Name: Squid Game Korean Lunch Box (Dosirak)
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 100 g kimchi; 50 g ham(spam) ((any ham is fine)); 2 eggs; 1 bowl rice; 1 pack seaweed; 1 tsp sesame seeds; 5 tbsp cooking oil; 1 tbsp sesame oil

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Today we’re making the Korean lunch box (Dosirak) 도시락 from the Netflix series Squid Game!

Korean Food In Squid Game

In the Netflix series Squid Game, various Korean foods were showcased. These foods are deeply rooted in Korean culture and represent nostalgic memories for many. Let me introduce them to you below.

Kimbap 김밥

Kimbap appeared as a simple meal provided to the main characters in the game arena. Kimbap is a popular food in Korea, often bought for quick and easy meals. When I was younger, a roll cost only 1,000 KRW and was commonly sold at subway stations. Busy office workers would buy a bun in the morning and eat it for breakfast at work. With its balanced combination of rice and vegetables, it’s a perfectly nutritious meal.

There are hundreds of variations of kimbap, depending on the ingredients you put inside. Below, I’ll share recipes for bibimbap kimbap, made with bibimbap ingredients, and mackerel kimchi kimbap, a protein-rich, flavorful kimbap made with smoked mackerel and kimchi. These recipes are simpler and easier to make than traditional kimbap, so how about trying some delicious kimbap today?

Bibimbap Kimbap

Bibimbap and Kimbap, which do you prefer?🇰🇷 Bibimbap and Kimbap are perfectly balanced meals with a great mix of vegetables and proteins. How about making Bibimbap Gimbap this time, capturing the flavors of Bibimbap in a Gimbap roll? You definitely don't want to miss the special, delicious stir-fried gochujang sauce!

Check out this recipe

Mackerel Kimchi Kimbap

Today’s dish is Mackerel Kimchi Kimbap. I added some kimchi for crunch and to balance the richness of the mackerel. The combination of the nutty, rich mackerel and the crisp, tangy kimchi creates a delicious Mackerel Kimbap.

Check out this recipe

Dosirak (Lunch Box) 도시락

This is the dish we’re going to make today. It’s a nostalgic meal that my parents’ generation used to enjoy – or rather, that only the children of wealthy families could afford. Doesn’t it make your mouth water? I’ll explain in more detail later.

Squid Game Korean Lunch Box (Dosirak) — Photo : netflix

Red Bean Bread (Danpat Ppang) and Milk 단팥빵, 우유

Red bean bread and milk was a popular snack in my parents’ generation. The bread is soft like brioche, filled with sweet red bean paste, and has a wonderfully soft and sweet taste. Paired with milk, it was a very nutritious snack for children. I call it “Dad Bread” (아빠빵) because dads love it the most. Haha. Of course, my dad’s #1 favorite bread is also red bean bread.

Dalgona 달고나

This is a traditional Korean candy. It’s made by melting sugar and adding baking soda to puff it up, and then punching out shapes like triangles, umbrellas, circles, and more. If you cut out the shape perfectly, you can win another Dalgona as a prize.

Traditional Korean Lunch Box

Nowadays, Korean students eat school-provided lunches, but in my parents’ generation, they brought lunch boxes to school. The lunch box in Squid Game is said to represent the lunch that children from wealthy families used to have. At that time, it was about 10 to 20 years after the Korean War, and Korea was going through a very difficult and impoverished time. Some students couldn’t even afford to bring lunch and went hungry. Most of the students packed simple lunches of rice, kimchi, and pickled vegetables.

We call this type of lunch box the “Yetnal Dosirak” (옛날 도시락) which means old-style. It usually consisted of rice, stir-fried kimchi, sausage, and a fried egg in a distinctive metal lunch case. Sometimes other side dishes were added, such as stir-fried anchovies or black bean coated soybeans.

Fake Ham?

The ham used in these old-style lunch boxes was not real ham. Called “pink sausage,” it was made from fish paste and flour, with pink coloring and artificial meat flavoring added to make it look and taste like real sausage. In postwar Korea, even this fake ham was considered a luxury item that only wealthy families could afford.

How to Eat?

The ingredients in the lunch box can be mixed together to make a delicious bibimbap. Close the lid of the lunch box tightly, shake it well so that the rice and ingredients are thoroughly mixed, and then enjoy! This is a tip my father taught me.

Ready in 10 Minutes!

This is a nutrient-packed box full of carbohydrates, protein, and healthy fats, and it only takes 10 minutes to make! It’s so delicious, you’ll want to lick your plate clean!