Today let’s learn about cooking kalguksu 칼국수 at home! This homemade noodle soup is famous during the hot and humid summer months. Depending upon your tastes, there are many ways to diversify this soup to your liking. About the South of Seoul “A Year to Learn Korean Cooking’ Series Many of us live in South Korea for only a year. However, the time flies past faster than we can imagine. At South of Seoul, we decided to create a simple series that will offer 2-4 dishes to learn each month so that when you leave South Korea you have a slew of new dishes you feel comfortable making anywhere. This series is a collaboration with Kimchi Rednecks. In 2020 they created the first blog in this series Online Resources for Learning to Cook Korean Food. These two love to have adventures in the kitchen and share the results with their community. Be sure to follow Kimchi Rednecks on YouTube for other great videos about living life in South Korea. About Kalguksu Kalguksu 칼국수 literally means “knife noodle” and refers to the stars of this soup, the excellent homemade knife-cut wheat noodles. Combining the noodles with a flavorful broth and other ingredients for garnish makes this soup a dish to crave any time of the year. In addition, you can complement your meal by enjoying some kimchi 김치 or kkakdugi 깍두기(cubed radish kimchi) as sides. Your choice of base for the broth for this soup depends upon the version you are making. However, many versions use the standard Korean soup stock with kelp and anchovy base. A few of the most common styles of kalguksu found in restaurants and homes across Korea are: Biggest Hurdle In Cooking Kalguksu If you have never made pasta before, the idea of making your own homemade noodles may feel overwhelming. However, these knife-cut noodles are not as difficult as one might think. Neither my husband nor I had ever made homemade noodles before this dish. Because the noodles symbolize longevity, the dough should be rolled out thin and flat and then cut into long strips. After our first experience, we developed some tips we will use the next time we make kalguksu at home. When making your own homemade noodles, this dish takes a bit more time. If you are short on time cooking kalguksu, you can either make the noodles and broth on separate days. However, Korean markets typically have fresh kalguksu noodles available in the refrigerated section. In addition, you could also use dried udon noodles. Three Recommended Cooking Kalguksu Videos to Watch Since this is popular food, especially during summer months in Korea, it is incredibly easy to find this dish in local restaurants. Cooking kalguksu at home takes time but is so delicious. In spite of the time it takes to make this dish, we intend to perfect our noodles and try out some of the different varieties in the future. Korean American Cooking Kalguksu Korean Cooking Kalguksu Americans in Korea Cooking Kalguksu Let Us Know How It Turns Out When you make kalguksu for the first time at home, be sure to leave a comment and let us know how it turned out! Also, if you live in Pyeongtaek, you can even share your success (or failure) with us in the Pyeongtaek Food & Fun Facebook group. If you are looking for other dishes (Korean or otherwise) or reviews of restaurants, be sure to check out the KimchiRednecks channel or check out our social media accounts on Facebook or Instagram, where we often share what we are cooking or eating. Read more in our Year to Learn Korean Cooking Series KimchiRednecksAbout Melissa Edwards-Whittington & Chuck Whittington (KimchiRednecks) Chuck and Melissa—also known as the KimchiRednecks—have been living in Korea since 2017 and documenting their life abroad since launching their YouTube channel in 2018. Originally created to share their adventures with friends and family back in the U.S., KimchiRednecks has since grown into a vibrant and dynamic platform that reflects their love for Korean culture, food, travel, and everyday life. From foodie explorations and recipe experiments to gaming, tech, and car projects (especially the BRZ), their content offers a fun and honest window into expat life. Chuck Whittington is a graduate of Francis Marion University with a degree in Information Systems Management. With over two decades of experience in IT, Chuck combines his technical expertise with a long-standing fascination with Korea—having visited many times before moving permanently. He’s the tech-savvy side of KimchiRednecks and brings a love for innovation, gaming, and cars to the channel. Melissa Edwards-Whittington holds a degree in Bible with a minor in Elementary Education from Mid-Atlantic Christian University. She has worn many hats over the years—working in customer service, marketing, and now also serving as a volunteer Co-Editor and Social Media Marketing Manager for United on the RoK Magazine. Her writing and digital work focus on building community and supporting military-connected and expatriate populations in Korea. Melissa also volunteers with South of Seoul, where she helps manage online social media groups, supports local language exchanges, and creates original content to assist newcomers and long-term residents alike. Together, Chuck and Melissa share their lives with their three beloved Shih Tzu daughters—Minion, Sookie (forever in their hearts), and Mayhem—who are frequently featured in their videos and social media posts. Whether they’re sipping coffee at a neighborhood café, exploring hidden corners of Korea, or experimenting with homemade whiskey and brandy on their second channel, Shining with KimchiRednecks, Chuck and Melissa are passionate about sharing the real and ever-evolving journey of life abroad. One of their greatest joys is cooking, and they frequently document their culinary adventures—especially their experiences learning to prepare Korean dishes and other global cuisines—on their YouTube channel, inviting others to celebrate food, culture, and connection alongside them. Follow Chuck, Melissa & the KimchiRednecks Adventures: YouTube: @kimchirednecks YouTube: @shiningwithkimchirednecks Instagram: @kimchirednecks Facebook: KimchiRednecks United on the RoK Magazine: www.unitedontherokmag.com

The post A Year to Learn Korean Cooking: Kalguksu appeared first on South of Seoul.

Are you craving a delicious NOT spicy Korean soup? Look no further, here is our list of 5 NOT spicy Korean soups for you to enjoy this winter or year-round! Korean Soups Are Not All Spicy Although the spicy soups get a lot of attention, there are NOT spicy Korean soups to be found. In fact, not all the food in South Korea has the spice cranked up to 11. The truth is, there are many Korean dishes and restaurants where the only spicy food on the table is kimchi. The non-spicy Korean foods just aren’t as sexy to blog about. Sadly, this means many people who hate to eat spicy hot foods think there are no good Korean food choices for them. Don’t worry, we’ve got your back. Here are five Korean soups that are hot, but not spicy. Please note, these are not ALL of the non-spicy Korean soups. It’s just a list of our winter favorites (even though local folks tend to eat a few of these only in the summer, as ex-pat residents of South Korea, we take the liberty to love them year-round). Just like we did with the 5 Best Korean Stews/Soups for Winter we will include a place in Pyeongtaek for you to try the dish and a recipe vlog if one is available. Ok, let’s get started. Beef Short Rib Soup (Galbitang) 갈비탕 The Korean bone broth soups are our big favorite non-spicy winter meals. Bone broth is filled with nutrition and very easy on the stomach. Perfect for people who aren’t big on strong flavors or spice. Galbitang is often filled with glass noodles and served with rice. Some galbitang only has an essence of meat and other galbitang is filled with ribs. If you order the version with ribs, getting the meat off the bones can be tricky, but don’t be shy. Scrape them clean. No matter which version you order, the galbitang won’t look like much but then you get very full. Where we like to eat it: Maangchi shows you how to make it at home: Ox Bone Soup (Seolleongtang) 설렁탕 This is another bone broth, but fewer bones and meat. Instead, there are just thin slices of meat and lots of broth and noodles. Honestly, if you eat a lot of this, you will look quite radiant. It gives your skin quite the boost in the cold winter months. Where we like to eat it: Maangchi shows you how to make it at home: Chicken & Ginseng Soup (Samgyetang) 삼계탕 This is a very light soup that includes a whole chicken stuffed with rice. You often have to order it ahead or plan on waiting because it takes a little while to cook. This dish is totally the opposite of what you might associate with Korean food. The strongest flavor is salt. Great for if you aren’t feeling well. Where we like to eat it: KimchiRednecks show you how to make Samgyetang at home Chicken Noodle Soup (Dak kalguksu) 닭칼국수 If you have a hankering for old-fashioned chicken (dak) noodle soup (kalguksu), you will find this Korean dish will hit the spot. Hearty, thick homemade noodles in a light broth, and pulled chicken, will leave you feeling like you have found home again. There are also seafood and mushroom versions of this soup. Please note that not ALL kalguksu is non-spicy. Where we like to eat it: KimchiRednecks show you how to make kalguksu at home Mushroom Chicken Soup 버섯백숙 If you are feeling like some mushroom, you will be delighted by this warm chicken soup. The mushrooms in this dish bring it to the next level. Where we like to eat it: Read more in our Year to Learn Korean Cooking Series This series is a collaboration with Kimchi Rednecks. In 2020 they created the first blog in this series Online Resources for Learning to Cook Korean Food. These two love to have adventures in the kitchen and share the results with their community. Be sure to follow Kimchi Rednecks on YouTube for other great videos about living life in South Korea. Join the Pyeongtaek Food & Fun Facebook Group You are also welcome to join our Pyeongtaek Food & Fun Facebook Group. The South of Seoul moderated community of active and friendly Pyeongtaek international residents makes moving to Pyeongtaek easier. With so many different voices and opinions, it is always refreshing to see everyone’s adventures in our local community. In addition, all of the posts shared introduce our community to new places and old places that can feel new all over again. Volunteer with South of Seoul Interested in working with a fun team of talented volunteers? The South of Seoul volunteer team is always looking for other like-minded folks to research information, compile blogs, and edit content. South of SeoulFounded in 2015, the South of Seoul team consists of volunteers on three continents working together to support English-speaking people traveling or living in South Korea. South of Seoul volunteers work with organizations and individuals across South Korea to improve equitable access to information across South Korea. Much of South of Seoul’s information focuses on Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. Blogs published under the authorship of “South of Seoul” include blogs compiled by multiple volunteers to improve access to standardized information unrelated to individualized personal experiences. www.southofseoul.net

The post 5 NOT Spicy Korean Soups for Winter appeared first on South of Seoul.