly delicious. These recipes range from the light and tangy to the deep and complex.

Also: Napa cabbage kimchi and radish kimchi | Spicy stuffed cucumber kimchi | Rice punch | Easy-to-make kimchi | Cubed radish kimchi | Ponytail kimchi | Hot pepper paste | Korean spicy dipping sauce | Raw crabs marinated in soy sauce | White Kimchi | Green chili pepper pickles | Yellow pickled radish | Korean rice liquor | Fermented soybean paste | See all fermented recipes

Pickles "jangajji" (5 recipes)

Korean pickles - called jangajji (장아찌) - are usually brined quickly in soy sauce and make a perfect side dish with rice. The keep for a long time and their character changes as they age.

Also: Cucumber pickles | Yellow pickled radish

Spicy Recipes (117 recipes)

Chili peppers were first introduced to Korea in the 16th century, and from there there was no looking back: Koreans love a good spicy dish and use chili peppers in a number of dishes, most famously in many kinds of kimchi.

Also: Spicy stir fried squid | Napa cabbage kimchi and radish kimchi | Hot and spicy rice cake | Spicy beef and vegetable soup | Kimchi stew | Rice mixed with vegetables, meat, an egg, and chili pepper paste | Spicy stuffed cucumber kimchi | Spicy soft tofu stew with seafood | Kimchi fried rice | Young summer radish water kimchi | Cold cucumber soup side dish | Raw fish with rice and vegetables | Eggplant sidedish | Spicy mixed-up seafood noodle soup | See all spicy recipes

Nonspicy Recipes (189 recipes)

Not all Korean dishes are crazy-hot spicy! Korean cuisine uses a wide range of condiments and seasonings, among them soy sauce, doenjang, sugar, black peppers, vinegar, garlic, and a panapoly of mountain herbs too.

Also: Breaded cod fillets | Barbecued beef stew | Korean-style grilled beef BBQ | Sweet potato starch noodles stir fried with vegetables | Noodles with blackbean sauce | Vegetable pancake | Seaweed rice rolls | Spinach side dish | Ginseng chicken soup | Seaweed soup with beef | Vegetable pancake with Asian chives | Fried dried squid | Soybean side dish | Rice cake | See all non spicy recipes

Pork & porkbones dishes (24 recipes)

For a long time, eating pork was discouraged in Korea, so most uses of the ingredient are relatively recent. Koreans made up for lost time, however, with some truly delicious and iconic pork dishes.

Also: Kimchi stew | Dumplings | Spicy mixed-up seafood noodle soup | Sweet and sour pork (or beef) | Ground soybean stew | Steamed pork buns | Spicy pork BBQ | Kimchi soup | Doenjang pork skewers | King-size kimchi dumplings | Army Base Stew | Spicy soft tofu stew with kimchi and pork belly | Pork cutlet | Pork wraps | See all pork recipes

Seafood dishes (63 recipes)

Most of Korea is a small peninsula, so Korean cuisine has a wealth of seafood dishes, prepared in many different ways: boiled, braised, roasted, grilled, dried, fermented, and raw.

Also: Spicy stir fried squid | Breaded cod fillets | Vegetable pancake | Vegetable pancake with Asian chives | Fried dried squid | Spicy soft tofu stew with seafood | Raw fish with rice and vegetables | Spicy fish stew | Spicy mixed-up seafood noodle soup | Abalone porridge | Spicy stir-fried fish cakes | Triangle-shaped rice packet wrapped in dried seaweed sheets | Sautéed sea plant | Dried pollock soup | See all seafood recipes

Staple ingredients (16 recipes)

Some ingredients used in other recipes are traditionally made at home instead of store bought. The quality of homemade is almost always better.

Also: Long, cylinder-shaped rice cake | Soybean sprouts | Fish cakes | Dumpling wrappers | Toasted sesame seeds | Yellow pickled radish | Mung bean sprouts | Fermented soybean paste | Soup soy sauce | Maesil extract | Apple dipping sauce | Extra-strong fermented soybean paste | Vegetable stockSee all staple ingredient recipes