16+ Korean Lunar New Year Foods (Seollal)
Celebrate Korean Lunar New Year (Seollal) with these traditional Korean food recipes. From main dishes to desserts, you will find a range of easy to more advanced recipes that are perfect for sharing moments of new beginnings with your family and friends.
Seollal is the most important holiday in Korea. It’s New Year’s day! You could say that Koreans celebrate New Year’s day twice. The first is on January 1, and the exact date of the other changes each year depending on the lunar calendar. So when is 2022’s Lunar New Year’s day? It’s on February 1st, and it ushers in the year of tiger!
Just like other Asian countries that celebrate the Lunar New Year, Koreans also follow ancient traditions heralding the new year with lots of festive food and drinks.
We also gather with family and relatives. Seollal is the day we wish each family member prosperity and good health throughout the year.
Here are 16+ traditional Korean New Year foods that are among the most commonly enjoyed by many Korean people. They range from easy to more advanced level, but my step-by-step instructions make them accessible to all.
I hope you will find something that you and your family can use to join the celebration of Lunar New Year – the Korean way!
16 Korean New Year Foods
Homemade Mandu (Korean Dumplings)
Mandu, Korean dumplings with pork, cabbage, chives, and glass noodles, are simple to make. Use homemade wrappers for authenticity or store-bought for convenience—this recipe ensures juicy, flavorful dumplings every time!Recipe makes 40 large dumplings.
Easy Tteokguk (Korean Rice Cake Soup)
Tteokguk, a traditional Korean rice cake soup, is made with soft, chewy rice cakes simmered in a clear, flavorful beef and vegetable broth. This comforting dish symbolizes good fortune and is perfect for New Year’s celebrations or cozy meals anytime!
Easy Japchae (Korean Glass Noodles Stir-Fry)
Make japchae, Korean glass noodle stir-fry, the easy way with this simple recipe. Enjoy chewy sweet potato noodles, colorful veggies, and tender meat for an authentic Korean japchae taste.
Best Galbi Jjim (Korean Braised Short Ribs)
Indulge in Galbi Jjim, a Korean braised short ribs dish, slow-cooked to tender perfection in a rich savory sauce. This recipe showcases succulent beef with a medley of vegetables, ideal for any family dinner or special occasion.
Authentic Korean Beef Bulgogi with Sliced Steak
Ultimate Korean beef bulgogi recipe with a delicious homemade bulgogi sauce! Thinly sliced steak is perfectly marinated and quickly seared for tender, juicy bites. Ideal for an authentic Korean BBQ at home.
Galbitang (Korean Short Rib Soup)
Galbitang is a Korean short rib soup with tender beef and aromatic vegetables in a rich, clear broth. This recipe offers Instant Pot or stovetop options. For the best flavor, prepare it a day ahead.
Quick Korean Dumpling Soup (Mandu Guk)
Mandu-guk, a traditional Korean dumpling soup, is perfect for winter or New Year. Make this comforting soup in just 15 minutes with store-bought dumplings and a flavorful broth.
Korean Sweet Rice with Dried Fruit and Nuts (Yakshik)
Korean sweet rice cake (yakshik) is made with sticky rice, jujube, chestnut, and other nuts. An instant pot makes this authentic recipe extremely easy and quick to prepare. It also serves as a good breakfast or snack.
Korean Meat Tofu Patties (Wanja-jeon)
Wanja-jeon (Korean Meat and Tofu Patties) are a traditional dish often enjoyed during festive Korean holidays, but they’re just as perfect for everyday meals or lunchboxes. Made with ground pork, beef, or chicken, these flavorful patties are versatile and easy to prepare!
Easy Sikhye (Sweet Korean Rice Drink)
Sikhye is a sweet, non-alcoholic Korean rice drink made with malted barley and rice. With this simple recipe, you can make it at home using an Instant Pot or rice cooker.
Easy Yukjeon (Korean Beef Pancakes)
Easy and quick recipe for Yukjeon, a popular Korean beef pancake (Jeon)! With its melt-in-your-mouth texture, this dish is perfect for special occasions and dinner gatherings.
Korean Beef Radish Soup (Sogogi Muguk)
Korean Beef Radish Soup (Sogogi Mu Guk)—a mild, comforting broth with tender beef and sweet Korean radish. Simple to make, it’s perfect with rice and kimchi for a cozy meal.
Easy Tteokgalbi (Korean Beef Patties)
Tteokgalbi are Korean beef patties made from minced short rib meat, broiled in the oven, and brushed with a soy-honey glaze. This easy recipe is perfect for special occasions and makes an impressive dish for someone special.
Ultimate LA Galbi (Korean BBQ Short Ribs)
Make the best LA Galbi (Korean BBQ short ribs) at home with this easy recipe! Beef short ribs are marinated in a rich, savory two-step marinade, ensuring tender, juicy, and flavorful results every time. Whether grilled, broiled, or pan-cooked, these Korean BBQ short ribs are perfect for a crowd-pleasing meal.
Nabak Kimchi (Korean Water Kimchi)
Nabak kimchi is a mild, refreshing Korean water kimchi made with cabbage, radish, and carrot. With minimal chili flakes and no fish sauce, it’s simple and easy to make!
Sujeonggwa (Korean Cinnamon Drink)
Sujeonggwa is a Korean cinnamon drink made with cinnamon, ginger, and brown sugar, known for its unique and delicious taste.
And there you have it – 16+ Korean Lunar New Year Foods that you can enjoy with your loved ones! I hope this list brought you some inspiration for your Korean holiday celebration.
16+ Korean Lunar New Year Foods (Seollal): Korean Sweet Rice Dessert
Korean sweet rice dessert cooked with sweet rice, jujube, chestnut, and other nuts in instant pot makes this authentic recipe extremely easy and quick to prepare. Plus, 16+ more traditional Korean Lunar New Year foods to enjoy at home.
Ingredients
- 2 cup Korean sweet rice (chapssal)
- 2 cup water
- 14-16 frozen whole chestnut, or canned (drained)
- 10 dried jujube
- 1/2 cup dark brown sugar, or honey
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp dark soy sauce, optional
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 2 tbsp pine nuts
- 3 tbsp roasted pumpkin seeds
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
Equipment
Instructions
- Rinse sweet rice several times and soak the rice in water for 10 minutes. Drain the rice and set aside.
- Cut the chestnut in halves or quarters depending on the size. Set them aside.
- Cut the flesh off of dried jujube to separate it from the seeds. Set the flesh on the side and collect the seeds. Put the seeds in a small pot and pour in 2 cups of water. Bring it to boil and simmer for 5 minutes. The water will become dark amber. Discard the jujube seeds and reserve the stock.
- Pour the jujube stock into an instant pot. Add soy sauce, dark soy sauce (if using), honey (or brown sugar), and cinnamon; stir well until combined.
- Add the rice, chestnut, and jujube flesh to the stock and mix well. Close the lid and set the instant pot to a rice setting (or 12 minutes on manual setting). Make sure to seal the vent.
- When cooking is done, move the vent to quick release and let the steam escape. Open the lid and add the pine nuts and pumpkin seeds (or other nuts and seeds of your choice). Drizzle sesame oil and gently toss everything well.
- Grease a 9-inch squire pan (or similar in size) with sesame oil. Put the rice mixture into the pan and press down with spatula or rice scoop. Let it sit on a wired rack to cool.
- When fully cooled, turn out the rice on a cutting board and cut into desired size bars. You can garnish with jujube flowers and more seeds as you wish.
Did you make this recipe?Tag @beyondkimchee on Instagram. I love to see your masterpiece.
I make at least two of your recipes each time and wow!! Keep them coming!
Hi Wendy
It’s so nice to know that you like my recipes. Hope you find more recipes to enjoy on my site. Thank you so much!