Gochujang Fried Rice, with its spicy and bold Korean flavors, pairs beautifully with "Crying in H Mart" by Michelle Zauner, a heartfelt memoir that explores Korean-American identity and family through the lens of food. Complement this culinary journey with a Korean Soju Cocktail, whose refreshing and slightly sweet notes balance the heat of the dish. Together, they create a harmonious experience where food, drink, and literature converge, making for a richly satisfying book club discussion or intimate dinner setting.
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked white rice (preferably day-old)
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 carrot, diced
- 1 bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 cup frozen peas
- 2 tablespoons gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 2 green onions, sliced
- 2 eggs
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Sesame seeds (for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare the Ingredients:
- If the rice is clumped together, gently break it apart with your hands or a fork.
- Mix the gochujang with soy sauce in a small bowl to create a sauce.
- Cook the Vegetables:
- In a large skillet or wok, heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil over medium-high heat.
- Add the chopped onion and cook until it becomes translucent, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add the minced garlic, diced carrot, and bell pepper. Stir-fry for about 5 minutes until the vegetables are tender.
- Add the frozen peas and cook for another 2 minutes.
- Add the Rice and Sauce:
- Push the vegetables to one side of the skillet and add the remaining 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil to the other side.
- Add the rice to the skillet and stir-fry for a few minutes until it’s heated through.
- Pour the gochujang and soy sauce mixture over the rice and vegetables. Stir well to coat everything evenly with the sauce.
- Drizzle with sesame oil and mix in the sliced green onions. Cook for another 2-3 minutes.
- Fry the Eggs:
- In a separate non-stick pan, heat a little oil over medium heat. Crack the eggs into the pan and cook until the whites are set but the yolks are still runny, about 3-4 minutes.
- Serve:
- Divide the gochujang fried rice into bowls and top each with a fried egg.
- Garnish with sesame seeds and additional green onions if desired.
Crying in H Mart
A powerful memoir from Michelle Zauner, 'Crying in H Mart' explores themes of identity, family, and the deep cultural connection found through food. The book beautifully depicts the author’s relationship with her mother, her Korean heritage, and the ways in which Korean cuisine provides solace and understanding during her journey of loss and self-discovery.
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the indie rock sensation known as Japanese Breakfast, an unforgettable memoir about family, food, grief, love, and growing up Korean American—“in losing her mother and cooking to bring her back to life, Zauner became herself” (NPR). • CELEBRATING OVER ONE YEAR ON THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER LIST In this exquisite story of family, food, grief, and endurance, Michelle Zauner proves herself far more than a dazzling singer, songwriter, and guitarist. With humor and heart, she tells of growing up one of the few Asian American kids at her school in Eugene, Oregon; of struggling with her mother's particular, high expectations of her; of a painful adolescence; of treasured months spent in her grandmother's tiny apartment in Seoul, where she and her mother would bond, late at night, over heaping plates of food. As she grew up, moving to the East Coast for college, finding work in the restaurant industry, and performing gigs with her fledgling band–and meeting the man who would become her husband–her Koreanness began to feel ever more distant, even as she found the life she wanted to live. It was her mother's diagnosis of terminal cancer, when Michelle was twenty-five, that forced a reckoning with her identity and brought her to reclaim the gifts of taste, language, and history her mother had given her. Vivacious and plainspoken, lyrical and honest, Zauner's voice is as radiantly alive on the page as it is onstage. Rich with intimate anecdotes that will resonate widely, and complete with family photos, Crying in H Mart is a book to cherish, share, and reread.
Discussion Questions
- How does 'Crying in H Mart' explore the theme of identity, particularly for Korean-Americans?
- Discuss the role food plays in Michelle Zauner's life and in connecting with her heritage.
- How do the author's descriptions of her relationship with her mother evoke emotions in the reader?
- In what ways does the narrative balance moments of grief with humor and joy?
- How does Michelle Zauner's consumption of Korean cuisine act as both an escape and a form of therapy?
- Discuss the significance of 'H Mart' as a setting within the memoir. What does it symbolize for Zauner?
- How does the author use music as a medium to convey deeper emotions and truths about her life?
- What are the key cultural insights that 'Crying in H Mart' provides about Korean customs and family values?
- How does Zauner’s experience of grief transform her perspective on life and relationships?
- Discuss the impact of Zauner's storytelling style — does the personal nature of her narrative enhance your understanding of her journey?
Authors:
Michelle Zauner
ISBN: 0525657746
Publisher: Knopf
Published Date: 2021-04-20
Korean Soju Cocktail
This Korean Soju Cocktail is a refreshing and subtly sweet drink that brings out the spicy, savory notes in Gochujang Fried Rice. Made with soju, lime juice, simple syrup, and a splash of soda, it complements the meal perfectly while offering a crisp, cleansing feeling to balance the dish’s richness.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces soju
- 1 ounce lime juice
- 1/2 ounce simple syrup
- Splash of club soda
- Lime wheel, for garnish
Instructions
- Fill a shaker with ice and add soju, lime juice, and simple syrup.
- Shake well to combine until chilled.
- Strain into a glass filled with ice.
- Top with a splash of club soda.
- Garnish with a lime wheel before serving.