What does it taste like?
Bright and acidic.
Pantry
Vinegar
식초
Common aliases
vinegar · rice vinegar · white vinegar
What is Vinegar?
A practical Korean cooking ingredient used to build balanced flavor and texture in everyday dishes such as rice meals, soups, stews, and banchan.
How is it used?
Season salads, dipping sauces, and pickles.
Where can you buy it?
Unseasoned rice vinegar is mild and versatile.
How should you store it?
Keep sealed at room temperature.
Possible substitutes
Apple cider vinegar works but adds fruitiness.
Recipes using Vinegar
Side Dishes
Chilled Eggplant Soup(가지나물냉국)
Steamed eggplant is seasoned with chilies, scallions, garlic, and soy sauce, then served in a chilled kelp broth sharpened with two kinds of vinegar.
View recipe
Side Dishes
Fresh Lettuce Salad(상추 겉절이)
Crisp lettuce, chives, onion, and red chili lightly tossed in a tangy plum, soy sauce, chili, and sesame dressing.
View recipe
Side Dishes
Fresh-Seasoned Eggplant Kimchi(가지겉절이)
Tender eggplant is lightly salted with fish soy sauce, squeezed dry, and tossed with onion, scallions, chilies, and a tangy gochujang seasoning before a short rest.
View recipe
Rice Dishes
Grilled Brown Rice Balls with Hijiki(구운 주먹밥)
Savory brown rice balls mixed with seasoned hijiki, coated with crushed seaweed and egg, then grilled in a pan.
View recipe
Side Dishes
Potato and Yam Pancakes(마감자전)
Grated potato and yam are mixed with onion and glutinous rice flour, pan-fried into round pancakes, and served with a tangy soy dipping sauce.
View recipe
Side Dishes
Seasoned Sweet Potato Stems(고구마순나물)
Blanched sweet potato stems and onion tossed in a creamy doenjang and tofu dressing with black sesame, vinegar, sugar, and sesame oil.
View recipe
Side Dishes
Seaweed and Soybean Pancakes(물파래콩전)
Savory pan-fried pancakes made with fresh green seaweed and finely ground yellow soybeans, served with a tangy soy dipping sauce.
View recipe
Side Dishes
Spicy Whelk Salad(골뱅이무침)
Whelk tossed with cucumber, onion, water parsley, perilla leaves, and a tangy low-sodium chili-vinegar sauce.
View recipe
Side Dishes12 min
Spicy Cucumber Salad(오이무침)
A crisp, quick cucumber banchan tossed in a bright gochugaru, vinegar, garlic, and sesame dressing.
EasyMild
View recipe