Korean cuisine is becoming more and more popular across the country. The delicious and strong flavors matched with healthy ingredients make Korean food a tasty option for the dinner table.
However, one aspect of Korean cooking that is often overlooked is the breakfast dishes. These are just as healthy and delicious and can make your breakfast the best meal of the day.
In this article, we have listed 23 delicious Korean breakfast recipes. We’ve picked a variety of dishes and hope that you will enjoy these as much as we do.
1. Dalgona Coffee
It may seem strange that our first breakfast recipe is for coffee, but it’s not uncommon for people in Korea to skip food but not their caffeine fix.
This is a delicious and creamy coffee that you can easily make at home with only a few ingredients. All you need is instant coffee, milk, water, and sugar and these need to be whisked together.
2. Easy Fried Rice
Rice is a common ingredient in many Korean dishes and you’ll see it used in several breakfast recipes as well.
You can make this dish ahead and reheat it in the morning if you don’t have enough time but it doesn’t take too long to make it from scratch in the morning.
As well as the fried rice, the other ingredients are bacon, mixed vegetables, and soy sauce.
3. Egg Dumpling
Although we’ve used the word dumpling in the name of this recipe, these are not dumplings at all. Instead, they’re more like mini omelets made from Korean glass noodles, carrots, and onions.
You can add some chili pepper for some additional spice if you wish.
4. Enoki Mushroom Egg Pancake
Savory pancakes are a big feature of Korean breakfasts. This pancake takes around 30 minutes to cook and is characterized by enoki mushrooms.
The pancakes don’t require many ingredients other than the mushrooms, all you need is eggs, flour, green onion, salt, and pepper. Simply mix the ingredients and fry them in a pan.
5. Kimchi Breakfast Pizza
Pizza for breakfast may sound strange but it’s a great way to start the day. This pizza is loaded with kimchi, mushrooms, spinach, shallots, and eggs to make a delicious and unusual breakfast.
The tomato sauce is also mixed with miso paste and fish sauce and once cooked, you can add avocado and green onion for the finishing touches.
6. Kimchi Egg
This is the first of several recipes in a row that features kimchi. If you need more information about kimchi, take a look at the frequently asked questions at the end of this list.
This is a super simple recipe to make as the only ingredients are egg, kimchi, and some vegetable oil. This Korean take on scrambled eggs can be ready in 10 minutes.
7. Kimchi Fried Rice (Kimchi Bokkeum Bap)
Bowls filled with cooked rice (known as bap) are very common in Korean cuisine. They’re the basis of many breakfast, lunch, and dinner dishes like this recipe.
As well as the rice and kimchi, the bowl also contains bacon, green onions, sesame seeds, and a variety of flavorings. The recipe works best with rice that was made the day before.
8. Kimchi Toast
This breakfast recipe can be cooked in only a few minutes. It also makes a great lunch dish if you’re looking for something quick and easy to eat.
You will need some country-style bread which should be toasted and then covered with a topping made from kimchi, cream cheese, scallions, and cilantro.
It’s bursting with flavor and other than the bread, requires no cooking.
9. Korean Braised Tofu (Dubu Jorim)
If you’re a vegan, then this recipe is suitable for you. None of the ingredients have any meat products and it’s a relatively easy dish to make.
It’s simply tofu that is drained (but not pressed) and then cooked before being soaked in the homemade marinade. You should prepare the tofu the night before so it has six to eight hours to soak.
10. Korean Chicken Porridge (Dakjuk)
Porridge is a very popular ingredient in Korean breakfasts and that is why there are a few recipes on this list based around porridge.
In the case of this recipe, the porridge is matched with chicken. Unlike western porridge, however, there are no oats and it is instead served with short-grain rice or sweet rice.
11. Korean Egg Bread (Gyeran Bbang)
Egg bread is a popular street food in Korea, especially during the winter months. It’s also commonly used as a breakfast on the go for people who don’t have time to make their own.
Many stop at egg bread stores to grab some on their way to work. This egg bread recipe also gives the option to add several additional fillings such as cheese, bacon, and parsley flakes.
12. Korean Egg Drop Sandwich
This recipe is based on meals offered by a popular breakfast chain in South Korea.
They have a distinct visual style that has made them a big hit with South Koreans, but they also taste great!
The most important ingredients are thick slices of white bread, eggs, cheese, and egg drop sauce.
13. Korean Egg Fried Rice (Gyeran Bokkeum Bap)
It’ll only take you 10 minutes to prepare this egg-fried rice as it uses pre-cooked rice. You’ll need to separate the grains so that they’re not stuck together.
Beat your eggs and season them before frying them with some spring onion. Once the eggs are nearly cooked, add your rice, and the additional seasonings, and cook.
14. Korean Egg Roll (Gyeran Mari)
Egg rolls are a common side dish but they also make for a wonderful breakfast dish. They’re rolled omelets and are full of delicious vegetables.
In the case of this recipe, you’ll add carrot, yellow onion, green onion, shiitake mushrooms, and asparagus. Rolling the egg mixture can be a little tricky at first but you’ll soon manage it.
15. Korean Egg Toast (Gilgeori Toast)
We’ve already had egg bread and egg sandwiches, but now it’s time for egg toast. It’s like a toasted sandwich and you can adjust the filling as you need.
In this recipe, the filling is made from egg, cabbage, carrots, and green onion.
16. Korean Pancakes With Scallions (Pajeon/Pa Jun)
This is the second pancake on our list. It’s a very common Korean dish and in this case, is made with scallions and you can add in any other vegetables you wish such as zucchini or potatoes.
Once cooked, the pancake can be dipped into a sauce made from soy sauce and rice vinegar that is also included in the recipe.
17. Korean Soybean Paste Stew (Doenjang Jjigae)
Doenjang Jjigae is one of the most common breakfasts in Korea. This soybean paste stew can be eaten at any time of the day but is commonly eaten in the morning.
You will need gochujang, a Korean red chili paste, tofu, zucchini, and yellow onion to make the stew.
18. Korean Style Omurice
Omurice originates in Japan and simply means omelet and rice. The dish has grown in popularity across Asia and is now a common sight in Korean cuisine as well.
It’s best when made with rice cooked the day before and is served with a sauce and omelet stuffed with vegetables.
19. Marinated Eggs (Mayak Gyeran)
If you’re looking to cut your breakfast prep time each morning then you can plan ahead by making these marinated eggs.
Prepare them on Sunday and the eggs will be fresh and suitable for eating for the rest of the week and can be served with rice.
You’ll need to boil the eggs and then marinate them in a mix of garlic, green pepper, red chili, and soy sauce.
20. Potato Pancakes (Gamja Jeon)
Our next version of Korean pancakes sees potatoes take the center stage. The ingredients are simple as they consist of only potatoes, yellow onion, water, and salt.
When the pancakes are cooked, they can be dipped into a potato pancake dipping sauce which is also listed in the recipe.
21. Pumpkin Porridge (Hobakjuk)
We’re back to porridge again for this recipe and this is ideal for breakfasts on cold mornings. Although it is filling and warm, it’s also light enough that you won’t feel sluggish.
As well as sweet rice, you can also make sweet rice balls to add more substance. You can make this recipe in an Instant Pot if you wish.
22. Strawberry Milk
Our list started with a liquid breakfast and now we have a second option for those who prefer to start their day with a drink instead of a meal.
This drink is a popular drink during summer at any time of the day as well as for breakfast. You’ll need to blend strawberries, sugar, and a milk of your choice.
23. Vegetable Pancakes (Jeon)
Our final pancake recipe is a vegetable dish. It uses many summer vegetables such as squash, carrots, and potatoes that are bound together with egg.
You can also make a spicy soy sauce for dipping.
Are there any savory breakfast ideas in the Korean breakfast recipes?
Korean breakfast recipes offer a variety of savory breakfast ideas. From gyeran-jjim (steamed egg) to kimchi bokkeumbap (kimchi fried rice), there are delicious options to satisfy your savory cravings in the morning. Whether you prefer a hearty soup or a flavorful pancake, Korean breakfast recipes have something to suit every taste.
Frequently Asked Questions
Let’s now look at some answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about Korean food and Korean breakfasts.
You will have noticed that several of these recipes include kimchi. This is a traditional Korean dish made from salted and fermented vegetables.
The vegetables can differ from recipe to recipe but kimchi usually includes napa cabbage. It can also have radishes, cucumber, carrots, and scallions.
Kimchi has a variety of flavors and can be sour, spicy, and umami. The spice in kimchi is usually provided by gochugaru pepper, which is also known as Korean chili.
The level of spice differs from kimchi to kimchi and it’s this spice that gives kimchi its distinctive red flavor. Kimchi can be bought in the store but many people prepare their kimchi at home.
There are many different types of dishes that serve as traditional Korean breakfast dishes. Popular dishes include soup, rice, and side dishes.
Egg is a very common ingredient in a variety of these and it’s not unusual for Koreans to cook a hearty breakfast each morning.
There are also quicker and easier breakfast options, of course! Several of the recipes in this article can be prepared in advance and many Koreans grab their breakfast on the go as they head to school or work.
Final Thoughts
In this article, we listed 23 delicious Korean breakfast recipes. We covered a wide variety of recipes from filling breakfasts that take 30 minutes or more to prepare, to quick and easy dishes.
Many of the recipes use traditional Korean ingredients but several can be made with common ingredients found in your local grocery store.
23 Delicious Korean Breakfast Recipes
Korean breakfast is a great way to start the day. These delicious Korean recipes taste great and are healthy too.
Ingredients
Directions
- Pick a recipe from above
- Click the recipe name and visit the website
- Collect the ingredients and the food
- Enjoy – don’t forget to leave a review
Recipe Video
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