What Carbohydrates Are Used in Korean Cuisine?

Korea is known for its incredible cuisine and a wide variety of different flavours. Many different ingredients are used to create Korean dishes, with one of the primary ones being carbohydrates. Carbohydrates consist of three macronutrients; sugar, starch and fibre. Most foods contain more than one nutrient and are often a combination of carbohydrates, fat and proteins. Carbohydrates provide us with energy, improve our calorie intake and can reduce the risk of disease. In this blog, we take a look at what carbohydrates are used in Korean cuisine.

Noodles

Korea has expressed a deep love for noodles. You can find noodles served either hot or cold or in soup or sauce. Instant ramen is a favourite across Korea for a quick and easy meal, with flavours such as cheese, spicy seafood, and beef. If you were to visit a restaurant, you could expect more up-market meals, below are some popular noodle dishes:

Spicy Korean beef: flank steak, Korean marinade, ramen, onions and mushrooms.
Chicken noodle soup: chicken, herby broth, noodles and vegetables
Japchae: sweet potato noodles and vegetables.
Jjamppong: spicy red noodles with seafood (squid and mussels are most common).
Naengmyeon: long and thin noodles served cold that are made with buckwheat and sweet potato and mixed with vegetables.
Kimchi Udon: salted and fermented vegetables served with udon noodles and red chilli paste.

Rice

Korean’s have shown admiration for rice in all forms; either by itself or mixed with other ingredients. As with noodles, you can buy instant rice in supermarkets, but for the more tasteful and flavoursome dishes, you are best to visit a restaurant or try cooking at home. Some popular rice dishes in Korea include:

Bibimbap: a red chilli rice dish served with either meat or egg and an array of vegetables.
Kimbap: somewhat similar to sushi rolls, these Korean rolls can be filled with vegetables, meat or seafood.
Kimchi Bokumbap: known as Korea’s comfort food, it is essentially fried rice with kimchi (salted and fermented vegetables) and sometimes with the addition of pork, bacon or beef.

Bread

Many bakeries are popular across Korea for the fresh bread which comes in many different forms. Some popular bread in Korea are as follows:

Gilgeori toast: a popular on-the-go breakfast, it is essentially eggy toast which consists of a savoury filling, such as ham and cheese.
Mochi Bread: a bread made with no flour, instead it consists of glutinous rice and tapioca starch, which makes the bread chewy and bouncy (flavours include cheese, chocolate, and sesame).
Soboro Ppang: a sweet bun with a peanut flavour.
Sora Bread: a fluffy dough in the shape of a shell with a mocha filling.
Hwangnam Bread: it is a pastry filled with red bean paste that is dated back to 1939.

Potatoes

As one of Korea’s favourite ingredients, potatoes are used in many dishes and are enjoyed both savoury and sweet. Here is a list of some of the popular versions of potatoes enjoyed in Korea:

Gamja jorim: a side dish of braised potatoes in a slightly sweet soy sauce.
Goguma mattang: deep-fried sweet potato coated with caramelised sugar that is enjoyed as a snack.
Gamjachae bokkeum: a side dish of shredded potato that is stir-fried and sometimes mixed with carrot, mushrooms and peppers.
Korean Tornado Potatoes: popular Korean street food that consists of a potato on a stick that is cut into a spiral which is then deep-fried and topped with cheese, chilli or onion powder.

Many of these carbohydrates are used in almost all Korean dishes and with so many variations, you can enjoy a wide array of delicious flavours. Here at Oriental Mart, we are an Asian online supermarket that offers Korean food in the UK. We encourage you to try out some of these tasty carbohydrate dishes to enjoy a filling and energising meal. If you are interested in trying some Korean cooking, why not host a Korean dinner party? Get your family and friends involved with the diverse cuisine and enjoy a night of delightful flavours.