This meat-filled dumpling initially remained within the Kaesong region, the former capital of Goryeo, but then it quickly stretched as it became more prominent in the country. Mandu was labeled gyoja or sanghwa until the mid-Joseon Dynasty and was even regarded as a local specialty of the Hamgyong and Pyongan regions since both wheat and buckwheat were generally grown in the northern side.
Mandu is described as a versatile dish as it can be made using a variety of ingredients, from meat and seafood to vegetables. It can also be cooked in different means, including deep-fried or pan-fried, steamed, and boiled. On top of that, it can be used to make a Korean dumpling soup called manduguk ("guk" means 'soup-like dishes). In the Korean royal court, manduguk was named byeongsi, while in the 17th-century cookbook, Eumsik dimibang, the meal was labeled seokryutang.
Manduguk is a well-known Korean soup traditionally prepared on Korean New Year's Day, along with tteokguk (Korean rice cake soup). Koreans, who mostly reside in the northern areas of Korea, thought that eating this dish during such special occasions will bring them good luck, which they believe is wrapped up in the mandu. Thus, they would eat manduguk with their families on the morning of the Lunar New Year and wish each other good health and well-being.
Preparing this soup starts first with the making of the mandu. The dumplings are made by stuffing thin circles of dough with minced pork or beef, vegetables, tofu, and at times kimchi. These wraps will then be boiled in a broth that usually contains anchovies, onions, and shitake mushroom stems. For the finishing touch, beaten eggs are poured over the broth like an egg drop soup to achieve a richer taste and green onions for flavor and ornament.
Besides anchovies, some also use beef stock to make the broth. Others even add tteok, a cylinder-shaped rice cake, to the soup, which is common during New Year, and so calling the dish tteok-mandu-guk (rice cake soup with dumplings).
Have a sip and bite of this tasty Korean dumpling soup in the nearest Korean restaurant near you, or make it yourself at home with the easy-to-follow recipe.
