A delicious verve of heat runs through Korean recipes. The cuisine is as rich as it is communal, with meals often beginning with many side dishes known as banchan. Korean recipes are often accompanied by kimchi, a spicy fermented vegetable dish mostly consisting of cabbage and root vegetables and spicy seasoning. If you're feeling experimental, try making doenjang jjigae, a fermented soybean stew with a delicious combination of spices, vegetables, and tofu. Although the soybean stew is a great vegetarian option, Korean food is defined by meat. Whether it's double-fried chicken, a spicy pork belly stir fry, or classic kalbi beef ribs, Korean meat is a mouthwatering ingredient in the country's tastiest meals. To start, we've rounded up our favorite Korean recipes so you can enjoy the food of this fiery peninsula.