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)
Make juicy Mandu (Korean dumplings) from scratch with this step-by-step recipe. Filled with pork, cabbage, chives, and glass noodles. Recipe makes 40 large dumplings.
Authentic Korean Rice Cake Soup (Tteokguk)
Tteokguk is a popular Korean rice cake soup enjoyed by many for Lunar New Year's Day. Soft and chewy rice cakes are simmered in a flavorful broth made with beef and vegetables.
Easy Japchae (Korean Glass Noodles)
Make japchae, a classic Korean glass noodles, with this easy recipe. Korean noodles, known as Dangmyeon, are made from sweet potato starch and are stir-fried with beef and vegetables in a savory sauce. This recipe is adaptable for gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian diets.
Galbi Jjim (Korean Braised Beef Short Ribs)
Galbi jjim, also known as Korean braised beef short ribs, are extremely tender and will fall off the bone when cooked well. The sauce, which is slightly sweet and savory, is the key to their deliciousness. Your family will love this Korean short ribs recipe!
Classic Bulgogi Recipe (Korean BBQ Beef)
Bulgogi is a classic Korean BBQ beef dish. This authentic recipe uses thinly sliced, marinated beef for quick, tender, and juicy results. No extra oil needed!
Galbitang Recipe (Korean Short Rib Soup)
Galbitang is a hearty Korean short rib soup made with aromatic vegetables. Cook this galbitang recipe in an instant pot or over the stovetop. Making it a day in advance is recommended to achieve a clean taste in the broth.
Quick Korean Dumpling Soup (Mandu Guk)
Mandu guk is a Korean dumpling soup often served in the winter, especially at the New Year. You can make this comfort soup quickly with store-bought frozen dumplings and a flavorful broth of your choice.
Korean Sweet Rice Cake (Yakshik)
Korean sweet rice cake (yakshik) is made with sweet 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)
Korean meat tofu patties (wanja-jeon) are a traditional Korean Chuseok dish, but they are also great for a lunchbox as well. You can use ground pork, beef, chicken, or mixture of any. Makes 3 dozen mini patties.
Sikhye (Korean Rice Punch) – Instant Pot
Sikhye is a mildly sweet Korean rice punch made of fermented barley malt and cooked rice. This easy recipe uses an instant pot or rice cooker and you can enjoy the authentic taste of Korean drink anytime at home.
Beef and Rice Cake Skewers (Sanjeok)
Sanjeok is Korean beef and rice cake skewers and it's a traditional holiday food in Korea. Strips of beef are marinated with a quick and simple bulgogi sauce and cooked together with rice cakes and green onion.
Korean Beef Radish Soup (Sogogi Muguk)
Korean beef radish soup is a comforting soup that is often served in winter time in Korea. It's worth to look for Korean radish to get the mellow flavor of the soup. Gluten-free!
Easy Korean Beef Patties (Tteokgalbi)
Celebrate a special occasion or holiday with Korean beef patties (Tteokgalbi). The patties are conveniently broiled in an oven, then brushed with soy honey glaze.
LA Galbi (Korean BBQ Ribs)
LA galbi is exquisite Korean bbq ribs originated from Korean immigrants in L.A. With the two step marinating, you will taste the most succulent Korean bbq ribs.
Nabak Kimchi (Korean Water Kimchi)
Nabak kimchi is a mild Korean water kimchi made with cabbage and other vegetables. It doesn't require fish sauce and uses very little chili flakes. It's a great vegan and vegetarian kimchi and refreshingly tasty.
Sujeonggwa (Korean Cinnamon Drink)
Sujeonggwa is a Korean cinnamon punch 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!