사찰음식 Listen

Temple food (사찰음식)

No meat, no five pungents — a Buddhist kitchen, not a vegan brand.

The five pungents

Temple cooks avoid garlic, onion, chives, green onion, and similar alliums, plus meat and fish. Flavor comes from mushroom, soy, mountain herbs, and fermentation without the usual garlic blast. That is why temple food can taste “quiet” to chili-trained palates. Cook first from namul and rice; do not expect gochujang fireworks.