Kkakdugi

Kkakdugi
Korean name
Hangul 깍두기
Hanja n/a
Revised Romanization kkakdugi
McCune–Reischauer kkaktuki

Kkakdugi is a variety of kimchi in Korean cuisine. Usually, it has all the ingredients of kimchi, but the baechu (hangul: 배추; Napa cabbage) used for kimchi is replaced with Korean daikon (called mu, in Korean). Kkakdugi is a popular banchan (side dish) enjoyed by Koreans and others.

Origin

The origin of kkakdugi is mentioned in a cookbook named Joseon yorihak (조선요리학 朝鮮料理學, literally "Korean Gastronomy") written by Hong Seon-pyo (홍선표) in 1940. According to the book, kkakdugi was created by Princess Sukseon (숙선옹주 淑善翁主), a daughter of King Jeongjo (r. 1776-1800) and the wife of Hong Hyeon-ju (홍현주 洪 顯周), a high-ranking government officer titled as Yeongmyeongwi (영명위 永明慰). When a matter for congratulation happened to the royal court, members of the royal family gathered to have a feast, and the princess presented a new dish made with diced radish to the king. He highly praised it and asked her about the dish's name. She replied that the dish did not have a name because she had accidentally made it, but found that it tasted good, so she brought in the new dish to the court. The king replied that the dish would be named kkakdugi because cutting food into cubes is called ggakduk sseolgi (깍둑썰기) in Korean. At that time, kkakdugi was called gakdokgi (각독기 刻毒氣) and then became spread over commoners.[1]

Preparation

Kkakdugi consists of radish cut into small cubes. The radish is flavored with salt, red chili powder, spring onions, and ginger.[2]

The radish and the other ingredients are mixed together and then traditionally stored in a jangdok (hangul: 장독) or onggi (hangul: 옹기, hanja: ), both names which refer to a large earthenware pot. Fermentation takes about two weeks in a cool, and dry place.[2]

Kkakdugi is served cold and is usually consumed when the radish is crisp. This is before the radish becomes soft. Kkakdugi, along with other types of kimchi, is a popular dish in Korea and is believed to share many of the health benefits of kimchi, due to the fermentation process.

Varieties

There are several main types of kkakdugi, which are all fairly similar in their ingredients and preparation:[3]

Seolleongtang

Korean soups such as seolleongtang (beef soup), galbitang (galbi, or beef rib soup), samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup) are considered "good friends" for kkakdugi.[8]

The taste of the kkakdugi overpowers the taste of stew itself and gets rid of the distinctive smell of the stew. Additionally, radish is very good for digestion. When eating meat in stew, kkakdugi is believed to aid in digestion.[9]

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ggakdugi.

References

  1. Kang Jeyun (강제윤) (2004-01-12). 막 버무린 깍두기에 밥 한그릇 뚝딱 (in Korean). OhMyNews.
  2. 1 2 "Brief information about kkakdugi" (in Korean). Munhwa Ilbo (Newspaper) Kimchi EXPO 2007. Archived from the original on 2006-11-24.
  3. "Gul kkakdugi(굴깍두기)" (in Korean). Naver/Doosan Encyber.
  4. 굴깍두기 (in Korean). Chosun. 2012-07-26. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
  5. 무 활용 음식 (in Korean). Dictionary of Korean Culture. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
  6. "Myeongtae seodeori kkakdugi (명태서더리깍두기)" (in Korean). Naver/Doosan Encyber.
  7. 숙깍두기 (in Korean). Korean Food RDA. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
  8. Hi Soo Shin Hepinstall; Sonya Hepinstall (2001). Growing Up in a Korean Kitchen: A Cookbook. Cubed Radish Kimchi : Kkagdugi (Ten Speed Press). p. 100. ISBN 1-58008-281-5. Retrieved 2008-05-18.
  9. "Good match: Seolleongtang and Kkagdugi (궁합: 설렁탕과 깍두기)" (in Korean). Daegu Schools Nutritionist Association. Retrieved 2008-05-18.
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