5 seasonings commonly used in Korea.

1. Sesame oil

Sesame oil is commonly used in Korean cuisine, made from toasted sesame seeds, it has a rich, nutty, and slightly smoky flavor. It is often used as a finishing oil for soups, stews, and rice dishes and as a marinade for meats. Sesame oil is also an essential ingredient in many Korean side dishes (banchan) and is used as a salad dressing.

 

2. Doenjang

A traditional Korean seasoning, Doenjang is a fermented soybean paste similar to miso paste in Japanese cuisine. Made from soybeans, salt, and water, it is aged for several months to achieve its unique flavor. Doenjang has a strong, savory, and slightly nutty taste, and it is often used in marinades for meats, sauces for stews, and as a condiment for soups and rice dishes. It is also a key ingredient in the famous Korean dish, doenjang jjigae.

 

3. Gochujang

A staple in Korean cuisine, Gochujang is a fermented red pepper paste made from a blend of red chili peppers, glutinous rice, fermented soybeans, and salt. Its distinctive, spicy, sweet and savory flavor is used to add complexity and depth to various dishes such as marinades for meats, sauces for stir-fries and stews, and as a condiment for soups and rice dishes. Gochujang is also a key ingredient in the popular Korean dish, bibimbap.

 

4. Garlic

An essential seasoning in Korean cuisine, garlic is used in a variety of dishes to add flavor and depth. It is commonly used in marinades for meats, soups, stews, and side dishes. Garlic is also a key ingredient in many popular Korean dipping sauces such as ssamjang and chogochujang.

 

5. Soy sauce

An essential seasoning in Korean cuisine, soy sauce is made from soybeans, wheat, and salt and aged for several months to develop its unique flavor. It is used as a marinade for meats, a seasoning for soups and stews, and a condiment for rice dishes. It is also used in many popular Korean dishes such as jjigae and kimchi stew.

 

In summary, these five seasonings are widely used in Korean cuisine, Gochujang, doenjang, sesame oil, garlic and soy sauce, each one of them brings a unique flavor and complexity to the dishes. These seasonings are versatile and can be used in a variety of dishes, from soups and stews to marinades and dipping sauces, making them a staple in any Korean kitchen.