Jeongol facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Jeongol

Dubu-jeongol (tofu hot pot)
Type	Hot pot
Place of origin	Korea
Region or state	East Asia
Main ingredients	Various
Variations	Sinseollo
Similar dishes	Nabe

Jeongol (전골) is a delicious Korean-style hot pot dish. It's made by putting different ingredients like meat, mushrooms, and seafood into a special pot. Then, a tasty broth is added, and everything is boiled together.

Jeongol is similar to another Korean stew called jjigae. The main difference is that jjigae usually has only one main ingredient. For example, kimchi jjigae is mostly about kimchi. But jeongol is special because it usually has many different ingredients all mixed together.

Another interesting difference is their history. Long ago, jeongol was a fancy dish. It was often eaten by upper-class Koreans and even members of the royal court. Jjigae, on the other hand, was a simpler dish for everyday people.

History of Jeongol

How Jeongol Got Its Name

The story of jeongol is quite old! A book from the late Joseon era (a period in Korean history) called Manguksamulkiwon Yeoksa tells us about it. It says that jeongol started a long time ago during wars. Soldiers didn't have proper cooking tools. So, they would cook their food in their iron helmets!

Other old documents from the Joseon era also mention this. For example, in a book called Kyeongdo Jabji, it says jeongol was cooked in a pot called jeolliptu. This pot looked a lot like a soldier's helmet.

Early Jeongol Ingredients

Another old book, Siuijeonseo, describes how jeongol was made back then. It mentions thinly sliced, seasoned beef cooked in a pot. Sometimes, pine nut powder was sprinkled on top. Other times, ingredients like bamboo shoots, small octopus, and oysters were added to the dish.

How to Make Jeongol

Common Ingredients for Jeongol

Jeongol usually includes a mix of tasty ingredients. You'll often find sliced beef or different kinds of seafood. There are also fresh vegetables and various mushrooms. All these ingredients are seasoned well.

Cooking Process

To cook jeongol, all the ingredients are placed in a special pot called a jeongolteul. Then, a small amount of broth is added. The pot is heated, and everything boils together.

Adding More Flavor

Sometimes, mandu (which are Korean dumplings) are added to jeongol. Some types of jeongol can be spicy. They might have gochujang (a spicy Korean paste) or chili pepper powder. But don't worry, these spicy ingredients can be left out if you prefer a milder taste. The type of broth used also changes depending on the kind of jeongol being made.

Different Kinds of Jeongol

There are many delicious varieties of jeongol, each with its own special ingredients:

• Sinseollo (신선로) - This is a very fancy type of jeongol. It used to be served to the royal family in Korea.
• Haemul jeongol (해물전골) - This jeongol is packed with delicious seafood.
• Nakji jeongol (낙지전골) - This version is made with small octopus.
• Sogogi jeongol (소고기전골) - This type focuses on beef and does not include seafood.
• Mandu jeongol (만두전골) - This jeongol is filled with tasty mandu (dumplings).
• Dubu jeongol (두부전골) - This one is made with healthy tofu.
• Beoseot jeongol (버섯전골) - This jeongol is perfect for mushroom lovers, as it's made with various mushrooms.
• Gopchang jeongol (곱창전골) - This type is made with beef offal, which are parts like intestines.
• Gaksaek jeongol (각색전골) - This means "various kinds of jeongol." It's made with a wide mix of different ingredients.

See also

In Spanish: Jeongol para niños