Korean Food: A Brief Introduction to Banchan

In Korean cuisine, banchan is a small side dish served along with rice as part of an everyday meal. No Korean meal is complete without at least 2 to 3 banchan.

If you are one of my followers or subscribers then you know that my guilty pleasure is watching Korean dramas. Not only are they entertaining but they are educational and the food they eat always looks so mouth-watering. Watching them makes me hungry. I always wish I could be right there with them enjoying the food! LOL.

Netflix is doing well these days helping me satisfy my appetite for K-dramas. This streaming platform has quite a selection of movies and TV series, historical period or modern, sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and more! Crash Course in Romance is a Korean series that was released on Netflix in January 2023. This series introduced me to “banchan”. One of the main characters was Nam Haeng-seon (played by Jeon Do-yeon), a lady who owned and operated a shop called “Nation’s Best Banchan”. Customers could come into the store and pick whatever banchan dishes they wanted for lunch or dinner.

Not being very familiar with Korean cuisine, my first question was: What is banchan? My second question was: What is the best banchan? I did a little research and am sharing my notes below.

NOTE 1: “Banchan means side dish in Korean, but in reality, it’s a bunch of small dishes filled to the brim with pickles and the like that scatter the table at lunch or dinner.” (REF: Hills, S. W. (2022, January 13). The Funky, Flavorful Side Dishes to Complete Any Korean Meal. Food52. food52.com/blog/17598-the-funky-flavorful-sides-a-korean-meal-wouldn-t-be-complete-without)

NOTE 2: “There are generally three main types of banchan — fresh vegetable banchan like namul or muchim; braised or soy sauce-based banchan called jorim; and well-preserved mit banchan like kimchi or jeotgal, that’s usually on hand in large batches.” (REF: Yoo, Irene. “How to Cook a Bunch of Banchan.” Food Network, Food Network, 6 May 2021, www.foodnetwork.com/how-to/packages/food-network-essentials/how-to-cook-banchan-side-dishes-crowd. Accessed 7 Mar. 2023.)

NOTE 3: What are some popular banchan dishes? (REF: TasteAtlas. “46 Types of Banchan Sorted by Popularity.” Tasteatlas.com, TasteAtlas, 20 Nov. 2020, www.tasteatlas.com/most-popular-types-of-banchan-in-the-world. Accessed 7 Mar. 2023.)

N‌OTE 4: “Banchan dates back to the mid-Three Kingdom period, around 300s AD at a time when Buddhism was a heavy influence and meat consumption was highly discouraged. As a restyle, seasonal vegetable-based dishes became the focal point of Korean cuisine.” (REF: Angela, and admin. “Banchan History: All about Korea’s Famous Side Dishes.” FOODICLES, 2 June 2021, foodicles.com/banchan-history/. Accessed 7 Mar. 2023.)

NOTE 5: Everything you need to know about the history, etiquette, and ingredients behind banchan. (REF: Spalding, Lavinia, and Mae Hamilton. “How to Eat Korean Banchan — and a Guide to the Most Iconic Dishes.” AFAR Media, AFAR Media, 30 Aug. 2021, www.afar.com/magazine/how-to-eat-korean-banchan-and-a-guide-to-the-most-iconic-dishes. Accessed 7 Mar. 2023.)‌

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Which do you choose? Potatoes, Pasta, or Rice?

No offense to all the potato and pasta lovers out there but if I have to choose, I’ll ask for rice dish any day. I love rice like Oprah loves bread! I know I’m not the only one. All around the world people love to share the rice recipes they serve at home. The dishes are so popular, locals will ask for it even when they’re out dining in a restaurant. It doesn’t matter that they can get the same dish at home.

Rice is the King of Crops

You could say that rice is the king of crops. Here’s why. According to historical records and documents, rice cultivation began in China and spread across Asia. As empires expanded and foreigners came to know one another via exploratory travels, the crop made its way to Africa and parts of Europe. The Europeans brought rice to America. Nowadays rice is everywhere. It is a staple food and many populations survive because the people are given a bowl of rice a day. “Rice has fed more people over a longer period of time than any other crop.” (Quote Source)

Bahamian Pigeon Peas and Rice

My family tree is Bahamian. I grew up eating pigeon peas and rice and always thought it was a uniquely Bahamian dish. But then my Puerto Rican friend told me they eat it a lot where she comes from too! The way they make it in Puerto Rico is slightly different but it’s still delicious. It is my all-time favorite rice recipe because it has ties to my heart.

Rice and peas or peas and rice is a traditional food in Africa. Everybody knows that Africans were brought to the Caribbean, The Bahamas, and the United States, by way of the slave trade. It makes sense that the people simply adapted and modified recipes they remembered from home, to suit their new environment. In The Bahamas, pigeon pea is a crop that is harvested regularly. Peas n’ rice started out as a one-pot meal, a sort of survival food for the islanders and those who farmed the land. Starch, meat, and veggies were all in one pot. The meat included in the recipe was usually salt pork or bacon. (You can change the recipe and do vegetarian or vegan-style. It’s OK!)

Over time, the locals and travelers or visitors to the island country grew to love peas n’ rice and as of today, it has become a common side dish. It almost always makes an appearance at everyday meals served at home and it is expected to be served as one of the sides at any restaurant, much like how American expect their french fries.
Would you be interested in trying this true Bahamian “must eat”? It’s easy to make! Bahamian Pigeon Peas & Rice

Other Rice Recipes and Food History

Even though I am familiar with Bahamian pigeon peas n’ rice because that’s my roots, there are other rice dishes I like eating just as much. Chinese fried rice. Paella. Biryani. Persian rice. ALL YUM!

No doubt each of these rice dishes have their own similar food history. Similar, that is to say, very likely started out as food for the commoners but tasted so good everybody wanted to eat some ~ the commoners and the aristocrats or rich folks.

Below are links to a collection of rice recipes that are sure to please, with a few historical tidbits mixed in to enhance the joy of eating.

Asian Rice Recipes

Chinese Fried Rice ~ You can do vegetarian-style or add small pieces of meat. The recipe actually came about as a way of using up leftover rice. The earliest historical records dates its origination to the Sui dynasty (589–618 CE).

Chicken Biryani ~ There are vegetarian versions, but I like the chicken. There are very strong opinions that biryani should be the National Dish of India, even though “biryani” is derived from the Persian word “birian” which means “fried before cooking.” Many give credit to the Mughals for creating the biryani dish, but some say there were similar dishes being eaten in India long before the establishment of the Mughal Empire. So let’s just say they took a common recipe and made it their own once they took over!

European and Middle-Eastern Rice Recipes

Seafood Paella ~ Paella originated in Valencia, Eastern Spain. It is a fusion of 2 cultures: Arab Moors and the natives of Spain. As to its history? One story goes that this rice dish was created by cooks using leftovers to give to the king’s guests to take home from the banquets.

Persian Rice ~ Also called Persian Wedding Rice or Iranian Jeweled Rice. It’s made with fruits and nuts. Iran which was once known as Persia, and was at one time an “ancient super power”; meaning the rulers conquered a lot of peoples who had different cultures. Iranian cuisine or Persian food has been influenced by many cultures. Hard to tell what originated from what resulted from the fusion or the blend. “Iran’s food has a rich and illustrious backstory that tells the tale of conquerors, explorers, and merchants all leaving their mark on Persian cuisine.” (Quote Source)

Which do you choose? Potatoes, Pasta, or Rice?

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Foodie Friday : Purple is the Color of Royalty and of Glorious Vegetables

Purple veggies are not only tasty additions and enhancements to your meal –  but they also make for a lovely garden which when harvested yields multiple benefits and rewards.

Thinking of starting a vegetable garden? Why not start with the color purple? Bell peppers, jalapeno peppers, spinach, asparagus, cauliflower, and carrots all come in purple!

Happy gardening! :)

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