Korean dishes: ginseng chicken stew, loach soup, beef rib soup, nutritious to fight the summer heat

Instead of eating cold food, on hot summer days, Koreans often eat hot soups with the concept of 'treating heat with heat'.

Koreans believe in "heat to cure heat" so they often eat hot soup on hot days - Photo: Naver

As the sweltering heat of summer sets in, Koreans turn to time-tested traditional dishes to stay healthy and "cool" their bodies from the inside.

According to the Korea Herald, this originated from the phrase "Iyeol-chiyeol" - meaning "heat to treat heat", reflecting the long-standing belief that eating hot food on a hot day will help the body regulate itself and maintain balance.

It may sound counterintuitive, but in reality this principle is quite reasonable. The human body functions as a self-regulating ecosystem, when exposed to high temperatures it will sweat to cool itself from the inside.

However, after sweating, the body is susceptible to cold. Therefore, Koreans do not prefer cold dishes but instead eat hot, nutritious dishes to keep warm inside, while helping the body recover and maintain energy.

Ginseng chicken stew nourishes the body in the hot summer days

One of the indispensable typical dishes of Korean summer is Samgyetang (ginseng chicken stew).

This nutritious soup is made by stewing a whole young chicken stuffed with ginseng, jujubes, chestnuts, glutinous rice, and garlic. Koreans often eat this dish on the hottest days of summer to strengthen their bodies and replenish their energy.

Light ginseng chicken soup, eaten with sour kimchi, very appetizing - Photo: Korea Herald

To make delicious ginseng chicken stew, you need to choose a young chicken (800g - 1kg), clean it, then stuff the chicken with ginseng root and add a few cloves of garlic, jujube, lotus seeds... around it.

Use toothpicks or thread to sew the chicken belly shut. Place the chicken in a pot, add enough water to cover the chicken, ginger, and the remaining ingredients, and simmer until the meat is tender and the broth is sweet.

The dish does not need much seasoning, when eating sprinkle green onions, add salt and pepper to taste.

The special thing about this dish is that the broth has a light taste, not too strong, keeping the natural flavor of the ingredients. The chicken is soft, easy to separate from the bone, served with slightly spicy kimchi, creating a perfect meal to help restore vitality and balance the body on hot summer days.

Korean loach soup helps restore vitality

Another traditional dish that is indispensable in Korean summer is Chueotang (loach soup) - a rich, nutritious soup made from loach (a small freshwater fish) that is pureed and cooked with vegetables such as mushrooms, tofu, radish...

Wash the loach, boil it to remove the fishy smell, then puree or remove the bones. Put the fish in a pot with 1.5-2 liters of broth, bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low.

Loach soup attracts diners with its dark broth color and unforgettable flavor - Photo: Korea Herald

Add radish, Korean bean paste (doenjang), Korean chili powder, minced ginger and garlic, cook for about 30 minutes to let the flavor soak in. Then add tofu, green onions, and mustard leaves (or Korean perilla leaves), cook for a few more minutes and season to taste. The soup has a rich, slightly spicy flavor, rich in nutrients, and is served hot with white rice and kimchi.

This is considered a "nutritious, energizing" dish, containing lots of protein, vitamins and minerals, ideal for rehydrating and restoring energy to the body on hot days.

With a harmonious combination of nutrients and flavors, Chueotang not only helps cool down but also increases vitality, a dish loved by Koreans on tiring summer days.

Rich and nutritious beef rib soup

For those who want to enjoy a richer, more nutritious dish, Galbitang (beef rib soup) is an option not to be missed.

This soup is made from beef ribs stewed with white radish for many hours, creating a clear, sweet and nutritious broth. The beef melts in your mouth and the broth is refreshing, making it an ideal choice to restore health and cool the body in the summer.

Beef rib soup with soft, juicy beef, suitable for summer days - Photo: Korea Bapsang

First, prepare 500-700g of beef ribs, wash and boil for 5 minutes to remove dirt, then wash again. Put the ribs in a pot with about 2 liters of water, add a few slices of ginger, onion, white radish, simmer for 1.5-2 hours until the ribs are tender and the broth is clear and sweet.

Skim off the foam while cooking to prevent the soup from becoming cloudy. When ready to eat, add green onions, salt, fish sauce and pepper to taste. The soup is usually served hot, with white rice, kimchi or green pepper powder depending on taste.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/mon-han-quoc-ga-ham-sam-canh-ca-chach-canh-suon-bo-bo-duong-chong-nong-mua-he-20250701131916877.htm