Buldak facts for kids
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| Alternative names | Fire chicken |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | South Korea |
| Associated national cuisine | Korean cuisine |
| Invented | 2001 |
| Serving temperature | Hot |
| Main ingredients | Chicken |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul |
불닭
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|---|---|
| Revised Romanization | buldak |
| McCune–Reischauer | puldak |
| IPA | [pul.dak̚] |
Buldak (Hangul: 불닭) or fire chicken is a super spicy chicken dish from South Korea. Its name literally means "fire chicken" because "bul" means fire and "dak" means chicken in Korean. This dish is famous for being incredibly hot and flavorful!
Contents
History of Buldak
Buldak became very popular in South Korea around 2004. Many people enjoyed its extreme spiciness. At that time, some people felt stressed due to economic challenges. Eating very spicy food like Buldak was a way for them to feel better and relieve stress.
The popularity of Buldak led to a trend of extremely hot dishes in South Korea. Many restaurants specializing in Buldak opened up.
The Name "Buldak"
In 2001, a company called Buwon Food tried to claim the name "Buldak" as their own. This meant other restaurants might not be able to use the name. However, other popular Buldak restaurants argued that "Buldak" was a common word, not something one company could own.
In 2008, a court decided that "Buldak" was indeed a common term. This meant anyone could use the name freely. Even though Buldak's popularity has changed over time, it inspired other successful foods. For example, Samyang Food created very popular buldak-flavored instant noodles.
How to Make and Serve Buldak
Buldak is made using bite-sized pieces of chicken. The chicken can be grilled or deep-fried until it's cooked.
Spicy Sauce and Toppings
The chicken is then covered in a very spicy sauce. This sauce usually includes gochugaru (chili powder), gochujang (chili paste), soy sauce, jocheong (starch syrup), garlic, and ginger. Chili powder made from Cheongyang chili pepper is often used because it is even spicier than regular chili powder.
People often add sliced garae-tteok (rice cakes) and melted cheese to their Buldak. The cheese helps to make the dish a little less spicy and adds a creamy texture.
What to Eat with Buldak
Because Buldak is so spicy, it's often served with mild side dishes. These can include gyeran-jjim (steamed eggs) or boiled nurungji (scorched rice). These milder foods help to balance out the intense heat of the Buldak.
See also
In Spanish: Buldak para niños
