Naengmyeon

Description

It is enough to read this combination of ingredients to make a gourmet salivate: buckwheat and starch noodles placed into a cool beef broth accompanied by pickled radish, slices of hard-boiled eggs, and Korean pear, all of the ingredients seasoned with mustard and vinegar. That's naengmyeon, a cold noodle soup and a favorite summertime treat in Korea. In the past, the dish was typically consumed during winter with radish kimchi, obtained from the pots buried in the yard where kimchi was left to ferment. Buckwheat noodles originate from North Korea, since it was the main production center of buckwheat, but after the Korean War, the dish became popular throughout the country and was consumed regardless of the season. According to local customs (and a bit of superstition), these long noodles should be consumed without cutting, as they are a symbol of good health and longevity. More than just a flavorful dish, naengmyeon is a cultural and gastronomical bridge between two divided Korean countries.