Bungeo-ppang facts for kids
Bungeo-ppang being sold in Toronto, Canada
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| Place of origin | Japan |
|---|---|
| Region or state | Korea |
| Main ingredients | Wheat flour, red bean paste |
| Similar dishes | Taiyaki, gukhwa-ppang |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul |
붕어빵
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|---|---|
| Revised Romanization | bungeo-ppang |
| McCune–Reischauer | pungŏ-ppang |
| IPA | [puŋ.ʌ.p͈aŋ] |
Bungeo-ppang (Hangul: 붕어빵) is a super popular fish-shaped pastry from South Korea. Its name means "carp bread." This yummy snack is often filled with sweet red bean paste. You can find it sold by street vendors, especially during winter.
It's cooked on a special grill that looks a bit like a waffle iron. But instead of squares, it has molds shaped like fish! While red bean paste is the classic filling, you can also find bungeo-ppang with other tasty fillings. These include pastry cream, pizza toppings, or even chocolate. Usually, you can get three bungeo-ppang for about 1,000 Korean won (KRW). The price can change depending on how big they are.
Contents
What Does Bungeo-ppang Mean?
The name bungeo-ppang is made of two Korean words. "Bungeo" means "carp," which is a type of fish. "Ppang" means "bread."
So, bungeo-ppang literally means "carp bread." But don't worry, there's no actual fish in this pastry! It just gets its name because it's shaped like a carp.
The Story of Bungeo-ppang
Bungeo-ppang came from a Japanese treat called taiyaki. Taiyaki is shaped like a sea bream, another type of fish. It was brought to Korea around the 1930s. At that time, Korea was under Japanese rule.
A book from 2011, Bungeoppang Has a Family Tree, says that bungeo-ppang mixes ideas from Western waffles and Eastern dumplings. The Japanese taiyaki itself was a Japanese version of Western waffles. Waffles were first brought to Japan in the 1700s.
Over time, the fish shape changed. The sea bream shape of taiyaki became the carp shape of bungeo-ppang in Korea. Bungeo-ppang was very popular for a while. Then its popularity faded. But it made a big comeback in the 1990s in South Korea. This was part of a "retro craze" where old things became popular again.
Recently, more and more people want bungeo-ppang. To help everyone find their favorite snack, fans across the country created a "bungeoppang map." People use Google Maps to mark where the street stalls are. They also add quick reviews, prices, and opening times. This way, everyone can find a delicious bungeo-ppang nearby!
How Bungeo-ppang Is Made
The dough for bungeo-ppang is called batter. It's made from wheat flour, baking powder, water, and sometimes milk or eggs. This batter is poured into a fish-shaped mold. This mold is part of a special bungeo-ppang grill.
Next, sweet red bean paste is added. This paste often has small pieces of beans in it. Then, more batter is poured over the paste. This covers the filling completely. The mold is then closed. The pastry is grilled until it turns golden brown and becomes crispy.
Gallery
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Binggrae's Ssamanko, a bungeo-ppang filled with red bean paste and vanilla ice cream
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Bungeo-ppang served in Gardena, California
See also
In Spanish: Pungo ppang para niños
