Starters & Snacks

Traditionally Koreans do not start meals with “appetizers.” Instead, they are apt to lay out the full meal at once. Thus, many of the recipes we introduce in this chapter come from other parts of a Korean meal to match the patterns of a western meal and western-style entertaining. The elaborate Nine Treasure Roll-Ups (Kujeolpan), with its individual mounds of seasoned vegetables, beef and seafood, is normally part of a full meal. But it also makes a complete cocktail hour offering. Dumplings (mandu), usually floating in soups, are equally good as a snack or appetizer. Other dishes, like our Sweet and Salty Glazed Soybeans, Stir-fried Vegetable Matchsticks and Roasted Seaweed Wafers (are partnered with drinks in Korea—such as the favorite soju, a potent vodkalike spirit made from sweet potatoes.