Cold Food Party in South Korea

Hansik refers to traditional Korean food, centered on rice, served alongside a bowl of soup and a variety of side dishes. Most dishes use meat and vegetables as the main ingredients, and are boiled or steamed in brine or water rather than fried in oil, making hansik very healthy.

The Hyangyak-jipseongbang, which dates back to around 1433 during the Chosun Dynasty, is one of the oldest writings mentioning gochujang. Gochujang is a fermented bean paste that has red pepper powder, soybean powder and rice flour added to it to create a spicy paste.

Korean cuisine is one of the world's healthiest because of the wide use of natural and seasonal components of their food sources, like tofu, beans, garlic, and their all-natural kimchi. Rice is a precious staple in the Korean diet, preferring the starchier short grain rice with its stickier texture.