5 Korean Foods You Should Eat in Autumn in Korea
Even though the technological development demolished the
barrier between what you can and cannot eat in a specific season,
seasonal food still tastes the best when savored in its season.
Especially in Korea, four seasons are
(or, used to be) clearly distinguished from each other. Because of this, people
have enjoyed seasonal fruits and vegetables, as well as dishes made from them,
distinctively throughout the history.
Autumn in Korea is referred as “the
season of high sky and stout horses,” which means that skies are clear and
grains are fully ripened. As the proverb implies, there is a whole range of
eats in Korea you can savor in the season. Here is a short list of things you
must enjoy in fall in Korea.
1. Fruits – Apple, Pear, and Persimmon
Fall is the season when many of the
fruits grow fully ripened. Among many, apple, pear, and persimmon represent
autumn fruits of Korea.
As Koreans enjoy fruits as a dessert,
people tend to regard the sweetness as the most important thing when choosing a
fruit. Fruits enjoyed in fall are not only sweet but also rich in nutrients.
2. Fish Cake Soup
Last but not least is fish cake soup! The steam from the soup
that are on the food carts, call to people passing by and when people take
a sip of the broth, one can feel the hot soup shimmy down their throats,
toasting up their bodies, prepping them to face the coldness of Fall.
3. Blue Crab
If you like the creamy, savory taste of
roe of female crabs, autumn is the best season to enjoy it. In the right
season, the shell is fully filled with abundant meat and creamy roe.
In Korea, crabs are cooked in various
ways. Fall crabs are delectable even when simply steamed, but the rich taste of
crab jjigae(찌게)’s stock is worth a try. If you want to take your Korean culinary
experience to another level, try Gejang(게장), which is made by
marinating fresh raw crabs either in soy sauce or sweet and spicy chili pepper
sauce.
4. Gizzard Shad
A popular proverb in Korea says, “The
smell from grilling fall gizzard shads brings an escaped daughter-in-law back.”
When the weather grows slightly colder, the fish store up plenty of nutrients
for the colder season. Thanks to such nature, its taste grows bolder and
richer.
Best way to enjoy the fish is to grill
it as a whole. Healthy fish oils are well stored, creating juicy texture and
rich flavor. Fresh gizzard shads taste good as a sashimi as well.
5. Jumbo Prawns
Jumbo prawn is another seafood that
tastes the best in autumn. Filled with sweet flesh from September to December,
prawns are enjoyed in various forms, grilled on top of a bed of salts, to name
one.
In the port cities like Incheon and
Busan, you can find the freshest prawns ready to be enjoyed. Some of the street
food vendors prepare them as a whole and serve deep-fried, which is available
only when fresh.
