Samgyetang - herbal korean chicken soup

I guess living almost 10 years in Korea has seared us more as "Koreans" in that I am getting back to cooking and eating Korean food like we were in Korea again.  

My hubby has been sick lately most likely due to over exertion and the many changes in the environment from Korea to US, and lastly, from sore muscles from finally working out after 6 months of eating our stomachs full (to a point where it kind of hurts to be full..).

I am cooking samgyetang tonight for dinner because its the true chicken soup of Korea and the Chinese(Korean) herbs that go into it indeed has some magic power into making us at last feel healthier after eating it.

I bought a samgyetang herbal mix months ago not thinking that I would actually be cooking it anytime soon, but indeed, that time has come.  It's time to get back to eating Korean!

I bought an organic whole chicken from HEB for less than $6. Almost the same price in Korea but probably cheaper because I read in online news that chicken prices in Korea are up the roof now.

Chunky sliced green onions, 1/4 cup soaked rice, a garlic clove or two - all these stuffed in the chicken will do. And don't forget the herbal pack - just drop the contents into the pot.  Pour 2 liters of water and boil for 45 minutes or more.

That's it! It's fairly simple and versatile.  Hey, I think you could boil a whole chicken by itself with some veggies(ginger, garlic?) and that would be enough.

Thank goodness we have a huge korean grocery around, called HMart! I can get pretty much anything I want that I used in Korea.   I even found the organic soy sauce that I like there - Amazing!

Instand pho and mandoo!

It's not actually homemade homemade!


But having this having this $1 per packet pho to whip it up in 10 minutes is pretty great!   This is my favorite instant pho I get delivered from Emart.  It has 4 packets (4 servings) in each box for less than 4000won.

It comes with the dry soup pack, hot sauce (I mix it with the "plum sauce"), and noodles.

This is the plum sauce I get from Emart.  It's less than 4000won for this small bottle - but it's pretty good.  I use to bring food stuff from the states to save from spending 1.5 times the amount - but it's not so bad these days.  More and more foreign foods are more avail and affordable than before.

Getting back to making the pho,

I cut up (or rip) cabbages - sometimes with onions, kale..whatever you have in your fridge - to boil with the water. 

And of course, MANDOO!!! Add 3-4 pieces to boil with the broth.

So just veggies and mandoo to boil.

It takes about 5 minutes or so for the mandoo to cook - once it looks like it has seeped in the broth - add the noodles and the "dry broth pack".

It takes few more minutes for the noodles to cook.  I don't like over cooking it too much - but that's just like cooking spaghetti noodles - it's your preference how soft you want it!

Of course, at best, it would be best to have local Vietnamese veggies, especially those hardly thick basil and cilantro!  Yumm - but you gotta make do with what you have.  

It's so simple and easy to make.

With veggies and mandoo - it taste good enough to pass as pho ^^  I can opt out paying 9000won or more for restaurant pho here in Korea for this instant/homemade pho any day.

When you live abroad long enough and crave some local food (not really local American) - you have to make do and get creative in your own way. 

Easy seaweed soup without meat

Seaweed soup - "miyok gook" is a simple recipe that I try to prepare once a week for its health benefits.

Dried seaweed, onions and soy sauce is all you need!

our staple soup - miyok gook

Preparation:  Soak 1/2 cup of dried seaweed in water (20 minutes~ or until bloated).
Serves 2 bowls or more.

1. Saute 1/2 of an onion(diced) until clear (use good quality oil - grape/olive/sesame oil).
2. Add soaked dried seaweed, saute with the onions for a minute over medium heat.
3. Add 1 TB (tablespoon) of soy sauce and let simmer (low heat) and cover for 3 minutes.
4. Add enough water until consistency of soup desired : I usually add enough water for seaweed to level with water - it's your preference.
5. Cover and boil for 7 minutes - taste & season with 1 tsp of soy sauce or pinch of salt if desired. 

*Adjustsaltiness with salt - too much soy sauce will make it taste "soy saucy."



That is it!  Very easy.  

Using good quality seaweed and ingredients (oil, soy sauce) makes a huge difference.  


I prefer a very chunky hearty seaweed soup with just enough water and less salt.

Food is medicine!

Spinach & garlic banchan - easy recipe

I got a hold of "wild organic" spinach at the market!
I love the pinkish roots!   There's so much nutrition in them and tastes so sweet.

1. Soak organic spinach in water (preferably filtered) to loosen up dirt and soak up some water back (about 30 minutes~).
2. Rinse off remaining dirt over running water.  Clean the roots, but do not cut it off.
3. Half the spinach from the roots.
4. Saute 1tsp(or more) of mashed garlic on heated pan with oil (olive or grape oil) until fragrant.
5. Add spinach.
6. Mix and saute while seasoning with a dash of salt - flip well and don't let it "wilt" too much.
7. Cook enough until it's half wilted (don't let it get too "watery" by letting it cook too long.)
8. Remove from pan and serve.

Spinach is awesome for everything!

Spinach is great brain food

All those flavonoids that help prevent cancer also act as potent antioxidants that slow the effects of aging on the brain. Researchers have found that spinach helps protect the brain from free radical damage and slow age-related declines in brain power.

Spinach is packed with high quality nutrition

Spinach is one of the best sources of Vitamin K, which functions in retaining calcium in the bone matrix where it promotes bone mineralization. Other minerals in spinach include manganese, copper, magnesium, zinc, and phosphorus. This combination makes spinach a great fighter of osteoporosis. It's an excellent source of Vitamin B1, B2, and B6, and a good source of B3. Spinach is also rich in mood relaxing tryptophan, and cancer fighting fiber. One cup of boiled spinach contains over 5 grams of protein, and a decent amount of omega 3 fatty acids. And of course a load of Vitamin A.

What else you need to know about spinach

Spinach is among the 12 foods on which pesticides have been most frequently found. If you want to avoid the health risks posed by pesticides, buy only organic spinach.

 http://www.naturalnews.com/026273_spinach_cancer_brain.html

Steak Pasta

Steak pasta is one of my favorite dishes to cook!

 

Getting the "heavy cream" is the hardest part here.

Korean grocery stores don't always carry them, so I have to make sure I have them in stock because I can't just run down the grocery store depending on it ;)


It's been a while since I've made this...and I can't remember what or how to make this anymore.
Ever since eating more Paleo dishes - we've cut down our "pasta" dishes. 

However, winter always makes my stomach sing - I think I will have to make this one soon!



***Go to Emart to get your "foreign" ingredients/food.  They have a decent selection in Gongdeok branch from coconut milk to horseradish sauce.  However, I haven't seen any "relish" on stock lately!

Thanksgiving dinner in Korea - chicken for turkey

Thanksgiving feasts were always big back home in the states.  I remember my preparations a week before the big feast to make sure I had enough room in my stomach to eat everything I could - gluttony...

Those days are goners~~ long gone.  There are no thanksgiving feasts here.  You're lucky if you can feast over a turkey.  But I have happily gotten used to it.