Napa Cabbage Ghim-Chee or 배추김치 [Ba-Choo-Ghim-Chee]
Ingredients (A) 2 heads of napa cabbage*, cut into halves lengthwise. 2 cups sea salt 10 cups water (B) 2 Ts sugar 2 Ts flour ½ cup water (C) ½ daikan radish, approx. 2 lbs. (1 whole radish, if small). Julienne coarsely. 1 onion, cut into halves first, and then cut by quarter-inch thickness (or [...]
“Pulmuone (Brand)” Sprouted Organic Soft Tofu or 풀무원 발아콩 두부 찌개용
Spicy level:4
Eating sprouted grains and vegetables is one of the latest food fads in Korea. So came this tofu made with “sprouted” soy beans. Since the sprouting process takes time and effort, this one is slightly more expensive than regular organic tofu made by the same company, Pulmuone. I do think that this one is, again, [...]
“Pulmuone (Brand)” Extra Soft Tofu or 풀무원 순두부
This is the most commonly available Korean soft tofu in the US. You need this one to make soft tofu stew. If you don’t have this one and still want to make soft tofu stew with the pre-made broth seasoning, you may use extra soft tofu available in regular stores.
“Pulmuone (Brand)” Tofu Broth Seasoning Seafood Flavor or 풀무원표 순두부찌개 양념스프 해물맛
This is a ready-to-use seasoning pack for “soon-doo-boo” stew (or soft tofu stew, 순두부 찌개). When I was in Korea, I was somehow never a fan of soft tofu stew. Since I married to my husband, I tried several times to make the stew because the dish is one of my husband’s favorites. Unfortunately, however, [...]
“Assi” (Brand) Minced Garlic or 아씨표 생 다진마늘
These days, you can buy minced or chopped garlic in most mainstream food stores such as Kroger and Meijer. I usually buy my supply in those places, but tried this one simply out of curiosity. This one is almost “pureed” rather than “minced,” which is actually more similar to the way Korean people use their [...]
“Assi” (Brand) Seasoned Oyster or 아씨표 어리굴젓
Spicy level:4
Although the package says this is seasoned oyster, this jar contains more than just seasoned oysters. This is only one variety of fermented fish commonly eaten in Korea. To begin with, I am not a big fan of fermented fish as side dish. Although I love fermented fish in my ghim-chee and eat fermented squid [...]
“Food & Good (Brand)” Frozen squid or “행복이 가득한 집” 오징어
Both my kids love squids (not as pets) and thus the quality of frozen squid sometimes becomes an important consideration in my decision whether to patronize a grocery store or not. I have been reasonably happy with this brand (“Food & Good”) overall and this frozen squid in particular.
Dried Ohba Anchovies or 다시 멸치
To my embarrassment, I cannot read the Japanese on the package and thus can’t tell you its brand name. I just call this “the blue one.” (as opposed to the other Japanese dried anchovies I posted on this website that is sold in a black package) Along with the black one, this one has been [...]
“Samyang (Brand)” Soybean Paste Ramen or 된장라면
Spicy level:4
This ramen is supposed to have soybean paste taste. And I did sense some. I concluded that this is a decent new variety of ramen. Somehow, however, I imagined this to be a little less spicy and thus better for my 4-year-old son than other popular ramens, which was not the case. Was it the [...]
“Phaldo (Brand)” Teumsae Ramen Spicy or 틈새라면 빨계떡
Spicy level:5
This is by far the most spicy ramen that I have ever tasted. Other than that, I cannot remember much about its taste. This ramen has an interesting entrepreneurial story behind it. The man who developed this ramen started with a small eatery specializing in several kinds of ramen noodle soups in one of the [...]