4leafsclover

[4leafsclover]

My friends enjoyed Korean Culture with their first hanbok experience. I love how these traditional Korean attire shown in so many historical films and series.

[4leafsclover]

Title : Hwajeon in Korean Culture

Hwajeon is a traditional cake that is not only served at the birth of Buddha but also served at the Samjitnal celebration which, according to the lunar calendar, is celebrated on March 3 as a sign of the beginning of spring. It is said that the origin of making hwajeon originated from a tradition during the Goryeo Dynasty where they celebrated spring while enjoying this dish.

Like a work of art, this cake which has the basic ingredients of rice flour has such a beautiful appearance as it is decorated with various types of edible flowers. Generally, Koreans make hwajeon using Korean Azalea flowers or also called jindalae kkot (진달래꽃). Due to my curiosity about the taste of hwajeon, I tried to make it myself.

First, I prepared the main ingredients for hwajeon, which included 100 grams of glutinous rice flour and 1/4 teaspoon of salt which I mixed thoroughly and added hot water little by little. By using this method, after I added the hot water the dough became slightly cooked. Next, I kneaded the dough several times until it became evenly mixed. Then I divided the dough into several small ball shapes, flattened them to resemble small pancakes, and then decorated them with the edible flowers. Since I couldn't find Korean azaleas, I replaced them with other types of edible flowers.

In Korea, hwajeon is usually cooked using the traditional beoncheol (번철) wok, but you can also cook it with what you have available in your own kitchen, such as a flat wok. The next step is to heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a pan, then fry each hwajeon in a medium heat until the underside is lightly browned. Flip each hwajeon for only 3 seconds so the flowers don't burn. The final step is to place on an absorbent kitchen tissue to absorb any excess oil and then serve on a plate. You can also add a sprinkle of sugar or serve the hwajeon with honey for dipping for a sweeter taste.

This was my first experience of making hwajeon. I didn't expect the process of making this beautiful cake to be so easy. For those of you who are curious about hwajeon, you can try making it yourself at home. Since it looks beautiful, this traditional Korean cake is perfect to be served on special day celebrations.