Emily Kim’s son calls his mom the best cook in the world, and given that she's amassed nearly 4 million subscribers on YouTube, we think he might be on to something.
On this week’s episode of Milk Street Radio, Kim, the cookbook author and YouTube star known as Maangchi, takes us into her kitchen to sample what she calls the best cuisine in the world. As she puts it, “When Korean tourists come to America, they still go to Korean restaurants. Why? Because it’s delicious.” From her tricks for removing an octopus’ intestines (hint: they're in its head) to the joys of kimchi and fried chicken so good a friend would risk anaphylactic shock for it, we discover just what makes Maangchi so beloved.
Get to know Maangchi a little better by watching some of the clips below, and if you like what you see, listen to her conversation with Christopher Kimball here. Then check out her cookbook, “Maangchi's Big Book of Korean Cooking: From Everyday Meals to Celebration Cuisine," for all the recipes below.
Octopus Slices with Sesame Dipping Sauce (Muneo Sukhoe)
“My friends watched my octopus video. They said, ‘Oh my God, I’m so afraid of Maangchi. If I make her angry, she’ll put my head inside out just like the octopus.'” — Maangchi on Milk Street Radio
Bulgogi (Korean BBQ)
Traditional Kimchi (Tongbaechu-Kimchi)
“I went to France, but after three days I got tired of this [food]. I couldn't swallow anything. I needed something spicy! I needed kimchi! Without kimchi, I cannot survive.” — Maangchi on Milk Street Radio
Korean Seaweed Chips (Gim-Bugak)
Crunchy Korean Fried Chicken (Dakgangjeon)
“One of my American friends had never tasted Korean food before he met me. I gave him my Korean fried chicken and he loved it. He has a soy sauce allergy but will take medicine before eating my chicken. He said, ‘Oh, I think you put on some kind of drug. It’s so addictive.’” — Maangchi on Milk Street Radio
Quotes have been edited for clarity.
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