Korean Pumpkin Porridge (Hobakjuk)

 

 

Explore Korean cuisine with Hobakjuk - a delicious pumpkin porridge. Join me on this culinary adventure! Indulge in Korean heritage with this comforting dish that delights the senses.

 

 

Ingredients:

 

To create a perfect bowl of Hobakjuk, gather the following ingredients:

 

• 1 small pumpkin (about 2 pounds), preferably Korean pumpkin (also known as kabocha)
• 1/2 cup of glutinous rice flour
• 6 cups of water
• 1/2 cup of sugar (adjust to taste)
• A pinch of salt

 

Optional toppings:

 

• Toasted sesame seeds
• Sweet red beans (pat)
• Chopped roasted peanuts
• Cinnamon powder

 

 

Instructions:

 

Preparing the Pumpkin:

 

1. Wash and dry pumpkin thoroughly with a towel.
2. Cut the pumpkin stem, then halve.
3. Remove seeds and discard. Slice pumpkin into 1-inch pieces.

 

Boiling the Pumpkin:

 

1. Add pumpkin and water to pot. Heat until boiling.
2. Reduce heat and cook pumpkin until soft for 20-25 mins.

 

Preparing the Rice Flour Mixture:

 

1. Mix glutinous rice flour and water, blend until smooth, then cook with pumpkin.

 

Pureeing the Pumpkin:

 

1. Once the pumpkin is tender, mash it until smooth.

 

Cooking the Porridge:

 

1. Mix pumpkin puree with rice flour on low heat while stirring.
2. Stir on low heat until thickened, 10-15 minutes. Boil the liquid gently by adjusting the temperature.

 

Sweetening the Porridge:

 

1. Stir porridge with sugar for even spread. Sweeten as prefer with more sugar.
2. Add salt, stir till sugar dissolves.

 

Serving and Toppings:

 

1. Serve hot pumpkin porridge and adjust consistency with water if desired.
2. Enhance porridge with sesame seeds, red beans, peanuts or cinnamon.

 

 

Tips:

 

 

• Use butternut squash or sweet pumpkin if you cannot find Korean pumpkin.
• Mix pumpkin puree with a blender or immersion blender for smoothness.
• Adjust porridge's sweetness to your liking. Some like it sweet, others mild.
• Add persimmons, pine nuts, or honey for unique flavor.

 

 

Well done! You've made a delicious Korean Pumpkin Porridge called Hobakjuk. It's a comforting dish, perfect for cold days. Experience Korean cuisine and enjoy delicious recipes for a memorable gastronomic adventure. Happy cooking!