Intro to homey Korean dishes

For those who wish to enjoy popular dishes such as bulgogi and bibimbap in the comfort of their own homes, “Easy, Home-Style Recipes from the Korean Kitchen,” a new cookbook written in English, provides 20 recipes that can be easily replicated by even those unfamiliar with Korean cuisine.

“This book is meant to serve as an introduction to Korean food and Korean culture to people who may have little knowledge of either,” the authors, Han Kyung-im and Jeon Mi-hyang, said in a statement.

The book contains simple instructions on how to create a selection of homey dishes, such as kimchi fried rice, potato pancakes and hearty soups, using ingredients that can be readily procured not only in local supermarkets, but also abroad.

The large foreign exchange student body at Keimyung University in Daegu, where the two authors are assistant professors, inspired them to write the book.

“We wanted to make a meaningful souvenir for the students to take back to their home countries,” Jeon said. “So we included real home-cooked Korean food, not royal or formal cuisine, and tried to incorporate ingredients that can be found all over the world.”

Han and Jeon, who have always enjoyed cooking for friends and visitors, also made sure the cooking processes could be easily adjusted to suit foreign palates, Jeon said.

“We added tips for different variations and which ingredients to exclude if you don’t like spicy things, and so on.”

Also featured in “Easy, Home-Style Recipes” are tidbits of Korean culture, such as local sayings or habits related to food.

“Sharing food is one of the best ways to share culture,” Jeon said. “I hope this book will allow (visitors) to take back a piece of their memories from Korea.”

Published by Lee Book, the book is priced at 11,500 won ($9.75).



By Rumy Doo (bigbird@heraldcorp.com)