Korean Banchan Is A Delicious Way To Meal-Prep In A Flash

Home-cooked meals are a nice ideal, but the reality is most of our lives are way too hectic to facilitate cooking from scratch every night. Meal prepping is often recommended as a way of getting ahead of the time crunch, by cooking a ton of food when there is free time often on the weekend. Losing a chunk of your time off to prepare food for the week doesn't always feel like a win, but there's a way to meal prep without sacrificing time: Korean banchan. Banchan are the small side dishes that accompany the main part of the meal.

Kimchi is probably the most recognizable example of banchan, but there's an almost overwhelming array of side plates and condiments to explore beyond pickled cabbage. Banchan offers something for everyone — it's just a matter of discovering dishes you like (which can be a lot of fun). Incorporating some Korean banchan into your meal prep will save you time without sacrificing variety and taste.

Banchan is a key component of the meal, maybe even more important than rice. Banchan naturally lend themselves to meal prep, as many of the dishes require time to ferment and can be made ahead of time. In her book, "The Korean Vegan," author, blogger and TikToker Joanne Lee Molinaro explains that "the vast majority of banchan are pickled and, in fact, some of them are not designed to be eaten immediately (like kimchi!)."

Not everyone is a fan of kimchi, but when it comes to pickled plates, there's something for everyone. If fermented cabbage isn't your scene, some lightly pickled cucumbers are a yummy alternative. Pickled perilla leaf is also common with its bright flavor and green color.

That said, banchan includes more than just kimchi and pickled vegetables. Roasted root vegetables and mushrooms often make an appearance. Pancakes are popular, being made with scallions, sweet potatoes, or mung beans. Perilla leaf pancakes are another popular banchan, emphasizing the flavor of the plant that's native to Asia.

Salads are represented too, highlighting produce like Brussels sprouts, kale, and seaweed. The best thing about banchan is the flexibility — you can build a meal from whatever dishes you like most.

Making banchan ahead of time is one way of maximizing its utility in meal prep. There's an even better way, and that's premade banchan. Kimchis, salads, and pancakes are often readily available at the local Korean market. Picking up premade dishes from the Korean market saves all that prep time and is a fresh way to put together an easy meal.

Another place to find ready-made banchan is H-Mart. If you're unfamiliar, H-Mart represents the largest chain of Korean markets in the U.S. It's an amazing store for many reasons, one being that they have an extensive menu of prepared sides as well as marinated meats ready for grilling.

Along with various banchan options, like pancakes and salads, the store boasts a robust lineup of noodles, produce, and mandu (Korean dumplings). It's an excellent place to stock up on supplies to build meals throughout the week and it makes preparing work lunches a breeze.