Friday, 3 July 2015

Korean Ramen Noodles- Korean Foods



Korean Instant Ramen are usually known as Ramyeon noodles, and they do have some unique characteristics that set them apart from typical Ramen Noodles. For example, these sorts of instant noodle mixtures often contain more seasonings than ordinary Ramen... spicy oils and powders, flavored with chili and garlic, are the norm. This particular flavor composition is very popular in Korea...on Korean Instant Ramen Noodle packets, the words Kimchi or Kim Chee will indicate the presence of this unique (and very Korean) spicy, garlicky flavor. They pack a punch

Often, Kimchi Korean noodles pack quite a punch. flavor-wise; they have a lot more "heat" than some people might expect. However, there are many different brands of Korean Instant Ramen Noodles, so it is possible to find just the right level of spice for your own personal tastes and palate. For those who enjoy bold flavors and strong tastes, these noodles may offer a more pleasurable eating experience than their blander Ramen Noodle counterparts. Some Korean Instant Ramen come with vegetable packets for even more texture and flavor. In some cases, a packet of Korean noodles may contain as many as four flavoring packets, versus a single flavoring packet for non-Korean Ramen Noodles.




Variety: Korean Instant Ramen Noodles may also have different textures of noodles; these may range from thin, translucent noodles (these are similar to typical Ramen) to thicker, more substantial noodle types. The brand you choose will dictate which type of noodles you receive - generally, you will be able to tell from the package photo exactly what you will be getting. It's fun to experiment with different textures of noodles when exploring the world of Korean cuisine through these quick-to-prepare and inexpensive noodle snacks.

Dress them up: To add more nutrition to your Korean Instant Ramen Noodles, consider some delicious extras, such as thinly-sliced onions, mushrooms or peppers. Chopped spinach (or other chopped greens) will also add vitamins and minerals to your noodle bowl. Seafood, poultry, pork, beef, tofu and seitan are other amazing choices that will give you a welcome serving of protein to balance out the carbohydrates in these instant Noodles. To add more spice, choose fresh Kimchi sauce or another spicy Korean condiment to pour on your cooked noodles.

Quick and Easy: Typically, instant Noodles of the Korean style are prepared just as regular instant Noodles would be; however, there will be added steps as you put the various flavor packets into your noodles. To get the best results, cook your noodles in a couple of cups of boiling water, for about three minutes; then, remove your pot from heat and stir in the flavorings. Pour the finished noodles into a wide, large bowl and eat with chopsticks or a tablespoon. If you don't enjoy slurping your noodles, break them down before adding them to the boiling water - this way, they'll already be in convenient, easy-to-eat bite-sized pieces.
Korean cuisine is comforting, warming and hearty - Korean Ramen Noodles offer a cheap

Best Korean Seafood Recipes



Korean cuisine is based on noodles, rice, meats, vegetables and tofu, although there are also some famous fish recipes. A traditional meal in Korea is steamed short-grain rice with lots of different side dishes. Common ingredients in this cuisine include soy sauce, garlic, salt, sesame oil, fermented bean paste, pepper, ginger and fermented red chili paste. The recipes vary by province and a lot of regional dishes now have national fame.

Meat used to be obtained by fishing and hunting and it was eaten in stews or soups or roasted at this time. People who lived nearer to the sea would have eaten more fish. Shellfish and seafood have always been very popular in Korea and commoners lived on a diet of shellfish and fish like clams, oysters, shrimp, loach, and abalone. Hogs and sheep were reserved for the upper class.

Saltwater fish and fresh ones are both popular there and they might be grilled, broiled, served, served raw or added to stews and soups. Mackerel, croaker, Pacific herring, and hairtail are well loved and smaller fish, squid, shrimp and more can be salted and dried.

Fish is grilled in fillets or whole and it is often dried naturally so it can be stored or shipped. Anchovies and yellow corvina feature in Korean dishes and soup stocks are sometimes made from kelp and dried anchovies. Shellfish are added to broth, eaten raw with a vinegar condiment, or used in other dishes. Salted baby shrimp are used for seasoning and bigger ones are grilled or dried. Squid, octopus, and cuttlefish are examples of mollusks, which are enjoyed there.



How To Make Braised Halibut

Koreans enjoy braising food and you can use any firm-fleshed fish for the following recipe, such as red snapper, cod, or striped bass. You might like to add red pepper paste to the sauce if you prefer a spicier flavor. This recipe serves four people.

What You Need:

2 lbs halibut
1/2 sliced white onion
1 Korean radish, in 1/2 inch thick 1 inch rectangles
The green part only of 5 scallions, in 1 inch pieces
Vegetable oil
For The Sauce:
3 cups water
3 thinly sliced garlic cloves
2 teaspoons sesame oil
2 tablespoons chili pepper flakes
1 tablespoon white sugar
1 thinly sliced piece of fresh ginger
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 tablespoon rice wine
1 hot red Korean pepper, in 1/2 inch pieces
How To Make It:
Combine the sauce ingredients. Coat the bottom of a big pot with oil and heat it over a moderately high heat. Add the onion and radish and pour in the sauce ingredients. Bring the mixture to a boil. Put the halibut on top of the vegetables and braise it, in the sauce.

Simmer the dish for about fifteen minutes or until the radish is tender. Baste the fish often but try not to disturb it much while it cooks. Add the green onions a couple of minutes before the end of the cooking time.

Monday, 29 June 2015

Korean DVDs Popular

Fans of Asian films should check out some of the many Korean DVDs currently available. And even if you've never watched an Asian film in your life, you might find that their unconventional plotlines and unpredictable endings are a welcome change of pace from the repetition of Hollywood. I've listed six high-quality Korean DVDs below, and they're all highly recommended for both Asian cinephiles and those new to the genre.

Welcome to Dongmakgol (2005) - One of the highest-grossing Korean films of all time, Welcome to Dongmakgol is set during the Korean War and centers around an isolated mountain village where the locals aren't even aware of the fighting around them. When an American pilot crash lands near the village, he's soon joined by both North and South Korean forces. Will these enemies continue their fighting, or will the calming atmosphere of the village wash away the tensions? Kang Hye-jeong is a standout as a quirky village girl.

Gangster High (2006) - Director Park Ki Hyeong takes a look at teen violence in this riveting film about a soccer club that gets embroiled in a feud with a rival gang over the affections of a tough-talking girl. While it's far from being a comedy, enough dark humor is thrown in to keep audiences entertained between scenes of high school brutality.

The King and the Clown (2005) - Set in the 16th century and featuring lesser-known actors and homosexual themes, The King and the Clown still managed to become a major hit with Korean moviegoers. The male leads are a pair of tightrope walkers and clowns who wind up serving the court of a king prone to homicidal fits. When the king falls for the effeminate Gonggil (Lee Jun Ki), it sparks jealousy among his court (especially his main concubine), and a plot is hatched to get rid of the performers permanently. Based on the play "Yi," the film provides an in-depth look at Korean jester and folk culture.

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter...and Spring (2003) - Instead of his usually violent films, controversial director Kim Ki-duk turns in a reflective piece set on a Buddhist monastery which floats on a peaceful lake. Broken into five segments, the film follows the life of a Buddhist monk from childhood to old age. A big hit with the critics, it was recently added to Roger Ebert's list of great movies.

100 Days with Mr. Arrogant (2004) - When a high school girl accidentally causes a college student to scratch his Lexus, he draws up an enslavement agreement to allow her to pay off the damages. This begins a bizarre and often hilarious relationship based on various forms of revenge. An unconventional love story starring Kim Jaewon and Ha Ji-won.

Silmido (2003) - Loosely based on true events, Silmido begins with North Korean commandos trying to assassinate South Korean President Park Chung-hee. After the mission fails, South Korea retaliates by rounding up prisoners and other social undesirables and training them on the island of Silmido. Their training complete, they're ordered to head into North Korea and assassinate Kim Il-sung. But something goes wrong along the way, and soon these agents are facing termination at the hands of their own countrymen. The first South Korean film to ever draw an audience of 10 million people.

Sunday, 28 June 2015

Latest Korean Fashion Trends 2015



If you have you been bitten by the Korean bug known as "Hallyu", and you want to take part of the Korean wave that is currently sweeping the globe, then you can do so by introducing Korean fashion in your wardrobe.

Korean fashion is very now and trendy. And to help you achieve this style, here are some tips to get you looking like a Korean pop star.



Latest Korean Fashion Trends

1. The preppy look

The clean and polished look of the preppy style is taken into another level by introducing layering. You can layer a classic button-up shirt with a bejeweled collar or a super awesome bow tie.

2. Sheer and clear

If you want to stay fashionable in the summer, you can dress up in clothes made from sheer materials to keep you cool and stylish at the same time. Lacy nightgowns are perfect examples of this.

3. Great jackets and cardigans

If you're not into the preppy, layered look, you can opt for the spunky, rock and roll style. You can achieve this by wearing a studded jacket, or a cardigan with embellishments. By wearing these pieces of clothing, you can definitely make a fashion statement that people will notice.

4. Princess dresses

Korean fashion is not immune to the propensity of most Asians to the allure of anything cute. Dresses with frilly and ruffled details come in abundance. And they usually come in soft and bright colors like hot pink.

5. Flower power

Dresses are made more cuter by having flower details or flower prints. These clothes are perfect for frolicking under the sun.

6. 80's funk

If you're still stuck in the 80's, Korean fashion style will definitely suit you. 80's fashion aesthetics is stylish resurrected and given a modern, Korean twist. You can have your pick from bold, exciting colors of printed tees, to the lax harem pants and cool and colorful sunglasses.

Famous Pieces of Korean Fashion

If you don't want a uniform Korean look and you just want a specific piece of clothing from Korea, here are some examples of dresses and shirts that will add an extra oomph to your wardrobe.

Figure cardigan
Chiffon striped NB
Indian T-shirt
Sexy baggy pants
Rose top jump suit
Chiffon dress
S. Breath dress
Sexy holed T-shirts
Long & short comb dress
Sexy long & short cutting dress
Cute sleeveless hoodie
Korean Hair Styles

To have a complete Korean look, you need to have the matching hair style to achieve it.

Hair styles for girls

Romantic wave
Water wave
Hair styles for boys

Wolf shaggy cut
Short onion haircut
Medium haircut with bangs

Wednesday, 13 May 2015

Korean Healthy Food Tips



Korean food is well-known globally for being spicy, flavourful and delicious. But did you know that Korean cuisine also offers numerous health benefits? Korean cuisine is so healthy that South Korea boasts of an obesity rate of just 3.5 percent. Now, contrast that obesity rate with the likes of the United States (34.4%), the U.K (25%), Mexico (30%) and New Zealand (25%).

Many may attribute such low obesity rate to genetics of Asians in comparison with Caucasians - the latter being bigger in build than the former etc. - but that's not true either. Koreans are healthier than many people largely because of their diet, proof of which is the Cambridge World History of Food's report that the average Korean meal contains 13 percent less fat than those found in the diets of Americans and Europeans.

General Health Benefits of Korean Cuisine

Aside from the fact that Korean food lends itself well to a non-obese population, it also offers many other health benefits. Said benefits to good health will not come as a surprise once the ingredients, condiments and materials used as well as the cooking tools, techniques and technologies applied are considered.




The most common ingredients used in Korean cuisine are vegetables, which we all know to be full of the macronutrients and micronutrients essential in the maintenance of good health. From the side dish to the main dish and from fresh to fermented, vegetables like cabbages, bean sprouts and spinach are generously used. Add in the generous uses of garlic, ginger and other beneficial spices and Korean cuisine is very healthy

Meat, by contrast, is used sparingly which magnifies Korean cuisine's health benefits. Even when it is a meat dish, the Koreans prefer the lean and healthy types like lean beef, chicken breasts and fatty fishes. As a result, the risks for cardiovascular diseases are significantly lower, thanks to lower saturated fat and cholesterol content in Korean cuisine.

The cooking tools, techniques and technologies used for preparing Korean food are the healthy types. Grilling, stir-frying, stewing and fermenting are the most popular ways to cook Korean cuisine, all of which means that the foods are cooked in their own juices. In contrast, many foods in countries with high obesity rates like the United States are deep fried in vats of oil.

Here are a few of the expected health benefits when one adopts the Korean mindset to food and Korean cuisine itself:

Lower risks for cardiovascular diseases like hypertension as well as neurological illnesses like strokes and dementia
Lower risks for certain types of cancer because of the anti-carcinogenic properties of vegetables
Stronger internal organs especially the liver and the kidneys
Better digestion because of increased appetite for easily digestible food
Stronger bones due to the presence of isoflavones in beans and mushrooms
Healthier skin since there are lesser amounts of preservatives

Nutrition Information of Korean Foods

Each of the popular Korean foods has its own health benefits by virtue of the ingredients and cooking techniques used on it. The following are just a few of most popular:

Bulgogi is a grilled dish consisting of marinated barbecue beef although it can also be made from chicken (dak) and pork (dwaeji). Since this is grilled over an open flame, it cooks on its own juices and, hence, no fatty oils are used. Caloric content is 310 per serving.

Jeyuk bokkeum is fiery pork served with rice, leaves of lettuce, Chinese cabbage, perilla (Sesame leaves) and other large leafy green vegetables as well as slices of raw garlic and chili peppers. Calorie per serving is 221.

Bibimbap may have slightly higher calorie content - 560 calories for a single serving - than other types of Korean food but the health benefits are still there, nonetheless, thanks to the seasoned vegetables, tofu, egg, meat or seafood in the dish.

Ddukbokki is made from rice cake combined with fish cakes, garlic and onions. Very hot and spicy has many of the benefits associated with gochujang and chilli's, as well as being very low in fat. Calorie count is 378 per serving.

A discussion on the health benefits of Korean cuisine will not be complete without mention of kimchi, a traditional spicy Korean condiment served from morning till night in virtually all dishes. It is known to improve the circulatory system because of the garlic, fish paste and chilli as its main ingredients, click here for more health benefits of Kimchi.

It's not just food which makes the Korean diet so healthy, South Koreans also gain a lot of health benefits from the drinks that they consume, the teas such as green and ginseng are full of anti-oxidants and aide the bodies systems while drinks containing barley like Shik-Hye and Barley tea, help the digestive system.

Adopting a Korean diet could help improve your health, help you loose weight, prevent diseases and improve your general well being, as the Korean wave continues to gather steam and spread around the world, don't miss out of one of the worlds most interesting cultures.

Saturday, 14 March 2015

Benefits Korean Ginseng Root and Red Ginseng Roots



For thousands of years, Koreans have been using Korean Ginseng Root believing that it "protects the organ system, calms mood, and brightens up the eyes." One of the old Korean medical works states that "if a person takes Red Ginseng continuously, his or her body will feel light so the person can live longer." Many recent studies back up the old findings of the benefits of Korean Red Ginseng Root, and until today, many people take them to stay healthy.

What is Korean Ginseng Root?

Korean Ginsengs, one of the Panax species, are usually about 60-80 centimeters (including the stem and leaves) and their roots are about 7-10 centimeters. Koreans call it "In-sam," which means "man plant" because it is shaped like a man. Red Ginseng roots are both wildly grown and harvested in cold areas of Korea. Ginseng tastes sweet at first but eventually bitter after, and today they are available as powders, dried roots, and liquid extracts. Korean Red Ginseng is a type of Korean Ginseng that is harvested after 6 years.

Benefits of Red Ginseng Root



Korean Ginseng root strengthens human's immune system with its main active ingredient, ginsenosides. Ginsenosides help the body reduce the effects of stress by increasing protein synthesis in the brain, thus improving blood circulation in the brains. Better blood circulation in the brain allows better mental and physical performance. Korean Ginseng root is used for diabetes, migraine, infections, and radiation as well as stimulants for appetite. Another widely known usage of Ginseng root is to increase stamina. Besides ginsenoside, which is steroid-like phytochemical, Korean Ginseng root also contains panaxtriol that allows fast recovery from illness and increase in strength. These roots can actually work like a natural steroid that athletes can take. Ingredients in Korean Ginseng root can also be found in energy drinks.

Studies have shown that Korean Red Ginseng roots help men's erectile dysfunction. This means that Red Ginseng roots can actually be a natural alternative to Viagra, which is a mixture of unnatural chemicals made in labs. These roots are also used to help women with menopausal symptoms. Another study suggests that Red Ginseng (especially Korean Red Ginseng) can reduce the relapse of gastric cancer.

Safety & Dosage

Ginseng roots are classified as a "Generally Recognized As Safe" by the United States Food and Drug Administration, and recommended by many doctors. Also, these roots are generally considered safe to consume in large amount. As mentioned earlier, many people consume Korean Ginseng Roots in various ways and Koreans eat them by making a chicken soup called "sam-gye-tang" with them also.

To Conclude,

Korean Ginseng Roots:
- Strengthens immune system
- Reduces effects of stress
- Fights diabetes, migraine, infections
- Stimulates appetite
- Increase stamina
- Boosts illness recovery
- Helps men with erectile dysfunction
- Helps women from menopausal symptoms