December 2023 Letter
In this letter: recipes for steamed radish rice and braised black cod. Plus photos and stories from me and my readers!
The other day, I stumbled upon my first cookbook at a bookstore in Chelsea Market! It’s the one published in 2015, my 8-year-old baby! Time flies! It reminded me of the time and passion that went into the making of that book, and how excited I was to see it published.
I'm a big fan of Chelsea Market. I often get high-quality beef brisket for making soup or beef jerky at Dickson’s Meat, in the market's basement. Another favorite spot of mine is Amy’s Bread, a wonderful bakery. Visiting the market is always a fun experience for me.
Recently my second cookbook was selected by Forbes as one of the best holiday gifts for 2023 for those who love Korea. Pretty exciting, isn't it?
I believe either book would make a fantastic holiday gift for anyone interested in Korean food. They are my lovely babies and grew up well. : )
New recipe: Healthy Steamed Radish Rice
The recipe might seem too simple, requiring just seasoning sauce, rice, and a Korean radish to create this delightful one-bowl meal!
A week ago, I ran into one of my readers on the streets of Flushing, NY. She said, “The radish rice recipe is so good that I've made it five times since you shared it!” You can imagine how thrilled I was. The recipe for radish rice (Mu-bap) is here!
New recipe: Braised sablefish (black cod)
Ooh~ let’s braise this guy, black cod! : )
Eundaegu-jorim (braised sablefish or black cod) is a popular dish in Korean restaurants, and it's been a popular request from many of my readers over the years.
When paired with rice, you'll enjoy not only the tender, juicy, flaky fish but also the deliciously infused cooked radish. The recipe is here!
Green onion kimchi ~ 1 minute edit!
My quick 1-minute edited pa-kimchi recipe video – a go-to for me! If you're looking to diversify your collection of kimchi, I highly recommend trying this one. It will add one more item to your delicious life! : ) The recipe is here!
Diana’s beef radish soup
Beef and radish soup is a classic Korean dish that is enjoyed by almost every Korean (with the exception of vegetarians). A hearty meal is complete with just rice, soup, and kimchi!
Diana said, “Fantastic and simple dinner with only a few ingredients!”
Spicy braised chicken table
Voila! Melbmatt's Korean table, featuring a delightful array of his homemade dishes. The centerpiece is his favorite dakbokkeumtang (spicy braised chicken with potatoes), surrounded by various delicious side dishes. I love dakbokkeumtang, and to enable quick and easy preparation, I keep a pack of frozen chicken thighs in my freezer at all times. Whenever I need to refresh my memory on how to make it, I just revisit the recipe on my website to make sure I get it right.
Jürgen’s kimchi
I recently met Jürgen Krauss, a cookbook author and chef featured on the British Baking Show on Netflix. Do you know about him? He traveled all the way from England to New York City for his book tour. During our meeting, he expressed keen interest in Korean cooking.
Then just a few days ago, he shared with me that he tried making kimchi using my recipe. He mentioned, “Tastes already great fresh, looking forward to it once fermented!”
The kimchi looks like it turned out fantastic!
15 year old Porter’s spicy stir-fried squid
Porter Good, a 15-year-old, caught some squid with a friend and cooked up a tasty dinner. He said, “We went squid jigging and ended up catching enough to make some dinner out of it. I made spicy Korean stir fried squid (Ojingeo-bokkeum 오징어볶음).
We ended up eating it up at the top of the Ferris wheel!”
I picture him cleaning, cutting, and stir-frying the freshest squid. The flavor couldn't be better! It would be so enjoyable if I had joined him to cook together.
Messages from my readers & viewers
You guys always make me smile, inspire me, amaze me, and make me think. Here are some of your recent messages:
Just a few hours after sharing my recipe for steamed radish rice, Aidann eagerly tried making it and quickly shared the outcome with me. Happy happy!
I made this radish rice tonight. It was amazing. I can't believe how simple and flavorful this was. ❤
Mae's idea to prepare miyeokguk (also known as Korean birthday soup) for her Korean boyfriend truly impressed me! Miyeokguk holds emotional significance for Koreans, as it's traditionally consumed by mothers for a month after giving birth. Additionally, it's a must-have dish on birthdays. I'm confident that Mae's thoughtful idea will warm her boyfriend's heart!
Thank you for the video Maangchi! I'll cook this as a surprise for my boyfriends birthday for him 🫶
I often receive questions about whether soy sauce can be used as a substitute for fish sauce in kimchi making. I'd like to share my response with you here, as you might have the same question.
Can I use soy sauce instead of fish sauce or do i really need the fish sauce?
My answer:
Yes, you can use soy sauce, but opt for light-colored soup soy sauce to prevent darkening the kimchi's color.
Have you ever shed a tear over something incredibly delicious? When I read Alex's comment on my chapssaltteok (Korean mochi) video, I felt an instant connection. She's just like me! I almost cry when I find really tasty recipes, thinking, 'What did I do to make it so delicious?' Sometimes, tears come to my eyes. I'm not alone! : )
Made this today. It was so good it brought tears to my eyes!!
Korean makgeolli bread versus German beer bread! Cindy mentioned that she tried Korean Makgeolli bread and found it to be remarkably similar to German beer bread. Interested in the idea, I expressed my interest, and she kindly shared the beer bread recipe with me. I plan to give it a try sometime. Here's what she said:
One of the members of my congregation brought makgeolli bread (sulppang) to church. It was amazing—very reminiscent of German beer bread in taste but with a soft crust from being steamed. I believe it’s 3 cups of self-rising flour, 4 tablespoons of sugar, and a 12-ounce can of beer. Bake at 350°F until done. It's fantastic while still hot and covered in butter.
Wishing each and every one of you a delightful, joy-filled, and warmly cozy holiday season! I look forward to reconnecting with you all in 2024, starting on January 1st. Until then, may your days be merry, spicy, and bright!
So wonderful to receive your December newsletter during the Holiday season. Wishing you & all reading a joyful holiday season. Millette
Thank you and yum