From Seoul To Your Stove: Here’s How To Make Bungeoppang, Korea’s Sweet Street Snack

Korean culture has gained worldwide popularity, whether it’s music, movies, TV shows, or delicious food. Bungeoppang is a sweet-smelling, hot, crispy pastry that’s popular in Korea during the winter. This street food may be familiar to K-drama viewers from shows such as ‘Vincenzo.’ BTS members such as RM and J-Hope also love this dessert. The crucian fish is known as “bungeo” in Korean. This dish inspired this dessert. The Korean word “Ppang,” which means bread, is “Ppang.” In Japan, this dessert is known as Taiyaki. Traditionally, the pasty is stuffed with the Asian-style sweetened red bean filling. If you prefer other flavors, you can use chocolate, peanut butter, custard, etc.

What Does Bungeoppang Taste Like?

Bungeoppang is a sweet and light dish that tastes best when it’s freshly baked. It has a crispy outer layer and a creamy and hot filling on the inside.

How the fish-shaped bread came to Korea

Taiyaki, the fish-shaped bread, was invented in Japan in 1909. Seijiro Kbe created it to make a rich and luxurious food experience accessible to everyone. In the 1930s, the dessert was brought to Korea, and the shape changed from that of a sea bream to a carp.

What is the difference between Taiyaki and Bungeoppang?

The shape and name of the fish are the main differences between Japanesetaiyaki and Korean bungeoppang. Taiyaki was inspired by “tai,” the Japanese word for sea bream. “Bungeo,” or crucian carp, is the Korean word for this fish.
There may be slight differences in taste. Taiyaki is usually filled with traditional ingredients like sweet potatoes, red beans, and custard. Bungeoppang is a modern version of Bungeoppang, featuring fillings such as chocolate and peanut butter and even savory choices like ham or cheese.

How To Make Bungeoppang At Home

You can make this easy dessert at home for those who love to experiment with new foods and can’t go to Korea or cannot find it in any Korean store or cafe. Finding a fish-shaped pan or mold is the only problem. It’s similar to a waffle iron. The rest is simple once you find the fish-shaped mold/pan. You can use whatever filling you want. It is easier to cook if the fillings are more solid than runny.