Must-Have Foods for a Korean Picnic 🍽️
Picnics in Korea are the epitome of summer. The culture of picnicking can even be traced all the way back to the Joseon era to something called “hwaejeon nori” which is a picnic enjoyed mostly by women on the third day of the third lunar month. Luckily today, picnics can be enjoyed by everyone at anytime that is why we want to share some must-have foods for the ultimate Korean picnic experience.
- Kimbap
Kimbap is a dish made from cooked rice and other ingredients that are rolled in gim (dried sheets of nori seaweed) and served in bite-sized slices. This simple-yet-delicious dish is a very easy to pack, and because it’s practically mess-free, it is perfect for a picnic. Since kimbap is also enjoyed cold, it is the ideal dish to combat that summer heat.
- Mandu
Mandu are Korean-style dumplings and that can be steamed, boiled, pan-fried, or deep-fried. The combinations for mandu are endless. There’s beef and vegetables, chicken, kimchi-filled mandu, and many more. You can get mandu pretty much anywhere making it a staple of a Korean picnic.
- Gyeran-Mari
Another mess-free dish that Koreans love to have in their picnics is gyeran-mari or rolled omelette. This savory side dish is made of beaten eggs with mixed with several finely diced ingredients such as vegetables, meat, seafood, and cheese. Gyeran-mari is cut into thin slices, making it super easy to store and carry around.
- Yubu Chobap
Yubu chobap, or fried tofu rice balls, are marinated tofu pockets stuffed with seasoned rice and minced vegetables. They have a slightly sweet taste because of the tofu skin, and many stores sell ready-to-made versions.
- Dosirak
The Korean lunch box, dosirak, is a staple for picnics. It’s a lunch box filled with rice, side dishes, and spam. It is very easy to make one at home by packing all the side dishes and rice into a metal lunch box, but you can also buy them at convenience stores or train stations. You can never go wrong with one of these.
Now you are ready to enjoy a delicious picnic meal Korean-style. Let us know in the comments below which dish you’ll be packing!
Cover Image: Park Bo-young & Park Hyung-sik in Strong Woman Do Bong Soon (JTBC)
Written by Dianelys Fuentes
