Top 5 meals Koreans eat raw

This dish is made from raw beef, sliced thinly and served with condiments such as sesame oil, soy sauce, salt, garlic, sugar, and often, egg yolk. Yukhoe is a true find for meat enthusiasts. Slices of pear or pear juice can add a special piquancy to the dish (in which case sugar is not added to the yukhoe). In Korean cuisine, yukhoe is often served as an appetizer with alcohol, and you may also encounter this dish as one of the elements in a set menu.

So, raw meat, strictly speaking, is not considered raw because of the seasonings? The point is that raw fish (see "hwe") and meat in traditional Korean cuisine were served with condiments. The modern practice of serving fish without seasonings is a result of the influence of Japanese tradition.

In Korea, raw fish or other sea gifts are called "hwe" (회). That is, clarification is required specifically for raw meat (see above) ("yuk" - "meat").

Raw fish is just raw fish: no seasonings "in"; only "with". Marinade, fermentation - this is not for hwe, everything ferments in the stomach!

The main difference from sashimi is the sauces. Unique Korean spicy sauces give hwe a magnificent Korean taste and aroma.

It is recommended to consume with alcohol. Just in case.

Some restaurants may offer you raw beef liver and gizzard as an appetizer. They are usually served in restaurants where you grill "normal" beef (or pork) yourself at the table. If you are tormented by doubts, the liver and stomach can also be fried, of course; but the owner most likely means that you will use them raw. The sauce is usually served with sesame oil and salt.

Whale meat is different from the familiar beef, pork, and chicken. Its aroma is quite difficult to describe - as they say, if you don’t try it, you won’t know it. For some, the smell of whale meat evokes unpleasant associations. Traditionally, whale meat was also consumed raw; But recently problems have arisen: the slaughter of whales in Korea is officially prohibited.

Inexplicably, whale meat ends up on the markets. The explanation of the sellers, as a rule, is the following: “The poor thing got entangled in,” for example, “nets. And he died; why should the meat go to waste.” Of course, everyone understands everything; responsible persons periodically catch poachers and influence them in every possible way; but meat is still sold in markets.

However, fresh whale meat, due to the reasons stated above, has now become difficult to obtain. So, as a rule, it is still steamed or boiled.

In Jeolla Province, you can find chicken hwee. In other regions they are not familiar with this type of raw meat. Usually the visitor orders hwe while the chicken is still alive, which, immediately after ordering, is (unfortunately) cut off with its head and butchered.

Usually chicken breast is used for this unique delicacy; but also parts such as liver, stomach and even chicken legs are used for this kind of sashimi.

The main problem with chicken is the high risk of food poisoning. Therefore, unfortunately, we cannot recommend this product to you. But as you can see, we can mention it.