AJA Mokja: Flavors of Korea

For our first dish, Flavors of Korea will serve an appetizer that will enhance your dining experience! Pajeon is a Korean pancake consisting of rice flour, egg, and its main star, green onions. The “Pa” (파) literally means scallions while “Jeon” (전) is a general term for Korean pancakes. These flavorful pancakes were traditionally cooked on the lid of a Gamasot, a large cast-iron rice cooker. Once the pancake is cooked, tear it apart with chopsticks and dip the pieces in a light soy sauce mixture. The dish can be adjusted and enhanced by adding other ingredients such as seafood, or kimchi! This dish will surely leave you asking for more! 😋

Of course, the pancake is served alongside some banchan, or side dishes, as is customary in Korea. 🇰🇷🇰🇷

✨Fun Fact: Raindrops, according to another Korean tradition, sound similar to pajeon grilling in the pan.✨

As for our second dish, Flavors of Korea will serve “Oi muchim” (오이무침) or Spicy Cucumber Salad, a popular (반찬) “banchan” aka side dish that will also enhance your dining experience! Oi-muchim! Oi-muchim, where "oi" translates to "cucumber" and muchim means “to season”, is composed of sliced cucumbers mixed and seasoned in a spicy sauce. It is a must-have banchan or side dish during the summer because of the cooling sensation that the cucumber gives alongside its spicy kick. It's usually eaten with Korean barbecue as a refreshing combination. Apart from its original variation, they also have “Oi saengchae” (오이생채), which uses raw or live cucumbers instead.

✨Fun Fact: You can enjoy this salad with rice, and you can also enjoy it on its own.✨

In the last episode, we have the iconic Dalgona cookie (달고나) that was a popular snack from the hit show ‘Squid Game’. The mechanics of the challenge are identical to the one in the drama; cut out the symbols in the circle-shaped sweets with a toothpick or needle. The business was revitalized in Korea as a result of the show. Dalgona merchants are able to sell 400 to 500 sweets each day.

This dish is very simple to make and only involves a very few ingredients! These cookies could also be a fun way to bond with friends and family if you include shapes in the center. Try carving the shapes out without breaking it apart! You can also try pairing it with milk for a more flavorful experience. 🥛

✨Fun Fact: Dalgona (달고나) means "honeycomb toffee" in Korean✨