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Recipes

This is a library of Korean recipes from my life experience as a Korean home cook: eating, living, cooking, experimenting, fermenting, foraging, learning from my family, friends, people around me, Korean street vendors, restaurants, market stalls, Buddhist monks, and whoever I met who made delicious food that I wanted to learn. : )

These recipes are evolving so I'm always adding new ones and improving old ones. If there's a dish that you want 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 social media.

If you need Korean ingredients, you can find them in Korean grocery stores in your area, or online.

I hope you find something here that you can enjoy with your friends and family! Happy cooking!

Most popular recipes

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

Recent recipes

The newest recipes that I've published on my website!

Recently updated recipes

These recipes had some improvements made to them recently.

Recipes by category

All the recipes on my website, organized by type:

Side dishes "Banchan" (197 recipes)

Banchan often translated as "side dishes" are an essential part of any Korean meal. They are not just decoration or appetizers: they are the meal, along with soup and rice.

Also: Spicy cod fillets | Soybean paste stew with beef | Garlic green beans | Beef bone broth | Sweet, sour, & crispy mushrooms | Green onion kimchi | Minari side dish | Asparagus side dish | Seafood green onion pancake | Broccoli with tofu | Stir-fried oyster mushrooms | Spicy soft tofu stew with beef | Seasoned seaweed | Stir-fried potato and ham | See all side dish recipes

Soups "Guk" (47 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: Beef bone broth | Cold kimchi noodle soup | Kimchi sujebi | Soybean paste soup with spinach and clams | Oxtail soup | Vegetable stock | Doenjangguk with bok choy and tofu | Potato dumpling soup | Spicy chicken & vegetable soup | Soybean sprout soup with rice | Dumpling soup | Mushroom soup | Ox bone hangover soup | Noodle soup | See all soup recipes

Stews "Jjigae" (29 recipes)

A thick stew, or jjigae, served communally, piping hot, and in an earthenware bowl, is for many the epitome of comfort food.

Also: Spicy soft tofu stew with beef | Spicy tuna stew | Korean-style mapo tofu | Kimchi stew with tuna | Spicy braised chicken breasts | Extra-strong fermented soybean paste stew | Bulgogi stew in an earthenware pot | Fermented soybean paste stew with scallops | Korean crab stew | Fermented soybean paste stew | Spicy soft tofu stew with kimchi and pork belly | Clam stew | Army Base Stew | Kimchi and mackerel camping stew | See all stew recipes

Types of kimchi (19 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: Quick, fresh kimchi | Vegetable and fruit water kimchi | Asian chive kimchi | Spicy stuffed green chili pepper kimchi | White Kimchi | Radish water kimchi | Young summer radish water kimchi | Spicy stuffed cucumber kimchi | Napa cabbage kimchi and radish kimchi

Rice "Bap" (23 recipes)

Rice is at the center of every Korean meal, with very few exceptions. These recipes express the variety and beauty of the most important grain in Korean cuisine.

Also: Inside out gimbap | Soybean sprout soup with rice | Omurice | Rice with red beans | Rice balls in seaweed flakes | Sweetened rice with dried fruits and nuts | Beef and vegetable porridge | Lobster gimbap | Fried rice | Sweet potato rice | Sweet pumpkin rice | Soybean sprouts bibimbap | Fried tofu stuffed with rice | Triangle gimbap with tuna | See all rice recipes

Preserved side dishes "Mitbanchan" (35 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: Asian chive kimchi | Spicy stuffed green chili pepper kimchi | Stir-fried garlic scapes | Spicy braised tofu | Yellow pickled radish | Braised baby potatoes | Eggs in soy broth | Green chili pepper pickles | Napa cabbage kimchi | Roasted seaweed sheets | Seasoned dried anchovies | Fried Gochujang | Raw crabs marinated in soy sauce | Seasoned dried radish strips | See all preserved side dish recipes

Noodles (26 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: Kimchi sujebi | Jjapaguri with steak | Stir-fried noodles and vegetables | Crispy seaweed noodle rolls | Cold spicy platter noodles | Knife-cut noodle soup with red beans | Spicy, chewy, sweet & sour cold noodles | Noodle soup | Dumpling wrappers | Homestyle chicken noodle soup | Korean ramen | Cold noodle soup with radish water kimchi | Spicy mixed noodles | Spicy whelks with noodles | See all noodle recipes

Pancakes "Jeon" (28 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: Seafood pancakes | Pan-fried perilla leaves with fillings | Simple potato pancake | Hotteok filled with vegetables and noodles | Pan-fried meat and tofu patties | Mung bean pancakes | Beef pancakes | Pan-fried rice cakes with sweet red bean filling | Shrimp Pancakes | Kale Pancakes | Ramp pancakes | Potato pancakes | Pollock pancake | Tuna pancake | See all pancake recipes

BBQ (12 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: Spicy BBQ chicken drumettes | Minced, seasoned, and grilled beef ribs | Doenjang pork skewers | Spicy pork BBQ | Grilled pork belly | Easy bulgogi

Korean fried chicken "KFC" (8 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: Popcorn chicken gizzards | Sweet and crispy fried chicken

Rice cakes "Tteok" (18 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: Layered rice cake with red beans | Squash rice cake | Pan-fried rice cakes with sweet red bean filling | Sweetened rice with dried fruits and nuts | Korean Royal court stir fried rice cakes | Long, cylinder-shaped rice cake | White steamed rice cake | Korean-style mochi rice cake | Rice cake | Mugwort rice cake | Rainbow rice cake | Rice cake

Lunchbox items "Dosirak" (45 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: Street toast | Seafood pancakes | Stir-fried kimchi | Dried shredded pollock seasoned with gochujang | Inside out gimbap | Three color sandwich | Braised lotus roots | Omurice | Braised octopus | Pan-fried meat and tofu patties | Spicy braised tofu | Beef pancakes | Rice balls in seaweed flakes | Shrimp Pancakes | See all lunchbox recipes

Snacks (123 recipes)

Need something delicious to keep you going in between meals? These can be prepared and eaten in a hurry, on the street, in a pub, or on the go.

Also: Dalgona with nuts | Sweet pressed cookies | Chicken gimbap | Seafood green onion pancake | Kimchi grilled cheese | Crunchy nut candy | Hot dog & french fries on a stick | Chicken dumplings | Custard cream bread | Cabbage pancake | Sweet and crunchy tofu | Street toast | Kimchi pancake | Jjapaguri with steak | See all snack recipes

Drinks (11 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: Korean rice liquor | Pomegranate tea | Ginseng jujube tea | Soju Watermelon Cocktail | Ginger tea | Rice punch | Dessert punch with persimmon, cinnamon, and ginger

Desserts (48 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: Dalgona with nuts | Sweet pressed cookies | Crunchy nut candy | Rice syrup | Custard cream bread | Grilled cheese & rice cake skewers | Cinnamon rolls | Super-nutritious rice cake | Cinnamon cookies filled with bean paste | Layered rice cake with red beans | Omija punch with pear | Beet jelly candy | Fluffy steamed buns filled with sweet red beans | Sweet, chewy, doughnut balls filled with sweet red beans | See all dessert recipes

Appetizers (57 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: Quick-fermenting radish water kimchi | Kimchi pancake | Fruit salad | Vegetable stock | Super-nutritious rice cake | Potato dumpling soup | Crispy seaweed noodle rolls | Beef and mushrooms stir-fried over rice | Seafood pancakes | Spicy chicken & vegetable soup | Beef jerky | Corn cheese | Dried shredded pollock seasoned with gochujang | Spicy stir-fried octopus | See all appetizer recipes

Main dishes (142 recipes)

Traditionally the main dish of any Korean meal is rice, which is supported by soup and banchan. However, in Korean restaurants these dishes are often presented to customers as main dishes.

Also: On-the-spot tteokbokki | Squash & beef over rice | Korean style Vietnamese rice paper rolls | Braised beltfish | Dumplings | Spicy cod fillets | Knife-cut noodle soup with perilla seeds | Kimchi pork ribs | Pepper chicken | Beef bone broth | Spicy chicken skewers | Sweet, sour, & crispy mushrooms | Spicy pork and vegetables over rice | Pan-cooked beef salad | See all main dish recipes

Fermented dishes (32 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: Soybean paste soup with spinach and clams | Chayote kimchi | Vegetarian kimchi | Doenjangguk with bok choy and tofu | Fermented pollock roe | Kimchi stew with tuna | Extra-strong fermented soybean paste stew | Extra-strong fermented soybean paste | Vegetable and fruit water kimchi | Spicy stuffed green chili pepper kimchi | Soup soy sauce | Fermented soybean paste | Korean rice liquor | Yellow pickled radish | See all fermented recipes

Vegetarian (142 recipes)

Korean cuisine consists of many vegetarian or vegetable-centric recipes that use seasonal, locally sourced vegetables, often foraged.

Also: Broccoli with tofu | Crunchy nut candy | Rice syrup | Stir-fried oyster mushrooms | Seasoned seaweed | Sweet and crunchy tofu | Street toast | Healthy vegetable rice bowl | Stir-fried noodles and vegetables | Vegetarian kimchi | Vegetable stock | Super-nutritious rice cake | Korean-style mapo tofu | Crispy seaweed noodle rolls | See all vegetarian recipes

Spicy Recipes (137 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 cod fillets | Kimchi pork ribs | Pepper chicken | Spicy chicken skewers | Spicy pork and vegetables over rice | Green onion kimchi | Pan-cooked beef salad | Asparagus side dish | Kimchi grilled cheese | Spicy soft tofu stew with beef | Cold kimchi noodle soup | Quick-fermenting radish water kimchi | Spicy tuna stew | Sweet and crunchy tofu | See all spicy recipes

Pork & porkbones dishes (30 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: Noodles & black bean sauce platter | Stir-fried noodles and vegetables | Korean-style mapo tofu | Stir-fried chives, meat, and vegetables | Spicy pork stew | Braised pig's trotters | Kimchi pork buns | Mung bean pancakes | Korean-style curry rice | Braised kimchi & pork | Pork wraps | Pork cutlet | Spicy soft tofu stew with kimchi and pork belly | Army Base Stew | See all pork recipes

Seafood dishes (73 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: Anchovy kelp stock | Shrimp porridge | Seafood green onion pancake | Fish cake noodle soup | Seasoned seaweed | Spicy tuna stew | Soybean paste soup with spinach and clams | Fermented pollock roe | Seafood kimchi fried rice | Salt-roasted shrimp | Jellyfish salad | Dried shredded pollock seasoned with gochujang | Sautéed zucchini and shrimp | Spicy stir-fried octopus | See all seafood recipes

Staple ingredients (18 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: Extra-strong fermented soybean paste | Apple dipping sauce | Maesil extract | Soup soy sauce | Fermented soybean paste | Mung bean sprouts | Yellow pickled radish | Toasted sesame seeds | Dumpling wrappers | Fish cakes | Soybean sprouts | Long, cylinder-shaped rice cake