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With festive cheer and lit up streets and houses, Christmas has grown in popularity in Korea. Interestingly, Korean cuisine has plenty of delicious dishes that can be introduced to your Christmas dinner even though flavours from the West often dominate the holiday. All of these dishes may be consumed throughout the year and are perfect for serving at parties and festivals owing to their rich flavours and varied textures characteristic of Korean cuisine. Adding them to your Christms feast is also a great way to introduce your guests to new flavours. These dishes which can include fish shaped pastries, sweet pancakes and rice drinks are perfect for any holiday gathering.
Bungeoppang (Fish-shaped Pastry)
These adorable fish-shaped pastries have become a Christmas market favourite and are a traditional Korean winter street dish. Bungeoppang is typically filled with sweet red bean paste (pat) and is made using a waffle-like batter that is poured into fish-shaped moulds. The warm, sweet filling within is delightfully contrasted with the crispy exterior layer that forms after cooking. This tasty pastry makes traditional twists by filling it with custard, chocolate, or cream cheese. The design is actually influenced by Japanese taiyaki, while the name is derived from the words "bungeo" (carp) and "ppang" (bread). Some sellers make unique holiday variants during the Christmas season using festive fillings or batter coloured in shades of green and red.
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Yakgwa (Honey Cookies)
These classic Korean honey cookies have been given a new lease of life as Christmas treat that are usually given as gifts and presented in festive boxes. Yakgwa is made from wheat flour, sesame oil, and honey and is prepared in a special way that involves frying it till golden and then soaking it in honey syrup. The end product is a soft, somewhat chewy cookie that has mild flavours from the sesame oil and caramelised honey. These cookies, which were first served in Buddhist temples and royal courts, are now presented at modern Christmas parties. For a festive touch, they are occasionally adorned with pine nuts or vibrant edible flowers. They go well with traditional Christmas teas and coffee because of their stylish appearance and delicate sweetness. You can make these in the Usha air fryer.
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Gyeranppang (Egg Bread)
This cosy street dish has become essential at the Christmas market. Gyeranppang is a special breakfast dessert dish made with sweet bread dough and a whole egg fried inside. The egg is just a little addition that brings protein to the mix, while the bread is often herbal and hasa touch of sweetness. During the holidays some vendors shape the bread into Christmas trees or stars and some place cheese, bacon, or onions on top. The warm bread and the soft, runny yolk make it perfect for the winters.
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Sikhye (Sweet Rice Drink)
This classic sweet rice beverage has gained popularity as a Christmas beverage and is frequently offered as a dessert during festive meals. Sikhye, which is made by fermenting cooked rice with malt water, has a hint of sweetness and floating rice grains that give each drink some texture. It is taken after large Christmas meals because of its digestive properties, although it is drunk chilled even in winter. Some vendors serve it in holiday-themed glasses or garnish it with pine nuts shaped like Christmas trees during the holiday season. A healthier substitute for many Christmas drinks, the drink's natural sweetness originates from the fermentation process that turns rice starch into sugar.
Hotteok (Sweet Pancakes)
A staple at Korean Christmas markets, hotteok is likely the most popular Korean winter street dish. A mixture of brown sugar, cinnamon, and chopped nuts are stuffed into yeasted dough and then put on a griddle till golden brown to create these thick, loaded pancakes. Heat is used to soften the filling, the outside of the filling becomes crisp creating a wonderful molten center. Vendors frequently make unique holiday variations with red and green nuts or add festive fillings like sweet potato, matcha, or chocolate during the Christmas season. These pancakes taste especially wonderful when being consumed during cold winters and especially during the Christmas markets because of the warm dough, melted sugar, and nuts.
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Your Christmas feast will be a delightful culinary adventure that blends the comforting flavours of Korean cuisine with festive cheer if you include these Korean treats at your next gathering.
