Korean Food Part III
Vegetable dishes are also very popular in Korea. In fact, rice is meant to be the main course of a meal, and the additional foods are intended to enhance its flavor. Naengmyon (냉면) is a single, independent dish of cold noodles, and jajangmyon (짜장면, 자장면) is noodles with black sauce. Mandu (만두) is steamed dumplings.
Soups (국) in Korea vary in taste and potency. Maeuntang (매운탕) is a spicy, hot seafood soup that usually includes white fish, vegetables, soybean curd, red pepper powder, and a poached egg. Twoenjang-guk (된장국) is a fermented soybean paste soup with shortnecked clams in its broth. Miyok-guk (미역국) is a vegetable soup prepared with dried spinach, sliced radish, or dried seaweed. Also popular is a light broth boiled from highly seasoned dried anchovies.
The herbs and spices which give Korean meals such a delicious flavor also carry medicinal properties. Mugworts, aralia shoots, sowthistle, and shepherd's purse are eaten in the meal to help cool or warm the head and body. Additionally, kimchi is a valuable source of vitamin C.
Korean food, whether a spicy hot kimchi or a mild dish of cold naengmyon, is characteristic of Korean tradition. The serving style of multiple side dishes and at-your-table cooking creates a warm, homely feel. The long and thorough preparation makes the taste completely fill a dish, through the broth cooking and fermentation. Korean food is in a class by itself.
