Photologue @theuostimes7
Winter is here and the piercing cold air makes everyone in need to keep their body warm. In our latest issue of The UOS TIMES, we have introduced traditional Korean snacks. With the weather getting colder and colder every day, The UOS Times would like to introduce some modern Korean winter snacks.
Bungeoppang (Carp-shaped pastry, in Korean) is definitely the most popular snack of winter. It is a pastry shaped like a fish with fillings, typically sweet, inside. Bungeobbang is made by cooking a buttery batter on an iron plate molded like a fish to make it crispy and fun shaped. There are two schools of thought on which bungeoppang to choose: red bean versus custard cream. The traditional and dominant opinion is bungeoppang with red bean filling. The bittersweet and nutty flavor of the red bean paste is popular among people regardless of age. Although introduced relatively recently, custard cream bungeoppang has gained popularity, especially among the younger generations and the foreigners, enough to create the rivalry against the classic red bean. Whichever type of fillings inside, bungeoppang is a snack suitable for winter to keep everyone’s winter warm.
Jjinppang (Steamed bread, in Korean) is also a famous winter street food. Literally meaning a steamed bread, jjinppang is made by cooking flour dough with stuffing in a steamer. The origin of jjinppang dates back to Goryeo, where the archetype of jjinppang was the popular snack. Stuffing in jjinppang is usually red bean paste similar to that of bungeoppang. Shown on the second photo of this post are jjinppangs with vegetable stuffing inside.
If you are in need of something savory and warm, eomuk (Fish cake, in Korean) is the right choice for you. The fried fish cake boiling inside a pot can always be found in any street food vendor. Eomuk has a savory taste with the flavor of fish and fries and is soft and warm. It is usually eaten with the broth it was boiled inside. The broth infused with the flavor of eomuk is very warm, which makes it the perfect soup to heat up the body.
The renowned poet, W. J. Vogel once said, "To shorten winter, borrow some money due in spring." Other than making such a money loan, The UOS TIMES wishes each and every of our readers to enjoy the harsh season of winter with Korean winter snacks.