Start with the basics
Gochujang, soy sauce, sesame oil, rice and kimchi are enough for many simple Korean meals.
Ingredient guide
Korean ingredients in Germany: what to buy and how to use them
Find the Korean pantry basics I use in Germany, with practical shopping tips, substitutions and recipe ideas for everyday Korean cooking.
Shop realistically
Many ingredients are easiest at Asian supermarkets or online, while vegetables, rice and pantry basics often work from regular German supermarkets.
Substitute carefully
Not every ingredient can be replaced perfectly. These guides explain what works, what tastes different and when the original is worth buying.
For beginners
The most useful Korean ingredients
These are the ingredients that help most when you want to cook Korean food regularly.
Yangjo Ganjang
Brewed Soy Sauce, 양조간장
Yangjo Ganjang is one of the types of soy sauce used in Korean cuisine. It can be confusing to choose the right soy sauc...
Dangmyeon
Korean glass noodles
Dangmyeon (Korean glass noodles) can also often be found at Go Asia or other Asian markets. While there are also glass n...
Soy sauce
Jin-Ganjang
In Korea, there is a wide variety of soy sauces. It’s difficult to introduce all of them, but I’d like to explain a few ...
Doenjang
Korean soybean paste, 된장
Doenjang, like gochujang and soy sauce, is one of the essential ingredients in Korean cooking. In rural areas, people of...
Rice
It’s great to buy Korean rice if possible, but that’s not always an option. I usually use Milchreis, which I get from st...
Gochugaru
Korean chili powder
Gochugaru (koreanisches Chilipulver) ist etwas schwieriger zu beschaffen, denn in Korea bevorzugt man oft das Chilipulve...
Gochujang
koreanische Chilipaste
There are also many variations of gochujang (Korean chili paste), such as mild or spicy. The gochujang sold in Germany i...
Kimchi Stir-fry
김치볶음
When I really don’t feel like cooking, this Kimchi stir-fry is my lifesaver! Pair it with a fried egg (and some seaweed ...
Shopping in Germany
Where to buy Korean ingredients
Asia-Markt
Best for gochujang, doenjang, gochugaru, kimchi, rice cakes, fish cakes and dried pantry ingredients.
REWE / Edeka / Lidl
Useful for rice, vegetables, tofu, eggs, meat, spring onions and simple substitutes.
Online
Helpful for specific brands, larger packs and ingredients you cannot easily find locally.
My favorites
Want to see what I actually use?
In my favorites, I collect ingredients, products, and kitchen basics I buy myself or use in everyday cooking.
All ingredients
Korean ingredients and practical alternatives
Browse the ingredients I use in my recipes.
Yangjo Ganjang
Brewed Soy Sauce, 양조간장
Yangjo Ganjang is one of the types of soy sauce used in Korean cuisine. It can be confusing to choose the right soy sauc...
Dangmyeon
Korean glass noodles
Dangmyeon (Korean glass noodles) can also often be found at Go Asia or other Asian markets. While there are also glass n...
Soy sauce
Jin-Ganjang
In Korea, there is a wide variety of soy sauces. It’s difficult to introduce all of them, but I’d like to explain a few ...
Doenjang
Korean soybean paste, 된장
Doenjang, like gochujang and soy sauce, is one of the essential ingredients in Korean cooking. In rural areas, people of...
Rice
It’s great to buy Korean rice if possible, but that’s not always an option. I usually use Milchreis, which I get from st...
Gochugaru
Korean chili powder
Gochugaru (koreanisches Chilipulver) ist etwas schwieriger zu beschaffen, denn in Korea bevorzugt man oft das Chilipulve...
Gochujang
koreanische Chilipaste
There are also many variations of gochujang (Korean chili paste), such as mild or spicy. The gochujang sold in Germany i...
pickled green chili peppers
You can, of course, enjoy them on their own, but the spicy flavor is especially great for Korean dishes. I've only tried...
Kimchi Stir-fry
김치볶음
When I really don’t feel like cooking, this Kimchi stir-fry is my lifesaver! Pair it with a fried egg (and some seaweed ...
Minced garlic
In Korea, minced garlic is incredibly easy to find, as it’s sold in convenient packaging – after all, it’s a staple in K...
Chamsauce
참소스
Chamsauce is a sauce that was originally mainly served in Korean BBQ restaurants. It was so delicious that meat lovers b...
Jungmyeon
Medium Noodle, 중면
Somen and jungmyeon are two types of noodles often used in Korean cuisine. Somen is thin and cooks quickly, making it pe...
Somen
Korean Thin Noodles, 소면
Somen and jungmyeon are two types of noodles often used in Korean cuisine. Somen is thin and cooks quickly, making it pe...
Black bean paste (chunjang):
In Germany, you can easily find this product at the well-known Asian market 'Go Asia,' as well as at other Korean grocer...
Breadcrumbs
This breadcrumbs product is sold by a Korean bakery brand called Samlip. I was surprised to easily find this product in ...
Udon noodles
I usually use this brand's udon noodles. I tend to avoid frozen udon noodles since they take time to defrost. So far, I ...
Tempura flour
You can find Sempio, Gom Pyo, and Baeksul frying mix at Asian markets. They are all high-quality brands.
Dried seaweed
miyeok
You can often find dried seaweed at Asian markets in Germany. I usually buy the Ottogi and Chung Jung One brands—both ar...
Tuna Fish Sauce
참치액젓
Tuna fish sauce is a traditional Korean seasoning made by fermenting tuna with salt. It has a milder and slightly sweete...
Pizza dough
I first bought this pizza dough from Lidl, and to my surprise, it worked perfectly for making Hotteok, a classic Korean ...
Jongga Kimchi
In Germany, there are many people who make their own kimchi, and I plan to introduce a kimchi recipe as well. However, i...
Kimbap seaweed
gim
At Asian or Korean markets in Germany, you can often find kimbap seaweed from brands like Chung Jung One and Gwangcheon ...
Saeu-Jeot
Salted shrimp
Salted shrimp, or saeu-jeot, is a traditional Korean ingredient made by fermenting small shrimp with salt. It has a salt...
Anchovy Fish Sauce
Anchovy fish sauce is a traditional Korean ingredient made by fermenting anchovies with salt. It has a strong umami fla...
Danmuji
pickled radish
Danmuji (pickled radish) is crunchy, sweet, and tangy, making it a perfect pairing with kimbap. It’s also a great side d...
Sushi rice
When making Korean kimbap, using Milchreis (commonly used for rice in Germany) can be tricky because the grains tend to ...
Mirin Marukin
This product is quite easy to find in Germany: Mirin Marukin from Japan. It can be used as a substitute for Korean cooki...
Matsul
similar to Cooking wine
Matsul (Korean cooking wine) is an essential ingredient in Korean cuisine. It is commonly used to remove unpleasant odor...
Oyster sauce
The most widely used oyster sauce brand in Korea is Lee Kum Kee, a Chinese brand. I also frequently use this oyster sauc...
Kelp
Dashima
Korea is surrounded by the sea on three sides, making it easy to access fresh seafood. As a result, many dishes use seaf...
Ostmann Cayennepfeffer gemahlen
In reality, we can’t always have Korean ingredients on hand, right? Let me introduce a chili powder that works well for ...
Spam
In Korea, spam is mainly produced by CJ in partnership with the American company Hormel and is sold under the name "Spam...
Corn syrup
Korean marts also sell "Korean corn syrup," but I often buy "Alnatura Bio Rice Syrup," which is more easily available.
Plum extract
매실청
In Korea, "maesil" (green plums) are often used to make maesil syrup, which is widely used in cooking. I usually buy thi...
Chicken Stock
I think it suits Korean cooking well. Some other products have a strong turmeric (curry) flavor, so the product sold at ...
Beef stock powder
In Korean cuisine, beef stock or sagol-gomtang (beef bone soup) is commonly used. Of course, if you have access to Korea...
Cocoa powder
Actually, there are other cocoa powder products available, but I mainly use this brand.
Dark chocolate chips
For chocolate chip cookies, chocolate chips with a high cocoa content seem to work better. I mainly use this product.
Daepa
Grenn Onion
Green onions are the closest equivalent to Korean daepa (대파). They are thicker and longer than scallions and have a simi...
Korean soup soy sauce
Guk-Ganjang
Guk-Ganjang (Korean soup soy sauce) can be purchased at Asian markets. In Germany, products from the brands "Sempio" and...
La Monegasque Sesame Oil
참기름
La Monegasque Sesame Oil is a sesame oil that I can easily buy in Germany. Based on my personal taste, there is no diffe...
Ottogi Sesame Oil
참기름
Ottogi Sesame Oil is also a sesame oil that is frequently used by many Koreans. In Korea, sesame oil is often pressed di...
Azuki bean paste
A sweet paste made from azuki beans, commonly used in Korean desserts. You can make anko (azuki bean paste) directly fro...
Azuki beans
Azuki beans are usually available at Edeka, Rewe, and Amazon. Substitute: If azuki beans are not available, peas or kidn...