Jjim facts for kids

Jjim
Andong jjimdak, a variety of jjim dish
Quick facts for kids Korean name
Hangul	찜
Revised Romanization	jjim
McCune–Reischauer	tchim

Jjim (say "jim") is a special word in Korean cuisine. It describes dishes made by steaming or boiling food. The main ingredients, like meat, chicken, fish, or shellfish, are first soaked in a tasty sauce or soup.

Long ago, jjim dishes were cooked in a siru. This was a special earthenware steamer. People used it mostly for making tteok (rice cakes). But today, the name jjim means a finished dish that looks like it was steamed. Most jjim dishes are now made by boiling ingredients in a little bit of broth. Then, the liquid is cooked down until it's thick. Pressure cookers are also popular for making jjim because they cook food quickly.

The main ingredients for jjim are often galbi (short ribs), beef shank, chicken, fish, or shellfish. First, these ingredients are marinated in a sauce. Then, they are boiled with a small amount of water. The liquid becomes thicker as it cooks. Different vegetables and other ingredients are added to make the flavor even better.

Popular Jjim Dishes

• Galbijjim (갈비찜): This dish is made with marinated beef short ribs. It's steamed with diced potatoes and carrots. The sauce is usually a ganjang (Korean soy sauce) based one.
• Andong jjimdak (찜닭): This jjim is made with chicken. It includes vegetables and cellophane noodles. The sauce is also made with ganjang. This dish comes from the city of Andong.
• Gyeranjjim (계란찜): This is a simple and fluffy dish made with eggs. It's often compared to a savory steamed egg custard.
• Saengseon jjim (생선찜): This term refers to any jjim made with fish.
  • Agujjim (아구찜): A very spicy jjim made with blackmouth angler fish. It also has stalked Sea Squirt, kongnamul (soybean sprouts), and minari (a type of water celery). This dish is a local favorite from Masan, South Gyeongsang Province.
  • Domijjim (도미찜): This jjim is made using sea bream fish.
  • Eundaegujjim (은대구찜): This dish uses cod fish.
• Jeonbokjjim (전복찜): This jjim features abalone. The abalone is marinated in a sauce made from ganjang (Korean soy sauce) and cheongju (a type of rice wine).
• Dubujjim (두부찜): This is a jjim dish made with tofu. It's a great option for those who prefer plant-based meals.

Gallery

• 

  Agwi-jjim (blackmouth angler jjim)

• 

  Galbi-jjim (beef rib jjim)

• 

  Jogi-jjim (yellow croaker jjim)

• 

  Mugeun-ji-jjim (aged kimchi jjim)

• 

  Gyeran-jjim (egg jjim)

• 

  Dubu-jjim (tofu jjim)

See also

In Spanish: Jjim para niños