SCRUMPTIOUS It’s K-FoodSeason!

BY DANIELLE ANENE

What comes to mind when you think of Korean content? Lee Min Ho and Gu Jun Pyo from the famous Boys Over Flowers? The men who appeared on screen and won the hearts of both young and old Nigerian ladies. But that is only from their movies, there is much more…. Let us introduce you to two other Korean things that have infiltrated our lives in the world of Korean content: K-beauty and K-food. Korean dramas will make you fall in love with the men, and their beauty will make the hearts of single girls beat like an 808 drum!

Image: Korean Food Surfing TikTok, you might come across a Korean virtual restaurant right here in Lagos! A quick look at their Instagram page will reveal a Korean lady selling Korean food in Lagos! You'll place your order and be in Korean food heaven in no time. We tried some:

SOJU

Soju is a colorless grain-based distilled liquor with an average alcohol level of about 15 percent. Traditionally made with rice, soju can be distilled from other types of grains. It can be taken neat but is best accompanied with ttoekbokki, hotpot soup, and chicken.

JJAJANGMYEON

Jjajangmyeon pronounced as Cha-Jhangme-on is a Korean- Chinese noodle dish made up of black bean sauce using thick udon noodles that are smothered and tossed together in a silky smooth, savory black bean sauce with diced pork, zucchini and onion. The noodles are chewy and soft at the same time, once you put it in your mouth you can taste the soft and chewy noodles and the black beans. This was good!

Makgeolli

This is a traditional Korean alcoholic beverage made by combining rice, yeast, and water with a starter culture called nuruk. It’s milky-white, fizzy, and refreshing. It is full of carbohydrates and was traditionally served to farmers as part of a midmorning snack or with lunch, giving them the strength and energy to work the rest of the day. Makgeolli is a better drink option for people with a sweet tooth, and although it is an alcoholic drink, its alcohol content is still lower than that of Soju.

Yangnyeom And Gangjang Chicken

Hang Over Soup

There is something Nigerians have in common with Koreans, and that is their drinking habit, according to WHO. Nigerians rank second on the list of African countries for heavy episodic drinking. This is a no judging zone, but after that long night of drinking and in an attempt to beat the fatigue, you might want to try this hangover soup, also known as haejangguk, it is known to help chase away alcohol induced headaches and fatigue.

Hot Pot Soup

This is the Korean version of our pepper soup, it has different varieties but the same base. It comes with its own style of consumption. Traditionally meant to be eaten communal style, a big pot filled with simmering broth is placed at the middle of the table, accompanied by plates of various meats, vegetables, noodles, condiments, and dipping sauces. The ingredients are to be placed in the broth, cooked, and then taken out and dipped into the chosen sauce before eating.

Tteokbokki

Tteokbokki -pronounced as it is spelt-, also known as simmered rice cake, is a popular snack in South Korea. This is an unpaid actor in every Korean drama.

It is a spicy stir-fried dish that usually consists of cylinder-shaped rice cakes, sweet red chili sauce, and fish cakes.

While Korean fried chicken is available in a variety of different flavors and textures, I have only tried two types of Chicken and that is the crispy fried Gangjang chicken and the Yangnyeom sauce chicken. With its perfectly succulent tenderness, incredibly crispy skin, and trademark glaze that's equally sticky, sweet, and spicy, it just begs to be devoured, especially when it’s hot. My secret delight is eating it with a bowl of soaked Ijebu garri, ice, and lots of milk, delicious!