Korean Seafood Dishes That Are Easy to Make at Home

Korean cuisine is renowned for its bold flavors, unique ingredients, and vibrant presentation. Among the many delightful dishes available, seafood holds a special place, thanks to the country's rich coastal resources. If you’re looking to explore Korean seafood dishes that are easy to whip up at home, here are several recipes that will bring the taste of the sea to your kitchen.

1. Kimchi Jjigae with Seafood

Kimchi Jjigae is a hearty stew that can be enhanced with seafood for extra flavor. To make this dish, you will need:

  • 1 cup of kimchi
  • 200g of firm tofu, cubed
  • 200g of mixed seafood (shrimp, squid, and mussels)
  • 1 onion, sliced
  • 2 cups of water or seafood broth
  • 2 tablespoons of gochugaru (Korean red pepper flakes)
  • 1 tablespoon of sesame oil

To prepare, heat sesame oil in a pot, add onions and sauté until translucent. Then, add kimchi and gochugaru, stirring for a few minutes. Pour in the broth, bring to a boil, and add tofu and mixed seafood. Simmer for about 10 minutes, and serve hot.

2. Grilled Mackerel (Saba Gui)

Grilled Mackerel is a simple yet flavorful dish that showcases the freshness of the fish. Ingredients include:

  • 2 mackerel fillets
  • 2 tablespoons of soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon of sesame oil
  • 1 teaspoon of minced garlic
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Combine soy sauce, sesame oil, minced garlic, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Marinate the mackerel in the mixture for at least 30 minutes. Preheat the grill and cook the mackerel for about 5-7 minutes on each side until it's nicely charred. Serve with a side of rice and pickled vegetables.

3. Seafood Bibimbap

Bibimbap is a classic Korean mixed rice dish, and adding seafood elevates its taste. For this recipe, you will need:

  • 2 cups of cooked rice
  • 100g of shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 100g of squid, sliced
  • 1 cup of assorted vegetables (spinach, carrots, zucchini)
  • 1 fried egg
  • Gochujang (Korean red pepper paste) and sesame oil for topping

Start by sautéing the vegetables separately until tender. In the same pan, cook the shrimp and squid until they turn pink. In a bowl, layer the cooked rice, vegetables, seafood, and top with a fried egg. Drizzle with gochujang and sesame oil just before serving, and mix to combine.

4. Spicy Seafood Tteokbokki

Tteokbokki is a popular street food in Korea, typically made with rice cakes. Adding seafood to this dish makes it even more satisfying. Ingredients needed are:

  • 300g of wooden spoon rice cakes
  • 150g of fish cakes
  • 200g of mixed seafood (shrimp, squid)
  • 2 tablespoons of gochujang
  • 1 tablespoon of gochugaru
  • 2 cups of broth (vegetable or seafood)

In a pan, combine broth, gochujang, gochugaru, and bring to a boil. Add in the rice cakes and cook until soft, then add fish cakes and mixed seafood. Stir until everything is heated through. Serve hot, garnished with sesame seeds and chopped green onions.

5. Seafood Jeon (Korean Pancakes)

These savory pancakes are a great appetizer or snack, packed with seafood flavor. For the batter, you will need:

  • 1 cup of flour
  • 1 cup of water
  • 1 egg
  • 150g of mixed seafood (shrimps and squid)
  • 1 green onion, chopped
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Mix flour, water, and egg to create a smooth batter. Stir in the seafood and green onion, and season with salt and pepper.