The World | Asia and Australasia | Korea

Korean cuisine is influenced by Japanese and Chinese cooking, yet Korean cuisine is distinctly different. Daily staples are rice, barley, legumes, cabbage, potatoes, and squash. Koreans enjoy soups and stews that may include fish, pork, beef, or chicken. Chinese pears and persimmons are the most common fruits, and garlic, chile peppers, and ginger are usual seasonings. Sesame seeds give Korean cooking its distinctive taste and aroma. The national dish of Korea, kimchi, is made from salted, fermented, spiced, and chopped Chinese cabbage and other vegetables, and a traditional Korean meal would not be complete without it. Kimchi can be made with or without spicy hot chile peppers, and it can be used as an ingredient in other dishes, as well as a dish in itself.