Jat juk[Pine Nut Porridge]

Everyone loves Jat-juk (pine nut porridge) because of its velvety texture and fragrant smell. This porridge was once reserved as a restorative food for the sick or elderly, or as breakfast for important guests, not only because of its aromatic and nutty flavor, but also because pine nuts were a rare and expensive ingredient.

Velvety Smooth with Pine Nut Fragrance

In the royal palace, the King and the Queen were served with a bowl of different Juks in bed as a pre-breakfast (Jari-joban) on days they did not receive herbal tonics. Jatjuk was considered to be the best of all porridges. Although this dish often appears in documents from the Joseon Dynasty, its origin has never been traced. Two or three parts pine nuts to one part rice is used to make Jatjuk. In order to enhance the flavor of the pine nuts, the pine nuts and rice should be finely ground beforehand. When boiling, a wooden spoon or paddle must be used for stirring, because otherwise the porridge can quickly turn watery. This will also happen if salt is added before serving. Pine nuts are already rich in protein and healthy fats, but some people add roasted sesame seeds to further enhance the flavor. Buddhist monks who are on vegetarian fasts or go days without sleep often eat Jatjuk, served with Dongchimi (radish water kimchi), to increase energy and restore lost appetite. When making Jatjuk, the rice and pine nuts should be separately puréed with water. The clear liquids from the rice purée and pine nut purée are poured off, combined, and boiled together. Then the rice sediment is added followed by the pine nut sediment. The mixture is cooked until it reaches a thick consistency.

Heugimja-juk, the Elixer of Youth

Along with Jatjuk, Heugimja-juk (black sesame and rice porridge) is another popular breakfast dish. It was also served as a pre-breakfast to the King. Black sesame is rich in vitamin E and lecithin, which are antioxidants and help keep the skin youthful. Perhaps this was why Heugimja-juk was an important diet of the Hwarang (elite youth corps) warriors of the Silla Kingdom, as they placed great importance on grooming.