Investigation of Main Dishes on Literatures before the 17th Century

In this treatise, we investigated the Korean literature of main dishes before the 17th century : , , , , , , , , , , and . Main dishes were classified 19 kinds of rice, 64 kinds of gruel, 6 kinds of thin gruel, 1 kind of Moori, 1 kind of rice-cake soup, 37 kinds of noodles and 20 kinds of dumpling. Rice varieties were brown rice, rice, hulled rice, millet rice, foxtail millet rice, barley rice, sesame rice and flax seed rice. Gruel ingredients were cereal, beans, vegetables, nuts or seeds, medical plants or hardy wild plants, poultry, pork's kidney, dog's liver or oyster, clam and/or milk Rice-cake soup was 'Tangbyun' in . Noodles were divided by main flours: wheat flour, buckwheat flour, mung bean flour and other flours. Noodles were made by pressing or cutting method. Pressing method used a mold with a hole. The husk of dumpling was made by wheat flour, buckwheat flour, mixed flour of wheat and buckwheat, sliced fish or meat, and/or a gray mullet. Another special method was 'Sangwha' made by fermentation. Bun stuffing of dumpling used fishes, meat, vegetables, beans, flours and seasonings. Cooking methods of dumpling were boiling, baking, steaming and pan-frying. From this investigation of the Korean main dishes described in the Korean literature before the 17th century, we expect to develop useful recipes for those who are concerned about health and want longevity, and thereby to advance the Korean food culture.