[Updated 4 January 2021]
Ah, comfort food. There's just something about them that warms you right up from the inside out, especially when enjoyed on a rainy day. So if you're anything like us and simply love savouring these dishes during gloomy weather, check out this list of Korean comfort foods that'll satisfy your stomachs whenever it's pouring outside.
1. Rabokki
For those who are fans of both Korean rice cakes and noodles, nothing could be more perfect than a bowl of rabokki (ramen and tteokbokki). Combining the best of both worlds, this dish is super easy to whip up on your own. It makes for a great comfort food and should definitely be your go-to meal whenever that rainy day hits. Spicy, savoury and addictive all at once, check out this halal rabokki recipe to get started ?
P.S. For hearty meals, dive into these 5 easy halal Korean noodle recipes.
2. Pajeon
Step into any Korean restaurant and you'll probably see a section of the menu dedicated to savoury pancakes. The most famous among these is pajeon (scallion pancakes), though you'll often find kimchijeon (kimchi pancakes) and haemul pajeon (seafood scallion pancakes). These crispy pancakes are usually served with a dipping sauce and they make for a simply delicious side dish! It's also super simple to make halal Korean pancakes at home from scratch, and we'll show you how with this easy halal pajeon recipe!
P.S. Are you a fan of snacking? These 6 easy halal Korean snack recipes are perfect for you!
3. Tteokbokki
Tteokbokki is one of the most popular Korean street foods around and it’s not hard to see why it’s so well-loved. Rich with umami and perfectly comforting, we’re already drooling at the thought of having some spicy rice cakes ourselves ? If you’ve been craving this dish just like us, the good news is that you can easily make it by yourself at home! With this halal tteokbokki recipe, prepare to whip up a delicious pot of goodness for your next snack (or even meal!).
P.S. Transport yourself to Korea with these 7 easy Korean street food recipes you can make at home.
4. Budae jjigae
Budae jjiage, also known as Korean Army Stew, is a hearty kimchi stew that is perfect to indulge on a chilly day. Traditionally, budae jjigae includes pork and processed meats (i.e Spam which is canned cooked ham) but the beauty of this one-pot meal is that you can get creative with the ingredients! So with a little tweaking and swapping around, this simple halal budae jjigae recipe is one that you can easily make at home and indulge in while you catch up on the latest K-drama ?
P.S. If you love budae jjigae, make sure to check out this halal recipe of kimchi jjigae and sundubu jjigae!
5. Korean fried chicken
Known for its super crunchy exterior and addictive sweet-and-spicy sauce, there's nothing better than biting into some Korean fried chicken - crispy skin with the tender, juicy meat inside ? While there are many kinds of Korean fried chicken, we’ll be sticking to the classic one that’s served with spicy Gochujang sauce. The main thing to note when making it is the double frying step where you basically fry the chicken twice. With this in mind, get yourself started on this halal Korean fried chicken recipe!
6. Jjamppong
Jjamppong is a seafood noodle soup that's one of the most popular Korean-Chinese dishes and for good reason. Spicy, comforting and packed with tons of flavours, slurping up a bowl of jjamppong on a rainy day hits the spot perfectly, making you crave for more than just one bowl. So if you’re ready to make yourself one of the best comforting noodle soups there is, dive right into this halal jjamppong recipe here.
7. Kimchi fried rice
Simple, delicious and foolproof - that's the beauty of kimchi fried rice ? Whether you're looking for an easy yet flavourful meal to make or just wanting to satisfy your Korean cravings, this dish is perfect for you. There are plenty of recipe variations on kimchi fried rice online, but as long as you have the basic ingredients like rice, kimchi and a few key pantry essentials that are important for Korean cuisine (e.g sesame oil, gochujang and gochugaru), you're good to go! Of course, you're more than welcome to add other things that you can find in your kitchen, which is what you'll see in this easy kimchi fried recipe.
P.S. For more fried rice recipes, whip up these 8 delicious fried rice recipes from around the world.
8. Dakgalbi
As a local specialty from Chuncheon - the capital city of Gangwon Province, South Korea - dakgalbi is a popular dish that's essentially a combo of chicken, vegetables and rice cakes stir-fried with a spicy gochujang based sauce. You can expect to find this item on the menu of most Korean restaurants where its served in many variations, one of them being cheese dakgalbi ? So if you're ready to have a taste of this yummy dish, make your way to the kitchen with this easy halal dakgalbi recipe.
For more easy halal recipes, check out what else we've got: