December 2024 letter
Shabu shabu Korean hotpot short, plus another video in my filmed-in-Korea series: having hanwoo beef with my old friend! And comments and photos from you guys, too.
I received a plaque of appreciation at the "Korean Cuisine Globalization Night Gala" hosted by the KCGCUSA (Korean Cuisine Globalization Committee, USA) for contributing to the globalization of Korean cuisine. I'm already so happy just to share my recipes with everyone, but to receive such an award was really nice. I’m going to keep posting delicious recipes for you guys as long as I can!
Hanwoo BBQ feast in Korea, with my old high school friend
Part 2 of my Real Korean Cooking series, filmed in Korea in 2015, this time I stop in on my old friend Ji-hyun and we cook and eat premium Hanwoo beef together. I hadn’t contacted her since I left Korea decades ago and actually she was a little bit angry. She saw me featured in a Korean newspaper which made her contact me and we got together and cooked this meal. It was just like good old times.
The experience showed me that a true friend still feels close even after years apart, as if you just saw them yesterday. Cooking and sharing a good meal brought us back together and made our friendship even stronger than it already was. What a wonderful day we had!
Family affair Gimbap
AbysmalDream said, “We’ve made this one for years and thought finally to take a picture and say thanks for the recipe. It’s a bit of a family affair when we make it which is part of the fun!”
Imagining you making gimbap together with your family and enjoying together makes it look even more delicious. Wishing your "Gimbap family" happiness! : )
Short video: Shabu-shabu hotpot!
Happy end of year, everybody!
For your year-end party with family and friends, try making a special dish— Korean-style hot pot shabu-shabu! Dip thinly sliced meat, seafood, and vegetables into boiling broth for a moment, then enjoy them with a flavorful dipping sauce. After everyone is done with the main ingredients, add noodles or soaked rice to the remaining broth for a delicious finale. Everyone will be happy! Check out the detailed recipe here!
Garlic green beans go well with any dish!
Garlic green beans are great as a side dish for rice or on their own, but they also go well with any meat dishes. So, if you're preparing food for a year-end gathering with family or friends, consider serving them with pretty much everything. They're sure to be a hit! Check out the recipe here.
You don’t make kimchi? Don’t worry!
@tbaudinette on Twitter says:
I was able to buy some super amazing kimchi from a local Korean banchan store and have spent the weekend cooking up so many of @maangchi's dishes with it. I think I'm ready to take the plunge and make my own kimchi next~~ 😝
Stir-fried kimchi (kimchi-bokkeum)
Kimchi stir-fried rice (kimchi bokkeumbap)
Ng’s step by step kimchi making
Ng is showing us how to make kimchi by cutting napa cabbage, salting it, rinsing it, and mixing it with various vegetables and seasonings. This special homemade kimchi is sure to be delicious! Check out my easy kimchi recipe here!
Messages from readers & viewers
You always make my day brighter and give me so much to think about! Here are a few of your messages that I've selected to share with you this month.
Has anyone tried making my rice syrup recipe? One of my readers recently made rice syrup for the first time and noticed it turned out cloudy rather than glossy, like the store-bought version. I explained why to her, and I thought it would be helpful to share the answer with all of you. :
Homemade jocheong (Korean rice syrup) is slightly cloudy compared to the store-bought kind, but its flavor and aroma are far superior. Homemade rice syrup can’t be compared to store bought. To achieve a glossy finish, simply simmer it a bit longer over low heat while stirring.
Tameka was looking for a nutritious broth for her husband, who needs to follow a liquid diet for a few days after surgery. She came across my seaweed soup (miyeokguk) recipe and added it to her meal plan for him. I shared some additional information about the soup in my reply to her.
Great choice! I'm happy to hear that you made this soup for your husband! Seaweed soup is known not only for being tasty and healthy, but also for helping to remove harmful substances from the body. That’s why in Korea, new mothers eat rice and seaweed soup for a month after giving birth.
LeAnn wanted to make japchae for her Korean boyfriend and asked me for any advice. It always warms my heart to hear someone planning to cook Korean food for their Korean partner, whether it’s their boyfriend, girlfriend, or spouse. There’s something beautiful about sharing and embracing another culture and even more when it’s done through care and love. Here’s how I responded:
Learning and making Korean food for your Korean boyfriend is already wonderful. You don’t need any advice. Just keep cooking yummy food and enjoy it with him. : )
One night, I caught The Empire State Building illuminated with blue lights, and the sky happened to be a perfect shade of dark blue with a half-moon. It was such a stunning scene! All I needed to do was take a picture. SNAP!
I’ll see you next year on Jan.1st. Oops, 2025 is coming soon! It’s happening! : )
Whatever happens, let’s keep being happy with our delicious Korean cooking.
Congratulations on receiving your award, Maangchi. You really deserve it. Aja aja!
Hello Maangchi's Hope your doing well 🙏🙏 I'm writing to see if you ever going to make these super dishes. Have you ever had the idea to make them freeze dry meals for orders to ship 🚢 out like in meals to order you could make some good money for freeze dry meals to eat in package just a though Love to order some day 🙏 if you do take care stay safe over there 😊😊🙏🙏.