Namul

Namul is a general term used in Korean cuisine to refer to a variety of seasoned vegetable dishes. The term is derived from the Korean verb namulda (나물다), which means "to season vegetables". Namul dishes can be served either hot or cold and are typically served as banchan (side dishes) during a traditional Korean meal.

Preparation

The preparation of Namul involves a variety of techniques including blanching, sautéing, and fermenting. The vegetables are first cleaned and prepared according to their type. Leafy vegetables are typically blanched while root vegetables are often sautéed. The prepared vegetables are then seasoned with ingredients such as sesame oil, soy sauce, garlic, and chili pepper flakes.

Varieties

There are numerous varieties of Namul, each made with a different type of vegetable. Some of the most common types include:

• Spinach Namul (Sigeumchi-namul): This variety is made with blanched spinach that is seasoned with soy sauce, garlic, and sesame oil.

• Bean sprouts Namul (Kongnamul): This is one of the most common types of Namul and is made with boiled bean sprouts that are seasoned with sesame oil, garlic, and green onions.

• Fernbrake Namul (Gosari-namul): This variety is made with fernbrake, a type of edible fern, that is soaked, boiled, and then sautéed with soy sauce and garlic.

Cultural Significance

Namul dishes are an integral part of Korean cuisine and are often served during special occasions and traditional holidays such as Lunar New Year (Seollal) and Harvest Festival (Chuseok). During these celebrations, a special dish called Bibimbap, which includes several types of Namul, is often prepared.

See Also

• Korean cuisine
• Banchan
• Bibimbap