Gamja-jeon facts for kids
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| Alternative names | Potato pancakes |
|---|---|
| Type | Buchimgae |
| Place of origin | Korea |
| Region or state | Gangwon |
| Main ingredients | Potatoes |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul |
감자전
|
|---|---|
| Hanja |
--煎
|
| Revised Romanization | gamja-jeon |
| McCune–Reischauer | kamja-chŏn |
| IPA | [kam.dʑa.dʑʌn] |
Gamja-jeon (Hangul: 감자전) is a yummy potato pancake from Korea. It's a type of jeon, which means it's a Korean-style pancake. To make it, finely grated potato is pan-fried in vegetable oil until it turns a beautiful golden brown color.
History of Gamja-jeon
Potatoes first came to Korea a long time ago. They might have arrived through the border with China around 1824. Or, a German missionary named Karl Gützlaff might have brought them by sea in 1832.
Potatoes grew very well in the mountains of Gangwon Province. Because of this, gamja-jeon became a special dish from that area. Traditionally, gamja-jeon was made with just potato, salt, and oil.
What's in Gamja-jeon?
While the main ingredient is grated potato, you can add other things to make it even tastier! Some people like to mix in shredded carrots, onions, or scallions. You can also add sliced mushrooms or garlic chives. These extra ingredients add nice colors and a bit of crunch.
Sometimes, people even garnish gamja-jeon with fresh red and green chili peppers. This adds a little spice!
Gamja-jeon is usually served with a special dipping sauce. This sauce is called choganjang (초간장). It's made from soy sauce and vinegar, giving it a tangy flavor that goes perfectly with the pancake.
Photos
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Plain Gamja-jeon.
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Plain Gamja-jeon.
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Geon-saeu (dried shrimp) Gamja-jeon.
