{"id":4266,"date":"2017-01-18T22:30:57","date_gmt":"2017-01-19T03:30:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/korean\/?p=4266"},"modified":"2017-06-20T23:08:55","modified_gmt":"2017-06-21T04:08:55","slug":"scavenger-hunt-at-a-korean-supermarket-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/korean\/scavenger-hunt-at-a-korean-supermarket-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Scavenger Hunt at a Korean Supermarket #1"},"content":{"rendered":"

Are you interested in making a trip to a Korean supermarket, but you don\u2019t know what to buy?<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Going to a Korean supermarket, you might expect an overwhelming experience with unfamiliar arrangement of exotic food items and Korean letters written all over the place. Surprisingly, you will see well-organized isles with English signs throughout the store, and their layouts are close duplicates of American grocery stores, such as Kroger, Safeway, or Trader Joe\u2019s. As long as you don\u2019t mind spending some extra time during your first adventure, you will be able to learn to zip through the store on your next visit.<\/p>\n

There are many Korean supermarkets throughout America, and they can be ranged from a small mom and pop style to a large franchise store. If you have big Korean supermarket chains like Lotte Plaza or H Mart near you, taking a trip to these stores can be a great way to not only explore Korean food items but also practice your Korean reading skills.<\/p>\n

In this post, I will introduce you to several kinds of Korean \uc300<\/em><\/span> (rice), common\u00a0\uccad\uacfc\ubb3c<\/em><\/span> (fresh produce) that is used in Korean cooking, \ub450\ubd80<\/em><\/span> (tofu) for various cooking purposes, and essential Korean \uc591\ub150<\/em><\/span> (seasonings) for your pantry. February 1st <\/sup>\u00a0post will mention\u00a0\ud574\uc0b0\ubb3c<\/em><\/span> (seafood),\uc721\ub958<\/em><\/span> (meat), \ub77c\uba74<\/em><\/span> (instant noodles), some of popular prepackaged \ub0c9\ub3d9\uc2dd\ud488 <\/em><\/span>(frozen foods), and delicatessen section so you can enjoy Korean food conveniently.<\/p>\n

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\uc300<\/em><\/span><\/strong> (rice)<\/h3>\n

Once you walk into the store, you will be amazed to face a big pile of rice bags. Depending on your needs, you can find different kinds of \uc300<\/em><\/span> (rice): \ubc31\ubbf8<\/em><\/span> (white rice), \ud604\ubbf8<\/em><\/span> (brown rice), \ubc18\ubc18\ubbf8<\/em><\/span>\u00a0(half brown rice and half brown sweet rice in a bag), and\u00a0\ucc39\uc300<\/em><\/span> (sweet rice).<\/span><\/p>\n

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\uccad\uacfc\ubb3c<\/em><\/strong><\/span> (fresh produce)<\/h3>\n

When you pass the\u00a0\uccad\uacfc\ubb3c<\/em><\/span> (fresh produce) section, your eyes will be elated with fresh vegetables and fruits, not only your familiar ones, but also assorted displays of exotic ones. These are some of the items that I like to buy from the \uccad\uacfc\ubb3c<\/em><\/span> section: \ubc30<\/em>\ucd94<\/em><\/strong><\/span> (napa cabbages), \uae7b\uc78e<\/em><\/span> (perilla leaves), \uc465\uac13<\/em><\/span> (crown daisy), Korean\u00a0\ubc30<\/em><\/span> (pear), \ubd80\ucd94<\/em><\/span> (garlic chives), \ucf69\ub098\ubb3c<\/em><\/span> (bean sprouts), Korean \uace0\uad6c\ub9c8<\/em><\/span> (sweet potatoes), \ud30c<\/em><\/span> ( green onions), \ub9c8\ub298<\/em><\/span> (garlic), \uc0dd\uac15<\/em><\/span> (ginger).<\/p>\n

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\ub450\ubd80<\/em><\/strong><\/span> (tofu)<\/h3>\n

Can you believe this array of \ub450\ubd80<\/em><\/span> (Tofu) collection in the picture?<\/p>\n

I like to keep 2-3 packages of\u00a0\ub450\ubd80<\/em><\/span>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>in my refrigerator. Just make sure to check the expiration date on the package, \ub450\ubd80<\/em><\/span> will usually last for several weeks. I like to buy firm\u00a0\ub450<\/em><\/span>\ubd80<\/span><\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>for \uad6d<\/em><\/span> (soup),\u00a0\ucc0c\uac1c<\/em><\/span> (stew), or\u00a0\ubd80\uce68<\/em><\/span> (frying), and soft\u00a0\ub450\ubd80<\/em><\/span> \u00a0<\/em><\/strong>for \uc0d0\ub7ec\ub4dc<\/em><\/span> (salad).<\/p>\n

Did you know you can also use firm\u00a0\ub450<\/span><\/em>\ubd80<\/em><\/span> to make lasagna?<\/p>\n

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\uc591\ub150<\/em><\/strong><\/span> (seasonings)<\/h3>\n

If you are interested in cooking Korean food, the following would be essential\u00a0\uc591\ub150<\/em><\/span> (seasonings) that you may like to grab for your pantry.<\/p>\n

\u2022<\/em><\/strong> \uace0\ucd94\uc7a5<\/em><\/span> (hot pepper paste)<\/p>\n

Every Korean household will have a tub of \uace0\ucd94\uc7a5<\/em><\/span>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong> in their refrigerator. \uace0\ucd94\uc7a5<\/em><\/span> \u00a0<\/em><\/strong>is used to add spicy flavor for soups, to dip cooked Korean BBQ, or to mix ingredients in the popular Korean dish\u00a0\ube44<\/em>\ube54\ubc25<\/em><\/span>.<\/p>\n

\u2022<\/em><\/strong> \uac04\uc7a5<\/em><\/span> (soy sauce)<\/p>\n

\uac04\uc7a5<\/em><\/span> \u00a0<\/em><\/strong>is another essential seasoning for Korean dishes. You can use \uac04\uc7a5<\/span> \u00a0<\/em><\/strong>for dipping your food, making Korean BBQ, or seasoning your soup instead of salt. \uac04\uc7a5<\/em><\/span> especially goes well with\u00a0\ub9cc\ub450<\/em> <\/span>(Korean dumplings).<\/p>\n

\u2022<\/em><\/strong> \ucc38\uae30\ub984<\/em><\/span> (sesame seed oil)<\/p>\n

\ucc38\uae30\ub984<\/em><\/span> \u00a0<\/em><\/strong>is used to add nutty flavor to many \ubc18\ucc2c<\/em><\/span> (side dishes) in the final stages of cooking, to enhance the taste of \u00a0\ube44\ube54\ubc25<\/em><\/span>,\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0to make Korean birthday soup\u00a0\ubbf8\uc5ed\uad6d<\/em><\/span> (seaweed soup), or to dip your cooked \uc0bc\uacb9\uc0b4<\/em><\/span> (pork belly slices like bacon in America<\/a>)\u00a0<\/span>to add extra flavor.<\/p>\n

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I hope this article will encourage your visit to a Korean supermarket.<\/p>\n

\uac10\uc0ac\ud569\ub2c8\ub2e4<\/em><\/strong>!<\/em><\/strong><\/span> (Thank you!)<\/strong><\/p>\n

***Related Vocabulary***<\/strong><\/p>\n

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