Four Ways To Use A Korean Dolsot Bowl (2024)

Four Ways To Use A Korean Dolsot Bowl (1)

The dolsot bowl is synonymous with Korean dining- almost every traditional Korean restaurant menu is replete with stewsand rice dishes served from the searingly hot stone bowls. Soups and jiggaestews are served stillbubbling at the table,and if you listen carefully you can hear the rice crackling against the hot stone in bibimbap rice dishes. Here are four ideas for what to do you with your dolsot bowl.

Dolsot Bibimbap, of course!

Bibimbap or bibim-bap is one of Korea’s most famous meals. ‘Bibim’ means mixed, ‘bap’ means rice, and the dish is exactly that – a layer of rice, with meat and vegetable garnishes, stirred together at the table.

Bibimbap can be served in a searingly hot stone bowl (a dolsot) making it crisp, other times a large brass or stainless steel bowl.Recipes vary from region to region, though the dish is instantly recognisable by the large bowl and colourful ingredients. See our beginner's guide to bibimbap here.

Four Ways To Use A Korean Dolsot Bowl (2)

Dolsot bibimbap topped with a fried egg

Cooking Korean 5-grain rice

Five grain rice is a special dish. Odd numbers are propitious, and the different grains in the dish are chosen for their health-giving properties. For example red beans are thought to be good for weight loss, black beans for shiny hair, and rice to heal the stomach - 'food is medicine and medicine is food'. Beans and pulses are cooked first in a saucepan, and the rice pre-soaked. When all the individual grains are prepared, they are added to the dolsot in order of cooking time over a medium flame. Cover and leave to simmer until done.

Four Ways To Use A Korean Dolsot Bowl (3)

Healthy Korean five grain rice cooked in a dolsot bowl

Make a doenjang jiggae stew

Stews are hugely popular in Korea - they are coolingin summer and warming inwinter. A good portion of a restaurant menu may be devoted to stews or jiggae, as they are better known. Jiggae are served in the centre of a table withsteamed rice on the side, and a number of banchan vegetables side dishes, plus kimchi of course.

Four Ways To Use A Korean Dolsot Bowl (4)

Restaurant menu in the street - with stews served in dolsot bowl

The famous Korean soybean paste, similar to Japanese miso - is a popular umami-rich soup base. The base of doenjang jiggaeis prepared from a vegetable stock made in advance, with Korean leeks or spring onions, daikon or white radish,kombu sheets,and green and red chilli. The strainedvegetable stock is added to the dolsot over a low flame, along with small cubes of potato, courgette and mushrooms -added in order of required cooking time. A spoonful of doenjang is stirred intowards the end of cooking.

Four Ways To Use A Korean Dolsot Bowl (5)

Doenjang jigae stew - a light and hearty vegetable broth enriched with umami-rich doenjang soybean paste

Cook ssamgyetang - chicken & gingseng soup

This is the ultimate Summer dish in South Korea. On the hottest day of the year, customerswill queue for 2-3 hours at restaurants acrossSeoul waiting for their chance to eat the hot soup. To make samgyetang,asmallchicken is poached directly in the dolsot bowl in anaromatic stock, rich in energy-giving ginseng.

Four Ways To Use A Korean Dolsot Bowl (6)

Samgyetang - ginseng and chicken soup, poached in a dolsot bowl

If you're cooking traditional Korean food, make sure you've got the essential store cupboard staple, gochujang. Buy it here now!

Four Ways To Use A Korean Dolsot Bowl (2024)

FAQs

How to use Korean bowl? ›

Korean Stone Bowl (Dolsot):

Evenly coat each Korean stone bowl with sesame oil. Spread rice evenly around each bowl (use a wooden spoon or spatula, as the bowls will be hot), then place them directly on the stove on medium-low heat.

What can you cook in a dolsot bowl? ›

Here are four ideas for what to do you with your dolsot bowl.
  • Dolsot Bibimbap, of course! Bibimbap or bibim-bap is one of Korea's most famous meals. ...
  • Cooking Korean 5-grain rice. Five grain rice is a special dish. ...
  • Make a doenjang jiggae stew. ...
  • Cook ssamgyetang - chicken & gingseng soup.
Sep 30, 2014

Why do Koreans use stone bowls? ›

These bowls are quite sturdy and due to the natural stone, they conserve and conduct heat very well. The bowls can be heated on the stovetop (gas, electric, or glass), and can be put in the oven.

Can you use Korean stone bowl on stove? ›

You can heat the bowls on top of the stove.

How do you properly use a bowl? ›

Slide your packed bowl into the downstem of your bong. Next, use your heating element to ignite the buds. At the same time, put your mouth to the mouthpiece and start pulling in with your lungs. If done correctly, you'll see smoke start to travel down into the base and bubble through the water.

How do you use a Chinese water bowl? ›

Rub the handles with the Palms of your hand (not your fingers). It works best if you have on hand go forward while the other goes backward. Once you feel the bowl start to resonate, you can press down harder and go faster. The harder you press, the higher the water spouts.

What does dolsot mean in Korean? ›

A dolsot (Korean: 돌솥; lit. "stone pot") or gopdolsot (곱돌솥; lit. "agalmatolite pot") is a small-sized piece of cookware or serveware made of agalmatolite, suitable for one to two servings of bap (cooked rice).

How do you clean a dolsot bowl? ›

Care of the bowl

We would advise filling the bowl with water, a couple of tablespoons of salt and one tablespoon of vinegar. Gradually bring the mix to the boil and allow it to simmer for a couple of minutes. The will ensure your dolsot is squeaky clean and ready for your first meal.

Do Koreans lift their bowls? ›

Lifting your rice or soup bowl to eat is considered impolite. Instead, leave it on the table and use your spoon to bring the food to your mouth.

Why do Koreans drink out of a bowl? ›

Koreans believed drinking etiquette is important. When people become of age to drink alcohol, they are taught how to drink with other people by elders, because Korean ancestors thought that pouring and receiving drinks was important over the bowl.

How long does it take to heat dolsot? ›

Heating the dolsot

The stone needs to be gradually heated, start with a low heat for at least 5 minutes, then turn up the temperature until you are at the optimum heat for cooking. Heating the stone too quickly can cause cracks and chips.

How to care for a Korean stone bowl? ›

For cleaning, avoid using the dishwasher, hand washing is recommended by adding coarse salt and boiling water, and use hard bristles brush to scrub the pot.

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