(W Table)
(W Table)

On Dongji, or the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, Koreans traditionally eat a porridge made with red beans.

This is because in Korean folklore, the long night of Dongji is believed to stir up evil spirits, and red beans ward them off.

Called patjuk, this porridge is now enjoyed throughout the year as a nutritious and hearty one-dish meal, as red beans are rich in protein, essential vitamins and minerals.

Sometimes, chewy rice cake balls known as saealsim or ongsimi are added to the porridge.

(Patjuk, red bean porridge, Korean sweet red bean soup, savory red bean rice porridge)