Tangpyeong-chae facts for kids
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Alternative names | Mung bean jelly salad |
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Type | Namul |
Place of origin | Korea |
Main ingredients | Nokdumuk (mung bean jelly) |
Ingredients generally used | Mung bean sprouts, Java water dropwort, Chinese mugwort, shredded meat (beef, pork, sea cucumber, or abalone) |
Korean name | |
Hangul |
탕평채 / 묵청포
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Hanja |
蕩平菜 / -淸泡
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Revised Romanization | tangpyeong-chae / muk-cheongpo |
McCune–Reischauer | t'angp'yŏng-ch'ae / muk-chŏngp'o |
IPA | [tʰaŋ.pʰjʌŋ.tɕʰɛ̝] / [muk̚.tɕʰʌŋ.pʰo] |
Tangpyeong-chae (Hangul: 탕평채, 蕩平菜), also known as mung bean jelly salad, is a special Korean dish. It was once served in the Korean royal court cuisine, meaning kings and queens enjoyed it!
This colorful dish is made by mixing different ingredients. It includes thin strips of nokdumuk (a jelly made from mung beans), mung bean sprouts, and a plant called watercress. It also has stir-fried shredded beef, thinly sliced red pepper, and lightly toasted gim (seaweed).
Tangpyeongchae gets its delicious taste from a special sauce. This sauce is made with ganjang (soy sauce), vinegar, sugar, sesame seeds, and sesame oil. People often eat this refreshing salad in late spring and during the summer months.
Contents
History of Tangpyeong-chae
This dish has a really interesting story linked to Korean history! According to a book from 1849 called Dongguksesigi (동국세시기), tangpyeongchae was created because of a political problem.
King Yeongjo and Political Harmony
During the Joseon dynasty, there was a king named King Yeongjo. He was worried because different political groups were fighting a lot. These groups were called "parties," and their disagreements caused big problems for the country.
To help solve these conflicts, King Yeongjo often held special feasts. He wanted to create a friendly atmosphere where everyone could get along. His biggest achievement was something called the Tangpyeong policy (탕평책). This policy was all about "harmony" and "meditation." King Yeongjo chose people for important jobs based on their skills, not which political party they belonged to.
A Dish with a Message
At the start of these feasts, King Yeongjo would present tangpyeongchae to his government officers and other politicians. He would then say something like, "Look at this dish! It has four different ingredients: nokdumuk, gim, beef, and water dropwort. They all have their own colors and tastes. But when they are mixed together, they become a beautiful and delicious dish."
The king's speech was a powerful lesson for everyone at the party. He was showing them that even though they were different, they could work together in harmony for the good of the country, just like the ingredients in tangpyeongchae.
See also
In Spanish: Tangpyeongchae para niños