Korean hot pots

Cooks in search of low calorie meals that are stimulating to eat could turn to the Korean hot pot.

The shin sun ro of Korea and the yao horn of Cambodia look like a wok with a chimney soldered on. Hot coals go into this, while the surrounding moat is filled with a flavored broth made from all or most of the following: whole chicken, hambone, pork shoulder, duck carcass, dried seafoods, and oyster liquor. In this are poached by each eater fine slices of raw meat, white fish, shellfish, and a variety of vegetables. These can be dipped into various sauces before being popped into the mouth.

In Cambodia, the food is dropped into cabbage leaves, chilies added, then all rolled up and dipped. Once everything has been cooked, the soup is drunk. All the necessary ingredients can be found, ready sliced and packaged, with dipping sauce, at Lotte Oriental Supermarket, 11790 Parklawn Dr, Rockville, 301 881 3355. Korean Korner, 12207 Viers Mill Rd, Wheaton, 301 933 2000, provides the same service. Annandale Catering is a good source for ready-made Korean dishes and snacks that has a full catering service, as well as stocks of frozen dumplings, 4221 Annandale Center Dr, Annandale, 703 354 4989.

While the Wilson Boulevard is fondly referred to as the Ho Chi Minh trail and is home to many Vietnamese restaurants and markets, Little River Turnpike from the Landmark Mall in Alexandria to Annandale is known for its particular restaurants and markets as Koreatown. A drive along it should satisfy all your appetites for spicy Korean food.

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Korean hot pots
Korean markets, restaurants & bakeries