Maybe a lot of you who visited or live in Korea already tried some types of Korean dishes which were served in a black hot pot. This hot pot is called 뚝배기 “ttukbaegi” which is a type of oji-gureut ( Korean earthenware extensively used as tableware and storage containers in Korea) or onggi coated with a brown ash-glaze. This Ttukbaeki started to be used since Goryo Dinasty and continues through Joseon Dinasty till nowadays. Most of Korean restaurants serve a variety of dishes in these hot pot as it gives the food a special flavor and also keeps the food warmer for a long time. As the food is boiled directly in this pot, you don’t need to use extra dishes to boil the food separately. It’s really easy to handle, gives individual portions so that is why you can use it home as well.
In this article I will present some types of Korean dishes I tried in this Ttukbaeky hot pot. One of the most popular dishes served in this hot pot is 뼈해장국 (pork back-bone hangover soup) which is a type of "hangover soup". As the Korean drinking culture is quite strong in Korea a lot of Korean restaurants are selling different types of "hangover soups" for the next day. As myself I quite enjoy drinking, I can say this soup actually really helps.
Another popular hangover soup served in this hot pot is 국밥 (Gukbap) or rice-based soup. This soup usually is made either with 순대국밥(Korean blood sausage) or with pork meat 돼지국밥 (my favorite). For me, my favorite one is the second one. I tried both Busan 돼지국밥 as Busan one of the famous places for this type of soup.
You can actually find this type of Busan Twaeji Gukbap in any city in Korea as I also tried in Seoul as well.
But also Jeju 돼지국밥 is quite famous as well. As a lot of you may know, Jeju is famous for the Black pig meat. So their Gukbap recipe includes this type of meat.
As we are talking about "hangover soups" another special dish that I like and I recommend to those who don't actually fans of Sundae, to try 설렁탕 or ox bone soup. It's similar with the Gukbap but as I mentioned it doesn't have Sundae inside and is also usually served in Ttukbaegi.
The last, but the the least, our always favorite popular Korean dish which can be eaten either as a "hangover cure" or alongside with Samgyeopsal (Korean BBQ) or just as it is, it's 김치찌개 or Kimchi Stew which is one of the most popular Korean dishes. Kimchi stew can be made with different ingredients, including tuna, samgyeopsal, spam (type of cna ham) and so on. My favorite one is, as you may guess, the 돼지고기 김치찌개 (pork meat kimchi stew). This dish is also used to be served in ttukbaegi as individual dish.
Moving away from the "hangover soup" category, there are some other types of soups that can be actually made at home and served in this hot pot. Dishes such as 된장찌개 or soybean paste soup which I sometimes make it home. As I am not a fan of seafood I usually only use vegetables and soybean paste to prepare this dish at home.
Also, another dish that is quite appreciated by both Koreans and foreigners and has an important significance for the Korean Lunar New Year (설날) is 떡국 (Rice cake soup). As you may know, during the Korean Luna New Year, Koreans have this dish as it means health and long life. This dish ca also be served in ttukbaeki. As Koreans add one year to their age during the Lunar Year, they often count how many rice cakes they ate to calculate somebody's age.
Besides soups, a lot of different types of Korean dishes can actually be served in this hot pot dish and one of my favorite, which I think it gives a special flavor to the food is 제육볶음 뚝배기 (spice stir-fried pork). This dish usually is quite spicy, so spicy lovers they will enjoy it a lot. I love the flavor of this dish especially as it contains most of the time sesame seeds inside as well, and the ttukbaegi warm gives to it a special and delicious smell and taste.
For those who prefer a non-spicy dish I can recommend 불고기뚝배기 (Bulgogi ttukbaegi) which is rather sweet than salty and it is usually look like a stew.
Besides the already mentioned dishes, there are many others that can be made in this special Korean hot pot including 계란찜 (steamed egg type dish), 뚝배기 비빔밥 Bibimbap and so on.
Did you know?
A similar hot pot that is often found in Korean cuisine is dolsot (돌솥) or stone hot pot. A different dishes are also served in this kind of pot and one really popular dish 돌솥 비빔밥 Dolsot Bibimbap as you can see through the image below.
The dish is taste amazing and the warm from the stone gives the rice a crunchy crust.
