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Sooki’s Food and Culture Journal: Ideas Worth Sharing, Recipes Worth Making

Why Popcorn and Sooki Sesame Oil Should Get Married
Article

Why Popcorn and Sooki Sesame Oil Should Get Married

Popcorn has a way of revealing who we are. Some people treat it as a casual snack, the sort of thing you mindlessly chew through on a Wednesday night. Others—like my father—approach it with devotio...

ArticleHow Sooki's Sesame Oil Will Keep You Fed During College

How Sooki's Sesame Oil Will Keep You Fed During College

I remember those nights in college — broke, exhausted, and debating whether it was worth the effort to cook or just give in to McDonald’s again. The idea of chopping anything felt like too much. So...

ArticleFrom Ancestral Kitchens to Global Tables: Sesame Oil in Modern Korea

From Ancestral Kitchens to Global Tables: Sesame Oil in Modern Korea

The modernization of Korea in the 20th century transformed sesame oil from a seasonal, labor-intensive household product into a widely available cooking essential. Mechanized pressing, standardized...

ArticleSesame in Korean Family Rituals and Rural Life

Sesame in Korean Family Rituals and Rural Life

As sesame oil became more widely produced during the late Joseon period, its significance shifted from the exclusive domain of courts and temples to the broader sphere of rural and family life. Whi...

ArticleThe Origins of Sesame Oil in Korea

The Origins of Sesame Oil in Korea

Sesame oil holds an unusually long and well-documented place in Korean culinary history, with references stretching back to the Three Kingdoms period. While sesame seeds likely arrived on the penin...

RecipesKimchi and Scallion Focaccia

Kimchi and Scallion Focaccia

A crisp-edged, airy focaccia with a subtle heat and tang from chopped kimchi. The fermented spice seeps into the dough as it bakes, adding depth and color without overpowering. The crumb stays ligh...

RecipesChili Crisp with Fried Garlic

Chili Crisp with Fried Garlic

A fragrant, crunchy chili oil with warmth that builds slowly and a nutty depth from toasted sesame. Made without seed oils, it’s built instead on sesame oil and a touch of olive oil — rich, aromati...