Summer Foods: Samgyetang

When deciding what to eat in scorching summer heat, you might think of refreshing cool fruits or a salad with freshly chopped vegetables.

In Korea, there is a go-to dish that is eaten on the hottest day of the summer (chobok). Ironically, the dish is just as hot as the weather outside.

Samgyetang is a chicken ginseng soup that involves an entire chicken stuffed with healthy ingredients, like jujube, ginger and glutinous rice.

Photo Credit: TriFood

According to the Chosun Ilbo, the dish rejuvenates the body very well and helps to conquer fatigue and exhaustion during hot months. Samgyetang's ingredients have different purposes according to oriental medicine. For example, jujube quenches thirst and ginkgo nut protects lungs, which are likely to be weakened by low energy levels. The chicken itself is rich in proteins and amino acids.

Photo Credit: Avlxyz

The article also says that many Koreans believe if you heat up the inside of your body with a hot soup, then the outside of your body will actually feel cooler.

Me, I think samgyetang is a great food for detox. Forget drinking liquids with cayenne pepper, lemon, maple syrup, rose thorns, or whatever is the latest master "cleanser".

All you need is a few sips of samgyetang and you're sweating out whatever you want out of your system. The result is surprisingly refreshing.

Here's a recipe from one of my favorite Korean food sites, Maangchi, if you're interested in making this simmering summer dish!

About the author by Donna Choi

Born and raised in the States, I came to Seoul in 2009 and have loved living and working in such a high-tech and connected city ever since. I enjoy collecting unique, cute gadgets/items (I have a bread-scented smartphone case!) and traveling around Korea. My personal mission while living in Korea: Try every type of Korean food known to exist.

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