Maangchi's letter to you
What I bought at the farmer's market!
Chives, lettuce, cucumbers, fresh beans, apricots, heirloom tomatoes, and altari-mu (Korean traditional small radishes with green tops) were in my basket on the way home from the farmer's market. Maybe these guys are not picked often because they don't look very pretty, but I know these are the best of the best! August is a great time of year in New York because the farmer's market is full of fresh local fruits and vegetables.
Let me choose one item, altari-mu, to explain to you my excitement. I'm not sure if it's true or not but years ago I heard that the owner of the market stall where I bought them has something to do with a Korean lady. I'm too shy to ask them about it! Anyway, whenever I see some interesting Korean vegetables in the stall, I just buy them.
This time, once I saw the altari-mu (in the photo), I fell in love with them at first sight, especially the leaves with so many holes made me sure they were grown without any pesticides. I bought a few bunches, brought them home and made kimchi. I usually love freshly made altari-mu kimchi (aka ponytail kimchi or chong-gak-kimchi), but it was almost inedible this time because the radish itself was so spicy and solid like a rock that it was even a little hard for me to chew. So I waited until the kimchi was fully fermented, maybe for a week. And voila! The result was amazing!
When I bit the radish, it broke with a clear, crisp sound and the softened leaves gave lots of fiber. The kimchi was delicious and really brought back a lot of memories. I haven't had this kind of radish for many years.
I called my mom living in California and told her all about it. A week later I talked to her again and she said, "Your description about the kimchi sounded so good that I had to make my own altari-mu kimchi, and I love it. But I chop it up into tiny pieces to eat because of my weak teeth!" Conversation about delicious food is always our number one topic.
New recipe: Jeyuk deopbap
Jeyuk-deopbap, spicy pork and vegetables over rice (or spicy pork rice bowl) is an easy, one bowl meal that’s spicy, a little sweet, and savory! I love the soft pork, slightly crispy vegetables, and spicy, garlicky aroma. A spoonful of jeyuk-deopbap just melts in my mouth, so delicious!
New recipe: Hwajeon
Whenever I crave some chewy rice cakes, this hwajeon is my go-to recipe because it’s so easy and fast to make. The rice cakes are sweet and chewy with a subtle flower aroma. I found some edible purple clover flowers and yellow gladiolus petals at the farmer's market and used them to make these beautiful rice cakes!
Shane's Jeyuk deopbap looks great!
Shane La Rocque said she made jeyuk deopbap and she loved it!
I love it too, Shane!
Kenneth's handsome rolled egg omlette
Kenneth Looi made gyeran mari (Korean rolled egg omelet) on Facebook and said, "Its really ono. Aloha!"
Messages from my readers & viewers
My readers and viewers always make me smile, inspire me, amaze me, and make me think. Here are some of their messages that I chose to share with you!
What would you do if you were Bri Vanessa? I was laughing when I read her comment on my honey butter chicken short video! So cute!
I had some from the Korean market a way from my home. Very tasty, I couldn't resist even with having braces. Thank you for this recipe , I will make it at home!
Sometimes it takes time to figure out the relationship between people in these messages. : ) What BlueEyed Bama Beauty said on my traditional kimchi video:
My step grandma taught me how to make kimchi as a young girl..... My kids love it.... And my mother called me the other day to make her some.... So that's my goal tomorrow.... I love watching your channel you remind me of her teaching me to cook Korean food 💕🥰💯 puts me in a happy place.
One of the things this couple did together before marriage was watch my videos before, and they are still watching 7 years later! Dezarae left this comment on my chicken dumplings video. I wish you guys good luck and happiness!
So when my husband and I first met, one of our favorite things to do when we first started dating was watch your videos. He found you randomly one summer, and after we started dating he showed me your videos. We've been together 7 years now, and we're still sitting here together mouths watering over your delicious food.
I'm going grocery shopping tomorrow and I'm gonna make these for him and I and I can't wait to taste how amazing they'll be. We love you Maangchi! <3
How many of you use scissors to cut up food? Is it only aKorean thing? Gigi has been using kitchen scissors for a long time because it's so handy! She passed the technique down to her son and her daughter-in-law!:
I've used scissors for a long time. My son thought it was strange when he was young but now that he's grown he understands how much easier it is to cut certain things. He loves to cook & I've always let him help in the kitchen.
He's married now. His new wife thought he was strange & laughed at him the first time she saw him using them but he finally convinced her how it's such time saver. Continue teaching us new tricks & recipes!
Fluffy ppang (bread) made by JessCuevas
Jess made this bread and posted the photo on my website. I can almost feel the sponge-like fluffiness!
Sweet and crunchy tofu made by LaChooWoo
Sweet crunch tofu and vegetables, what a healthy, colorful, and delicious combination!
Creative cook Beamax' gai lan muchim
Beamax from Chicago made such delicious looking gai lan muchim, replacing asparagus with gai lan from my asparagus muchim recipe. She said it turned out very yummy! Isn't she creative?
I was impressed by Thomas' first time making gimbap because check it out -- it's so colorful and the fillings are directly in the center of the rolls! If you have never made gimbap before, go ahead and make it just like Thomas. If he can do it, so can you!
Cindy's honey butter chicken!
Cindy living in France said her honey butter chicken turned out so good! Indeed it looks very crunchy and sweet!
Korean table set by my reader!
MaangiLove's Korean table setting with her gyeran-mari (Korean rolled omelette), kimchi, spicy cucumber, toasted seaweed paper, and rice. Gorgeous!
Cold dongchimi guksu made by J Zee!
Summertime is the best time to enjoy cold noodle soup! J Zee posted this dongchimi-guksu photo on instagram and said, "Most refreshing during this summer heat!".
I know that some people have a hard time enjoying cold noodles but I enjoy all kinds of cold noodles year round.
I hope you all are well and I will see you next month on October first!
Keep being happy with your delicious Korean cooking!
Love,
Maangchi
❤️