One of Korea’s biggest annual festivals, Chuseok is a celebration of the harvest. A time to gather with friends and family, Chuseok is all about enjoying fresh food and reminiscing about good times past and exciting adventures yet to come. Whether you’re celebrating Chuseok for the first or fiftieth time, or if you are just looking for a way to inject some Korean influences into your meals, International Fresh Market is here. A top Asian grocery store, we offer a wide selection of authentic ingredients to enhance and inspire your meals.
Songpyeon
A traditional cake commonly enjoyed by celebrants of all ages during Chuseok, Songpyeon is sweet but not overwhelmingly so. Made with rice flour for a light texture, Songpyeon features honey and sweet red bean paste. To make Songpyeon at home, combine boiling water with rice flour and salt and stir until combined. Knead with your hands until a soft dough forms.
Let the dough rest as you make a filling of honey, sesame seeds, red bean paste, and salt. Tear dough into teaspoon-sized balls and, working gently, form the dough around bits of filling. Pinch the ends together to seal and steam the Songpyeon until the cakes are slightly translucent, or about 20 minutes. Serve over a bed of pine needles for a touch of authenticity.
Japchae
A sweet and savory noodle dish often served during Chuseok, Japchae will suit almost any palate. To make Japchae, stir-fry noodles in a hot wok or skillet, then remove while you sautee spinach, carrots, bell peppers, and mushrooms. When the vegetables are tender, add the noodles back into the pan and add more soy sauce and sesame oil to taste. Be careful not to overcook the noodles, as this will give them a gummy texture.
Galbijjim
Delicious, savory, and tender, Galbijjim is a short rib dish often served as a main course during Chuseok. It’s easy to make and looks impressive for your guests. To make Galbijjim, marinade short ribs in soy sauce, garlic, and ginger for at least two or three hours. Heat a large pan to medium-high heat and sear the ribs until golden brown on all sides but not cooked through. Transfer the meat to a large stockpot and add Korean pears, carrots, potatoes, and enough beef broth to barely cover the meat. Cook in the oven at 275 degrees for three to four hours or until the meat is fork-tender.
Jeon
Savory Korean pancakes that are often held by hand and eaten by Chuseok celebrants, Jeon can be made with almost any type of protein, including shrimp or chicken. To make Jeon, combine flour, scallions, grated zucchini, kosher salt, and the protein of your choice in a large mixing bowl. In a hot skillet drizzled with oil, pan-fry each pancake until golden brown and crispy. You can make a quick dipping sauce to go with your Jeon by combining soy sauce, water, rice vinegar, sugar, chili paste, and sesame oil in a small bowl. Whisk and adjust the seasonings to taste.
Kimchi
A traditional Korean dish made from fermented vegetables, Kimchi can be used as everything from a garnish to a side dish. To prepare Kimchi, place sliced Napa cabbage in a bowl and sprinkle salt over it, kneading it gently into the leaves so it starts to soften. Cover the cabbage with water and let it stand for up to two hours. Drain the cabbage, rinse it, and add Korean radish, garlic, ginger, gochugaru, and fish sauce. You can also add red pepper flakes to taste. Pack the Kimchi in a glass jar and pour some of the brine from the cabbage into it. Seal the jar tightly and let the Kimchi ferment for up to five days.
Visit International Fresh Market for Authentic Asian Ingredients
All of these authentic Korean recipes are perfect for celebrating Chuseok, a joyous harvest festival honoring the season. For all the ingredients you need to make these dishes, visit us at International Fresh Market. We have everything from fresh vegetables to pantry staples and other Asian grocery store essentials.
