A brighter year 2021! Here, I’ve updated my collection of Korean traditional New Year dishes.
Hope this list will help you celebrate the New Year with delicious food. Happy New Year to you and your family! 새해 복 많이 받으세요.
Tteokguk (or dduk guk) is Korean rice cake soup! This starchy and soothing bowl of soup is not only a New Year’s tradition but is classic comfort food any time of year!
Also see: Tteok mandu guk (with dumplings) and Oyster tteokguk.
These Korean dumplings filled with a kimchi mixture are highly popular in Korea. If you like kimchi, you’ll love this dumpling recipe. Kimchi adds tons of spicy and savory flavors!
Also see Mandu (dumplings).
3. Japchae (Stir-fried starch noodles with beef and vegetables)
Made with bouncy sweet potato starch noodles, japchae (or chapchae) is a classic Korean dish everyone loves! Find out how to make authentic, delicious japchae with this time tested, readers’ favorite recipe!
Also see spicy seafood japchae.
4. Modeumjeon (Fish, shrimp, zucchini pan-fried in egg batter)
5. Nokdujeon (Mungbean pancakes)
Nokdujeon, aka nokdu bindaetteok, is a type of savory Korean pancake made with ground nokdu (mung beans). These crispy golden brown pancakes are soft on the inside with some crunch from the vegetables. They are deliciously nutty!
6. Tteok sanjeok (Skewered rice cake with beef and vegetables)
Sanjeok is a variety of jeok – skewered meat and vegetables. The ingredients are skewered and then grilled or pan-fried.
7. Gujeolpan (platter of nine delicacies)
What better way to kick off the new year than with this beautiful and nutritionally well-balanced dish called gujeolpan (구절판)?Historically being a royal court dish during the Yi Dynasty, gujeolpan consists of 8 delicate fillings served around thin crepe-like wheat flour pancakes called miljeonbyeong (밀전병).
8. Wanjajeon (Pan-fried meatballs in egg batter)
9. Yukjeon (pan-fried battered beef)
10. Galbijjim (Braised beef short ribs)
Also see Slow cooker galbijjim and Instant Pot Spicy Galbijjim.
12. Tteokgalbi (Beef short rib patties)
14. Nabak kimchi (Water kimchi)
Nabak kimchi is a traditional holiday kimchi. Growing up, we always had nabak kimchi with tteokguk (rice cake soup), which is a New Year soup. They are delicious together!
15. Yaksik (sweet rice with dried fruits and nuts)
Also see Youngyang chaltteok (Healthy sweet rice cake).
Finally, no Korean feast can be without vegetable side dishes. See my 15 Vegetable Side Dishes. Traditionally, vegetables are served in three colors (white, black/brown, and green), which are collectively called samsaek namul, 삼색나물. They commonly are doraji (bellflower roots), gosari (fiddlehead ferns), and siguemchi (spinach) namul dishes.
VIC says
I made Japchae and bulgogi last week for going away party and it was a hit. Everybody loved it 21 people to be exact. I was so busy I forgot to take a pictures of it.
they all want the recipe.
Hyosun says
Yay awesome! I’m thrilled to hear that.
VIC says
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU HYOSUN AND FAMILY , I NEVER HEARD OF NABAK KIMCHI. IM DEFINITELY GONNA TRY IT . IT DOES LOOK GOOD AND I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT KIMCHI AND THE BENEFIT OF IT. THANK YOU FOR SHARING IT!!!! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK AND YOUR WONDERFUL RECIPES.
Hyosun says
Thank you! Happy New Year to you and your family! We really love nabak kimchi. Hope your get to make it.
Jessica Lopez says
Hi, i want to make the black bean noodles but I only have the black bean sauce with garlic ! Does it matter if i don’t have black bean paste
Rosa says
Hi!! I have tried several of your recipes and they have been a real hit with my two picky boys, so THANK YOU! I wouldn’t change anything about your recipes but had a question. Do you use “maesil syrup”? I recently got it as a gift and don’t know when to use it. I was told to add it to beef/chicken marinades but need more guidance on exactly how much to use and what other ingredients I would replace with?? I’d appreciate any feedback! Thank you.
Hyosun says
Hi Rosa – Glad to hear my recipes are a hit with your boys!
Yes, I use maesil syrup. I actually make my own maesil syrup. You can use it as a sweetener, typically one or two tablespoons along with other sweeteners such as sugar or corn syrup (or Korean oligodang). Simply reduce the amount of the other sweetener. This is not scientific, but I’d reduce the sugar level by 1/2 tablespoon if you are using 1 tablespoon maesil syrup. Also, it’s great as a tea if you stir some in water to your taste. My children love maesil tea. Here are some recipes in which I used maesil syrup.
https://www.koreanbapsang.com/2015/06/spicy-grilled-korean-chicken.html
https://www.koreanbapsang.com/2015/06/baechu-geotjeori-fresh-kimchi.html
https://www.koreanbapsang.com/2015/10/tofu-bibimbap.html
yeo kee ling says
Hi Hyosun,
Wishing you happy new year 2017.
Just to say a big thank you for sharing your great receipes.
Thankyou
Hyosun says
Thank you! Happy New Year to you as well.
Mishelle says
Ah, thank you for this round up! These are some of my favorite Korean dishes. I’m excited to have this useful reference page for happy eating all year long.
Hyosun says
You’re welcome! Enjoy!