Korean Slow Cooker Cooking Tips

The Korean people view their meals as one of the most important social times of the day, so they take pride in the culinary dishes that are prepared.  Korean cuisine stands apart particularly because of the variety of dishes  prepared and served at each meal.  You may be surprised to learn that most Korean homes don't have ovens.  This means the majority of Korean dishes are cooked in pots on top of the stove, making this cuisine the perfect cousin to slow cooker cooking. What are some of the ways that this type of cooking stands out from the rest?

The Big Difference

In America, we are used to eating an appetizer, main course, and possibly a dessert if we still have room.  In Korea, a dozen or more dishes are prepared for every meal.  Vegetables, soups, rice, and a variety of meat and seafood can make up one meal, and they are served at the same time, unlike our meals where one dish comes out at a time.

All of the food, including meat and seafood, is cut into small pieces.  Chopsticks are frequently used.  At a family meal, each dish is placed on the table beforehand and everyone gets to pick and choose what they want, effectively 'grazing' across the array of dishes.

Main Ingredients

Rice is an extremely important ingredient in Korean cuisine and can be found in almost every meal.  Seafood is a staple in the cuisine, although meat is more popular than ever.  A traditional dish called Kimchi, is at virtually every meal, from morning to night.  Kimchi is made up of cabbage and a large variety of different vegetables.  This can be made in a range of spicy flavors, depending on how you like it. 

Korean cuisine is loaded with spices and seasonings that give dishes a distinct 'kick.'  A few of the most widely used are chili pepper, soy sauce, garlic, and sesame oil.  Korean dishes are perfect for a vegetarian diet because of the vast amount dishes made up strictly of vegetables.

Easy Korean Recipes in the Slow Cooker

You don’t have to be an expert to be able to put together a tasty Korean meal.  What makes it even better is the meal doesn’t have to take up a lot of your time and energy.  The only thing you need is a good recipe and the right ingredients, oh, and a slow cooker!

Many Korean dishes are perfect for slow cooking.  Slow cooked spicy beef, chicken, or pork are standard fare.  These recipes require only the meat or poultry of your choice, the right seasonings and vegetables, and you'll have a delicious meal without any fuss.  Make a pot of rice and your meal is complete.  When you break the recipes down into the basic ingredients, you will see just how simple it is to put those same ingredients into your slow cooker and create a delicious Korean dish.

Because Korean dishes are cooked on top of a stove - there are no ovens in most Korean homes -  it's easy to learn a few recipes that will easily work in your slow cooker.  Slow cooked, one pot meals are common, so what could be simpler than making these same meals in your slow cooker? 

Learning a new type of cuisine is not only fun, but interesting because you are immersing yourself in a different culture.  Give Korean cooking a try.  Open your mind to a variety of foods you wouldn’t normally eat.  It may just surprise you!