Member Reviews
This cookbook hits all the right notes! The photography is bright and gorgeous, and nearly every dish has a photo to show you the final product (so helpful!!). The recipes are clear, uncomplicated, and delicious sounding. I learned a lot about what banchan is and the place it has in Korean cuisine. I can’t wait to try several of these recipes!
Banchan focuses on Korean side dishes and shareables.
The Sections are
Fermented & Preserved
Namul & Muchim
Jorim & Soy Sauce-Marinated
Stir-Fried & Steamed
Soups & Stews
Buchimgae
Cold Banchan
Hot Banchan
Each recipe has servings, ingredients, a little blurb, a beautiful photo of the dish, directions, and any notes on the dish. Though there weren’t any prep, cooking, or total times included which is a little fall out for me.
Overall there are tons of great recipes to try.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Banchan are Korean side dishes served during the meal. Items like zucchini or kimchi pancakes, pickled veggies or tofu in a soy sauce are served on the table to eat with the main dish and rice. Combining them in a dish like Kimbab, recipe included, as well. If you are a fan of K-dramas you have seen these on the screen. Now you can make them at home too.
So delicious. Each recipe also includes a spice rating and accompanying pictures.
I love Korean food + have been wanting to learn how to make banchan, so I was super excited to check out this book! The way it's written is very conversational, like talking with/getting to know a friend (who happens to be a chef) better. The beginning also includes a section on what she usually keeps her kitchen (pantry/fridge) stocked with to make these recipes possible.
The book is divided into 2 parts -- the first part containing the more traditional recipes + the 2nd with her version of lots of different classic recipes. There are hot + cold recipes + honestly some of everything for everyone. (Some ingredients may be harder to find outside of an Asian grocery store.)
Each recipe includes the ingredient list, an intro, serving size, and instructions (+ sometimes notes, e.g. for how to store, where to find certain ingredients). I'm looking forward to trying out the Gamja Jorim (soy-braised potatoes) + "hot honey" crispy tofu!
Thank you to the publisher + NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for a review!
This was such a good intro to banchan!! I loved how it was divided!! Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this arc ebook in exchange for an honest review.
This cookbook is beautiful. The layout is easy to follow. The pictures look delicious and make my stomach growl. I am going to make every one of these side dishes. The recipes are very straight forward and easy to follow.
I really like the straightforward nature of this cookbook. It is what it is, straight to the point, but it also feels like it was personally written by a friend just for you. Banchan is an array of shared side dishes seen at a Korean table. Part 1 of this book are the Banchan Classics broken into six sections that include the Fermented & Preserved (mostly various kimchis and pickled chilis), Namul & Muchim (fresh vegetables), Jorim & Soy Sauce-Marinated (soy-marinated or braised foods), Stir-Fried & Steamed foods, Soups and Stews, and the section that looks the most interesting to me: Buchimgae (pancakes). Part 2 has both hot and cold banchan recipes from Caroline Choe’s kitchen and are a bit more non-traditional. We also get to hear some stories about her growing up as a Korean American.
There is also a section about what she usually keeps in her pantry and fridge for preparing these tasty side dishes. Who knew there were so many ways to add kimchi to a meal? I always used to see Korean dramas and wonder about all the dishes they’d have to wash after every meal, but they always looked so delicious. It was fun to see recipes for things I’d seen in dramas. Now I can make kimbap, bibimbap, and the different pancakes I’ve always seen on tv. It’s a sweet cookbook with a very personal feel.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for sharing this book with me in exchange for my honest review.
Everything I need to know about how to made Korean side dishes. I'm lucky to live not far from a Korean grocery store but there were a lot of recipes I could make even if I didn't.
This is a thoughtful and beautifully written book of recipes. I found the layout to be easy to use and the recipes themselves both approachable and exciting! Everyone knows that the Banchan are often the star of a Korean meal and I think it was brilliant to create a book that was dedicated solely to these vibrant and tasty sides!
Anyone who adores Korean food, especially banchan--the scrumptious shared side dishes--will want to own this first-of-its-kind cookbook with 60 recipes for mouthwatering traditional fare to contemporary Korean American versions. Yum!
I enjoyed this cookbook of Banchan (small dish) recipes.
I love Korean food but was pretty intimidated the last time I tried to make it.
These recipes are shorter, more reasonable, than the last Korean cookbook I tried.
The pictures of the dishes were nice as well.
Some ingredients will be a little harder to find but could be purchased online if you live in the boonies like me.
I saved these recipes:
Smoky gochujang chicken salad
Kimchi fried rice
Thank you Netgalley for the eARC
A beautifully formatted cookbook with simple, easy-to-follow recipes. Prior to the actual recipe, the author Caroline Choe gives a tidbit of her life and experience relating to that dish, which enlightens my idea of the experience of a Korean-American daughter. I've tested out the soups and stews first, and I loved the Haemul Sundubu Jjigae. This recipe and this cookbook can indeed warm your stomach and your heart!
I love the images as well, it really connects to a home cook and they don't present themselves as a pretentious gourmet dish that is difficult to make. Excited for this to come out!
There are so many fun, delicious-looking recipes in this cookbook that I don't even know where to begin. First off, I had no idea that there were so many different uses for kimchi but wow, you can add it to anything for a quick and easy flavor boost! The Kimchi Mac and Cheese looks incredible and literally made my mouth water. I'll definitely be looking forward to buying a copy of this cookbook as soon it drops onto the shelves.
This is a really great collection of banchan recipes. Some of the recipes include easier to find ingredients for those who might not have a Korean grocery close by. The pictures are nice and it’s great to see every dish instead of guessing how it should look.
I moved to North Dakota in 2009 from a major metropolitan city. I miss Asian food, specifically Korean food soooo much. My favorite part of Korean food, after japchae, is the banchan so when I saw this title I knew I had to request it. Over the Memorial Day weekend I trekked to Bismarck for the Asian market to get my missing ingredients and it was a Banchan-Extravaganza all weekend long! The Oi Muchim, Pa Muchim, and Shigeumchi Namul were as good as I remember. Loved the Sesame Broccoli Salad and had to try the Creamy Kimchi Bacon Dip, I thought was husband was in Heaven!!
Can't wait to get a hardcopy for myself and my library when this is published!
I’m biased because I love banchan, so I’m excited to try these recipes. The book is full of lovely photos and easy to follow recipes. Great addition to the cookbook collection.
Anyone who has really eaten Korean food, knows that the banchans are usually the best part! As someone who lived in Korea for a year, I had to check out this cookbook. It started off with a nice story about the history of Korean food and the author's background. We learn a little bit about staple Korean ingredients, and then jump right into the recipe. Each recipe was clear and had step by step instructions. I also appreciated that there was a picture for each recipe. We're also not just limited to banchan as the last chapter includes recipes for a few common dishes. I also really liked that the author included some of her own recipes for non-typical banchan. I will definitely be trying some of the fruit sides to accompany picnics this summer!
I was so excited to flip through this book! I love love love asain food and banchans are one of the best parts of going to an asain restaurant.
I like that there was a cross over between classic korean dishes and american. I can see how a kimchi mac and cheese would be a fun way for people to dip their toes into koren flavors.
I am so excited to try some of these recipes out and am definitely needing to make my way to the market to stock up on some of the pantry essentials recommended.
As a Korean-American, this book represents the comforts of home, heritage, and family-legacy for me. The recipes are thoughtfully curated and written with the right balance of authentic dishes and new, stories from the family table, and beautiful photographs of each recipe. The recipes are accessible and easy to follow. You will be sure to find all of your favorites - several types of Kimchi, fresh vegetables, marinated dishes, soups/stews, buchims (pancakes), and the author's own fusion dishes. My favorites that will be on repeat week after week are Haejang Guk (Hangover Soup) 🤪, Miyeok Muchim (Seaweed Salad), and Hobakjeon (Zucchini Pancake).
Caroline, thank you for inviting us into your kitchen and family. Thank you for capturing these recipes for current and future generations.
I had the privilege of reviewing an advanced (digital) copy courtesy of #NetGalley and #ChronicleBooks. (But I will definitely be ordering a printed copy for my kitchen.) #Banchan
Oh amazing book, loving the recipes and how well explained they are, the images are immensely helpful . Definitely want a physical copy of it