Mul Naengmyeon - North Korean cold noodles

Mul Naengmyeon is the National dish of North Korea; it is the dish they offer to the few foreign leaders who visit the country. Since 2022 it has been included on the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

It is made with buckwheat noodles and served in a brass bowl with pieces of meat, vegetables, fruits, kimchi, and radish.

This is a traditional dish deeply rooted in the life of the people of Pyongyang. It is associated with long life, happiness, hospitality, togetherness, and kindness, and it is believed to foster respect, intimacy, and unity.

On the day before Jongwoldaeborum (a Korean winter folk festival), relatives and neighbours gather to enjoy these noodles, hoping their lives will be as long as the strands of the noodles. During celebrations such as birthdays and weddings, the people of Pyongyang serve this dish while offering blessings to family members, neighbours, and friends.

Ingredients:

- 300 g beef brisket.
- 1/2 white onion.
- 6 cloves of garlic.
- 4 slices of ginger.
- 3 Chinese scallions (green onions).
- 1/2 tablespoon whole black peppercorns.
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce.
- 1 teaspoon sugar.
- Salt.
- 200 g buckwheat SOBA noodles.
- 1 boiled egg, cut in half.
- 1/2 cucumber, sliced.
- Radish slices.
- 2 slices of Korean pear.
- Chinese cabbage.
- Vinegar, mustard, or soy sauce.

Method:

1- First, we prepare a broth with ginger, garlic, onion, Chinese scallions, black peppercorns, beef, and radish.

Add the ingredients to a pot with one tablespoon of salt and put it over high heat until it comes to a boil.

Chinese scallions are this type of onion that has a milder flavour than regular onions, and the whole plant can be used, including the leaves. They can be eaten raw or cooked.

2- When it starts to boil, reduce to medium-low heat, place a lid on the pot with a small gap so the steam can escape, and let it cook for 40 minutes.

During that time, we remove the foam that forms on the surface.

Until the broth is clarified.

3- Set the meat aside. The vegetables can be used for other recipes. Then take the broth and strain it to remove all impurities.

4- Refrigerate the broth because it is served cold. You can even place part of it in the freezer so it chills faster while we prepare the rest of the dish.

5 - Now we prepare the ingredients that accompany the broth: slice the soft-skinned zucchini (Chinese or Dutch zucchini) and place it in a container with salt.

6 - Cut the meat into strips.

7 - Cut the radish, which was cooked for the broth, into strips.

8 - Also, cut the Korean pear into strips and place them in water with sugar to prevent browning.

The Korean pear is the apple-shaped pear commonly sold in Asian grocery stores.

9 - Boil the Chinese cabbage and the egg.

10 - Prepare the buckwheat SOBA noodles by bringing salted water to a boil. Once it reaches a boil, add the noodles and cook for 4 minutes.

To stop the cooking, transfer them to cold water with ice.

11 - Now plate the dish by placing the noodles in the center of the bowl, then arranging the meat, radish, pear, chopped Chinese cabbage, cucumber, and half a boiled egg on top of the noodles (I forgot the egg myself!).

Pour the broth over everything—it should be very cold. To enhance the flavour, mustard, soy sauce, or vinegar is usually added.

I wasn’t in the mood for cold noodles, but I really liked this combination served cold. I added mustard and soy sauce, and it goes really well.

Recipe in Spanish

You can also watch the recipe at my Youtube Channel:

Here you have my  favourite cooking tools: https://viaja-en-mi-cocina-english.blogspot.com/2023/05/shop.html

North Korea

Porotos granados

 Porotos granados is a chilean dish, it is a dish to eat in summer using seasonal products; porotos (green beans) and corn that are harvested in summer.

Porotos are green beans , harvested before complete maduration.

Pilco is the name given to the corn.

There is a different version of the dish with 'mazamorra' a mixture of corn flour and milk to thicken the broth.

Ingredients:


- 325 grams of green beans.
- 150 grams of corn.
- 1 onion.
- 1 garlic clove.
- Oil.
- Salt.
- Pepper.

- 1 Carrot.
- 1 tablespoon basil.
- 1 tablespoon papikra.
- 200 grams pumkin.
- Water.
- 2 Tomatoes.

Method:

1- Cut the onion, garlic and carrot in little pieces, sautée in a casserole until it gets golden.

2- Add pepper, papikra, basil and salt. Stir and cook for 1 minute.

3- Cut tomatoes in little pieces and add them to the casserole, add the beans and cook for another minute.

4- Add warm water until all the ingredients are covered and cook for half an hour covered with a lid at medium heat.

5- Add the pumpkin and corn. Cook for 1 or 2 hours if you are using normal beans and 15 minutes if you are using green beans.

You can also watch the recipe at my Youtube Channel:

Here you have my  favourite cooking tools: https://viaja-en-mi-cocina-english.blogspot.com/2023/05/shop.html

Chile

Chickpeas with prawns - Recipe from Cádiz

Chickpeas with prawns is a very typical recipe from the province of Cadiz, it is very tasty.

Ingredients (2 people):

- 400 g chickpeas.

- 200 g prawns.

- 1 big onion.

- 1 green pepper.

- 1 tomato.

- 2 cloves of garlic.

- parsley.

- paprika.

- oil.

- salt.

- 1 carrot.

- 1 /4 dry ñora pepper.

- 2 bay leaf.

- 50 ml white wine.

- a few strands of saffron.

- 10 ml tomato sauce.

Method:

1- Soak the chickpeas the night before.

2- We cook the chickpeas in a pressure cooker with a bit of salt and water, put the lid on and first put on high heat, once the steam starts coming out, put on low heat and cook for 1 hour.

3- Place the prawns in a pot with enough water to cover them by about two fingers. Boil for a few minutes until they turn red. Save the broth. Peel the prawns once they are cooled. If you bought pre-cooked prawns, peel them and make a broth using the shells.

4- Turn the vegetables into slices.

5- Sauté the onion and garlic in a bit of oil until the onion becomes translucent.

6- Add bay leaf and ñora, sautée for one more minute.

7- Add the rest of vegetables and cook until they are soft.

8- Add the broth , get rid of the bay leaf and crush everything.

9- Add the cooked chickpeas, salt, pepper, saffron, wine, and parsley. Cook for 5 more minutes to let the alcohol from the wine evaporate.

10- Add the prawns.

Receta en Español

You can also watch the recipe at my Youtube Channel:

Here you have my  favourite cooking tools: https://viaja-en-mi-cocina-english.blogspot.com/2023/05/shop.html

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Blitva - chard with potatoes from Croatia

 Blitva is a Croatian word that means chard, and it is the main ingredient in this traditional recipe from the Dalmatian coast. It is widely used as a side dish for meat and fish throughout Croatia.

This recipe is very simple, healthy, vegan, and has a quite good taste.

Ingredients (2 people):

- 2 Potatoes.

- 6 garlic cloves.

- half a bunch of chard .

- oil.

- Salt.

- White Pepper.

Method:

1- Wash, peel, and cut the potatoes into cubes. Put them in a saucepan with water and salt, and cook for 20-25 minutes, until they are tender.

2- Wash the chard and keep only the leaves, saving the stalks for another recipe. Chop the leaves.

3- Slice the garlic and sauté it in a pan with oil over medium heat until it starts to brown.

4- Turn up the heat and add the potatoes, fry for 5 minutes.

5- Add the chard, pepper, and adjust the salt. Stir well and cook for 10 more minutes on low heat with the lid on.

Receta en Español

You can also watch the recipe at my Youtube Channel:

Here you have a link to my favourite cooking tools where you can find my spices grinder:  

Favourite cooking tools

Croacia

Bandera:
De Nightstallion, Elephantus, Neoneo13, Denelson83, Rainman, R-41, Minestrone, Lupo, Zscout370,MaGa (based on Decision of the Parliament) - http://www.sabor.hr/Default.aspx?sec=4317, Dominio público, Enlace