The Sundae 순대 is one of the most popular street food specialties of South Korea (and North), ready to be eaten at the street stalls or in the various restaurants. It is a stuffed blood sausage appreciated by the local population.
Sundae 순대 recipe
The typical Korean food is usually made by filling the intestines of a cow or a pig with dangmyeons 당면 (transparent noodles), offal and pig’s blood. Everything then steamed or boiled in a pot giving the Sundae 순대 a solid consistency similar to the sausage.
But there are many varieties of the typical Asian delicacy, usually based on the province in which they are cooked, where for example instead of noodles rice is placed, or ingredients such as tofu, kimchi, garlic, beans, seafood, or perilla leaves are added. Sometimes a whole and emptied squid is used instead of the intestine.
History of Sundae 순대
The origin of the Korean blood sausage recipe dates back to Goryeo period (918–1392), where it was prepared using minced meat and consumed during the holidays, to celebrate special occasions and at family banquets. During the war, the meat filling was replaced by dangmyeon 당면: transparent noodles (also called Cellophane noodles or Glass noodles) made of sweet potato starch in South Korea, but which can also be made using potato starches or beans. The Sundae 순대 became a rather inexpensive snack that is now found in traditional restaurants and markets or in all pojangmacha 포장 마차, the stalls that serve Korean street food, usually protected under orange tents.
How to eat the Sundae 순대
It is eaten by mixing the slices of the sausage in a little bit of salt and pepper, or in the Busan style with ssamjang sauce and green chili. Usually, it is accompanied by boiled liver or tteokbokki (rice cake cut into small cylinders and cooked in very hot spicy sauce).
The Sundae 순대 can also be the main ingredient of the Sundaeguk soup (순대국).
Sundae 순대: Conclusions
Poor and widespread dish, eaten at every hour of the day and night by the local population, especially consumed in the pojangmacha 포장 마차, the stalls that you can find everywhere in the Korean cities.
The taste is intense but pleasant, it has no particular odors or flavors that cannot please, obviously it depends on your personal taste. Although not really popular with tourists, I suggest you try it at least once: it’s a perfect and cheap snack!
Obviously, it is not suitable for vegetarians or vegans.
