Korean BBQ

Being that my husband is Korean and enjoyed half of his childhood growing up there, the Korean cuisine has become a big part of my life as well.  If you have not discovered Korean cuisine, Korean BBQ is a great place to start.  Must also mention how healthy and balanced of a diet Koreans have, one of the reasons I love the cuisine so much.  No wonder, as a nation, South Korean people seem to be so health conscious and physically fit! 

Now if your diet is primarily westernized, some of their dishes may prove to be overwhelming and challenging to even consider but with an open mind, Korean BBQ is a perfect place to begin embracing the culture of South Korean cuisine. 

The big question is, what does Korean BBQ really entitle?  The basis of Korean BBQ revolves around the idea of communally cooking food at your table with family and friends.  At a Korean BBQ restaurant you will come in to find tables set up with a nice sized grill in the middle of each table. I love these tables. To grill, expect quality cuts of meat, poultry, seafood, and vegetables to choose from. 

Choose a Combo, Any Combo...

Once you are seated, you'll probably be greeted and offered hot barley tea or water.  There will be given a variety of combo selections to choose from.  These combos vary in price but will often include a marinated beef sirloin known as bulgogi, chicken, kalbi beef short ribs, pork, prawns, squid and mixed vegetables to choose from. If you are feeling extremely adventurous you can even opt for a combo including beef intestines and other various organs, which although may be foreign to western cultures, eastern cultures prize these organs for their nutritional qualities. 

It's All About the Banchans!

After choosing a combo dish, get ready to feast!  Aside from the choice cuts of meats, true Korean BBQ always serves many many side dishes!  These side dishes are known as banchans and add such a nice contrast to the meats.  They are so good!  Banchans typically include kimchi, a fermented cabbage known as a staple to Korean cuisine, pickled white radish, cucumber, spinach, potato, green onion, and the list could continue. Every korean restaurant serves their own unique combination to side dishes.  Be bold and try these sides either separately or in between bites of the main meal for a nice contrast in flavor.  They know how to make the side dishes taste great while still using super healthy ingredients. 

When the server brings out with the combo plate, do not be shocked when a pile of uncooked meats comes out.  This is the thrill of the whole experience, the customers get to cook the meats themselves together.  And if you do need help, your server will be glad to help out.  The freshness that comes from the meats coming straight off the grill is amaaazzinng. Combined with the array of banchans, rice and salad, your tastebuds will reach a whole new level of happy. The best part about it is everyone can choose to eat what they like, tailor making the meal to fit their taste pallet and diet preferences.

Never have I left a Korean BBQ without feeling better than I did prior to walking in and so happily satisfied. And the great part about it, you can consume it all knowing you are eating a good balanced meal of protein, carbs, and key nutrients from all the selections of veggies. 

Hope you all enjoyed the post.  Broaden your comfort zone and try out some Korean BBQ! It will be an experience to remember and so tasty.  I absolutely love it. And if you have any of your own experiences with Korean BBQ, share them by commenting below, I'd love to hear! :)

Peace & love, 

Bri  

Gingersnap Crusted Salmon with Mango Cream Sauce

Today I'm excited. It's time to share one of my all-time favorite salmon dishes!   Even for those who are not fond of the fishy taste salmon holds, try this recipe.  This is a dish that has made even the pickiest of eaters I know clean their plate and salmon is so good for you to not love it! 

The recipe comes from my mother in law, who can literally whip up any food and turn it into a masterpiece.  I admire her so much.  It's one of those recipes she created with what she had on hand in the house, almost accidentally, which in my opinion is how some the greatest recipes are made, am i right?!  I miss her home cooking so much now that she's moved back to South Korea but I can always count on this dish to bring back some good memories.  This dish is full of flavor and provides the body with a healthy dose of omega3's, protein, selenium and other trace minerals essential for the health of the body from the salmon, as well as vitamins A, B6, vitamin C and E from the ripe mangos.

Before you start, always check to make sure you have all the ingredients.  Too many times have I started to make a recipe, only to realize half way through that I don't have an essential ingredient, so always double check.  You will need:

•  1 Box of Gingersnaps
•  2 lemons
• Sour cream
• Paprika
• Worcester sauce
• & 2-3 semi ripe mangos.  Buying the right mango is key to this recipe.  Find mangos which are not too hard and not too soft, just in between.  They should have a nice greenish red color to them.  This will allow the mango to melt into the sauce slightly while still remaining softly intact.

The Salmon

Start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees. While the oven is preheating, lay out the fillet of salmon on an ungreased baking sheet.  If you have it, parchment paper is nice to have under the fillet so there is no sticking to the sheet.

To prepare the salmon for the crusting, take one beaten egg and coat the salmon fillet lightly with the egg mixture.

The crusting is super simple.  Break up the gingersnaps up until they reach a fine consistency. If you have a stone mortar (grinding bowl) this works great. If not however, a simple way to get the job done is to put the gingersnaps in a large ziplock bag and then use anything hard, like a glass bottle for instance to pound and crumble the gingersnaps.  It's amazing how creative you get when low on income, this was my go to method when I was in college with few materials for cooking!  And, it works great!

Once the gingersnaps have formed a fine consistency, sprinkle evenly over the fillet of salmon until the pink of the salmon is completely covered.

Next place the crusted fillet in the preheated oven and cook for about 25 minutes or until the pink of the salmon is fully cooked.

The Sauce

While the salmon is cooking it's time to start on the mango cream sauce. Cut your semi ripened mangos into small cubed shapes and place in a medium sized pot on medium heat.

Stir occasionally until you notice the mangos beginning to soften.  Then, add in three generous large spoonfuls of sour cream, followed by the juice of a lemon (not the seeds!), a few splashes of Worcester sauce and paprika. Mix until you have a balanced mixture and turn the heat down slightly while you wait for the salmon to finish.

And now, for the best part of all... time to devour this masterpiece. I love dishes that can combine both sweet and savory flavors and this dish does just that.  The sweetness of the mangos combined with the savoriness of the salmon and creaminess of the cheese is mouthwatering. Literally.  Paired with a side of rice and some greens and you've got yourself a dinner packed full of nutrients and vitamins which leave guests fully fueled and fully satisfied.

Hope you all enjoy and feel free to share a comment!  

Peace & love,

Bri