From mustard greens to steamed eggplant: Hanwoo recipes for the changing season

The Hanwoo Self-Sufficiency Fund Management Committee has proposed a set of autumn hanwoo recipes designed to deliver both flavor and nutrition.

As the end of summer approaches, the widening gap between daytime and nighttime temperatures can leave people feeling more fatigued than usual, the committee said Sunday. Incorporating hanwoo into daily meals can help replenish the nutrients needed to stay healthy during the seasonal transition.

Hanwoo rump — a lean cut with relatively low fat content — is the star of hanwoo ginkgo rice, a dish that pairs the beef with autumn ingredients such as ginkgo nuts, jujubes and king oyster mushrooms.

To prepare it, bring soaked rice, water and dried kelp to a boil over high heat. Once the water boils, remove the kelp and place hanwoo rump seasoned with salt, sesame oil, sugar and pepper on top of the rice. When the water begins to reduce, add ginkgo nuts, julienned jujubes and king oyster mushrooms, then steam over low heat for 10 minutes to finish.

Another option is hanwoo steamed eggplant. The dish uses hanwoo outside round, a protein-rich cut packed with lean meat, stuffed inside hollowed-out eggplant and steamed.

To make it, finely mince hanwoo outside round that has been soaked to remove blood, then marinate it in a soy sauce seasoning. Lightly coat the inside of a hollowed eggplant with flour, fill it with the seasoned meat, and steam for about three minutes. Finish with a garnish of sliced green onions.

The third recipe, hanwoo arongsatae mustard green salad, features hanwoo arongsatae — a chewy, tendon-rich shank cut. Boiled arongsatae is tossed with fruits such as apple, pear and sweet persimmon, along with cucumber and bean sprouts, then dressed in a mustard sauce made with pine nut powder and lemon juice.

"Hanwoo is a high-protein food rich in essential amino acids, iron, zinc and a range of other nutrients, making it effective for maintaining health during seasonal transitions," said Hwang In-cheol, an obstetrician and gynecologist.