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• by:
• Song, Young Jin

While the Korean cuisine is far from exclusively vegetarian, beans and vegetables form an integral part of the diet. Rather than one main meal, a typical Korean table serving will include a harmonious assortment of dishes, with plenty of vegetarian choices, along with a serving of rice and a bowl of soup. Kimchi, the national dish, which unfailingly makes an appearance at every meal, is made of pickled vegetables generously seasoned with the pungent soya bean (doenjang) and chilli (gochujang) pastes. Other vegetable dishes are salads with spicy dressings and side servings called "namul" where the ingredients are steamed or "sangchae", where they are prepared raw. There are also a variety of simple porridge dishes that have found new popularity with today's health-conscious citizens.

Setting the scene is an introduction to the culture and cuisine of Korea. The importance of vegetables in the diet is traced back to the early influence of Buddhism, which prohibited the slaughtering of animals, and the later introduction of tofu from China, an ingredient that had a lasting impact on Korean dishes. A tantalizing and fiery selection of over 50 authentic vegetarian recipes follows, in chapters on Kimchi and Quick Bites; Soups; Rice and Noodles; Vegetables, Salads and Tofu; and Sweets, Cakes and Drinks. For a truly authentic combination, start with a delicious vegetable soup such as Cold Summer Cucumber Soup or Spicy Potato and Courgette Soup and a main rice or noodle dish like Ginseng and Red Date Rice or Spicy Buckwheat Noodles. Then choose from side dishes that might include the Classic Cabbage Kimchi, the spicy sweetness of Pan-fried Chilli Parsnip and Shiitake Mushrooms, the bite-size delights of Vegetable Bbuckwheat Crepes with Mustard Dip, the refreshing heat of Green Leaf Salad in Chilli Dressing, the rich and silky Blanched Tofu with Soy Dressing or the crisp nuttiness of Soya Beansprout Namul.

Including more than 50 recipes and accompanied with 130 glorious photographs, you too can sample and enjoy the fiery vegetarian magic of this delectable Asian cuisine.