April 2023 Newsletter
Happy April 1st! It's no April Fools' joke : ) - we have some great content to share!
I'm sending you two mouthwatering recipes today that will bring the flavors of spring to your table! Remember to step outside and enjoy the refreshing spring air. This photo was taken last weekend in Central Park’s conservatory garden in NYC. Such a fresh spring day!
New recipe: Mustard greens kimchi
To make this mustard green kimchi the first thing you need to do is to find this type of mustard greens. It’s available at Korean, Chinese, or any Asian stores these days. Look for mustard greens with thick, tender stems and very dark green leaves, with a mild spiciness.
As soon as I make this kimchi, I usually store it in the fridge right away and eat a little bit here and there as it ferments. After a few weeks in the fridge, it has a slightly sweet and sour flavor, complemented by a crispy texture that perfectly balances its tender leafy greens.
My favorite way to enjoy this kimchi is by placing a leaf on a spoonful of rice and eating it all together. It’s so delicious that I don’t even need to reach for any other side dish on the table.
I have an update to the video I filmed for this recipe: I mention a Korean lady named Ms. Sim that I met at the Farmer’s Market in Columbia, MO, where I used to live. She was selling mustard greens from Dolsan Island, located in the southern part of Korea, which is right near the city where I grew up. After posting the recipe, I searched online to see if I could find some information about her, and then I found out she passed away from Covid-19 in 2020. I was so sad that I couldn’t sleep well that night.
When I knew her, she was also running a gift store downtown during the week. I stopped by her store one day, and she was so friendly to me with a big smile. I still remember what she said, “I can’t cry anymore because my tears dried up when my 2nd husband left me. I thought he may change his mind not to leave me if I kept crying, but he left anyway.”
I was so touched by her story and her strength. She was such a kind and generous person, and I’m so grateful that I had the chance to meet her. I’ll never forget her, and I’ll always cherish the memory of her delicious mustard green kimchi.
I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do.
New recipe: Spicy whelks with noodles
Canned golbaeingi (whelks) are a staple at Korean grocery stores and are incredibly popular among Koreans and Korean immigrants. One way we enjoy them is in a sweet, sour, and spicy whelk salad called golbaengi-muchim. This dish is often served as a drinking snack alongside alcohol.
Whelks are a type of edible sea snail that are high in protein and low in fat. Koreans typically use canned whelks (golbaengi) because they are pre-cooked and soaked in a sweet and savory brine, making them very convenient to use. The chewy texture of the whelks, when mixed with sweet, sour, and spicy seasonings and vegetables, creates a delicious flavor that is truly amazing!
I love serving this dish with noodles to make it a complete meal in a bowl. Check out the recipe here!
NeeRee’s homemade Kimchi & danmuji
All I can say is “Yaho!” Your kimchi, danmuji, and also you look pretty!
Perfect looking homemade hotteok!
I was blown away by my reader HomeCook12’s homemade hotteok! They are not greasy at all, and they are perfectly expanded and cooked to a golden brown. I’d like to carefully tear one of these open to see the delicious hot syrup oozing out. : )
Making kalguksu noodle soup!
Here’s a quick one-minute video showing you how to make knife-cut noodle soup (kalguksu). If you want more info, the recipe and full video are here on my website.
Debbie waiting for her son with gimbap on a snowy day!
On a cold, snowy day, Debbie made gimbap for her son, waiting for him to come home from school. I could just picture the look of joy on his face when he saw the surprise waiting for him! This photo and story warm my heart, and I'm sure they will warm yours too. The recipe for gimbap is here.
Beauty of home cooking
Melbmatt's spicy stir-fried squid is a testament to his amazing cooking skills.
Just look at this photo! Have you ever seen a squid dish sold at a restaurant that uses more squid than this? The beauty of home cooking is that you can be as generous as you want with the best ingredients. I can see his passion for cooking in this photo. I'm definitely making this for dinner tonight! The recipe is here!
A nice meal prepared from my cookbook
You prepared a lovely meal, liv!
Rice, soybean sprout soup (kongnamulguk), cubed radish kimchi (kkakdugi), and pan-fried eggplant are all excellent choices for a simple but delicious Korean meal.
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.
I was so happy to read yanzhao2996's comment, which reminded me of the vegetable pancake video I made to celebrate spring! Let's all flip a pancake to celebrate the start of spring!
Since spring has come, I'm gonna flip my yachaejeon for spring too!
I'm grateful for the feedback from Korean adoptees who have said they've learned about Korean culture and heritage through my website. Check out what amiyumi06 said:
Never knew much about my Korean background since I was adopted but by watching you I learn some facts and learned how to cook the food too. Been a fan since I was young
marcyjones2667 who wanted to make my sweet and crunchy tofu and left this message! So cute!
Currently in the parking lot of my local Asian market rewatching this for the ingredients before I go in
I must have forgotten to say “sesame OEEL~” in my recent videos. shanakaimal5161 suggested doing it again. : ) I understand why. Sure I will do “sesame OEEL~” again. haha!
Maangchi, Please ... don’t forget to sing SESAME OIL song!
sehneson1838 cooks delicious Korean dishes for her Korean husband. It sounds like her great Korean cooking skills brought them closer together. Wonderful!
Because of you Maangchi, my Korean husband loves my cooking, so it's necessary
Here’s a flowering royal star magnolia tree from Central Park. As I approached this tree a woman had her nose right in the flowers and was sniffing deeply. She said to me: “I’m telling you, there is really something to be said for aromatherapy!” I totally agree!
I really love to see the dishes you guys make from my recipes, and I always love to hear that you’re enjoying them with your friends and family. Remember that you can type any Korean dish into the search box on my site to easily find it if I have it. I’m constantly improving and updating my website and recipes to make them more useful for you guys, and to make them more easy to use and find.
I hope you are all well and I will see you next month! Keep being happy with your delicious Korean cooking!
Hello Maangchi's happy April fools day to you to .hope your days is going well take care of your self and family's health in life is good for you. Thanks for the new recipes love them all take care everyday amen amen. Life is great. Two thumps up.
Because of you I sought out seeds for Dolsan gat and will grow it in my garden this year!!