Mak-guksu facts for kids
 |
|
| Alternative names | Buckwheat noodles |
|---|---|
| Type | Guksu |
| Place of origin | Korea |
| Serving temperature | chilled |
| Main ingredients | Buckwheat noodles, broth, vegetables |
| Similar dishes | Naengmyeon |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul |
막국수
|
|---|---|
| Revised Romanization | mak-guksu |
| McCune–Reischauer | mak-kuksu |
| IPA | [mak̚.k͈uk̚.s͈u] |
Mak-guksu (Hangul: 막국수) is a popular Korean dish. It is also known as buckwheat noodles. This dish features noodles made from buckwheat. They are served in a cold, tasty broth. Sometimes, people add sugar, mustard, sesame oil, or vinegar for extra flavor.
Mak-guksu is a special food from the Gangwon area in South Korea. The city of Chuncheon is especially famous for it. There's also a version called Jaengban-guksu. In this dish, buckwheat noodles and different vegetables are mixed together on a large tray.
Contents
Making Mak-guksu Noodles
Mak-guksu is very similar to naengmyeon. Naengmyeon is another well-known Korean cold noodle dish. However, Mak-guksu uses a lot more buckwheat flour. This is because buckwheat grows very well in the Gangwon area. The dish gets its name, "rough noodles," because the buckwheat used is often unhulled. This means the outer shell of the grain is still on.
How the Noodles are Made
Mak-guksu noodles are usually made fresh from buckwheat. First, the buckwheat is soaked in water. Then, it is ground into a thick paste. Buckwheat flour is not as sticky as other flours. This makes it hard to knead, roll, and slice by hand. So, the noodles are often made using a special machine. This machine is usually hand-cranked.
What Goes with Mak-guksu
It is hard to say exactly what ingredients always go with Mak-guksu. Customers often choose what they want to add. Many restaurants also have their own secret recipes. Mak-guksu is usually quite spicy. It is often seasoned with gochujang, which is a hot chili pepper paste.
You can also add different types of kimchi. These include nabak kimchi, dongchimi, or baechu kimchi. Many recipes also include various vegetables. Sometimes, soy sauce is added too.
Side Dishes for Mak-guksu
The side dishes, called Banchan, also change a lot. In the Chuncheon area, Mak-guksu is often served with boiled beef or pork. In other places, it might come with bindaetteok. These are pancakes made from mung beans. Or, it could be served with gamjajeon, which are potato pancakes.
Chuncheon: The Home of Mak-guksu
Mak-guksu has become a big part of the identity of the Chuncheon region. In recent years, a special "buckwheat noodle street" has appeared in the city center. This street has more than a dozen restaurants that serve Mak-guksu.
There is even a Mak-guksu museum in Chuncheon. The city also holds an annual Chuncheon Makguksu Noodle Festival. This festival features Mak-guksu tastings and other fun events.
See also
In Spanish: Makguksu para niños
