Korean Pear (Bae)
๋ฐฐbae
Juicy Asian pear โ fruit, tenderizer and sweetener
Bae, the Korean pear, is round, golden-brown and very crisp, with juicy, mildly sweet flesh. Beautiful boxed pears are a classic holiday gift, but the fruit is also a hard-working kitchen ingredient.
- Korean name
- ๋ฐฐ (bae)
- What it is
- Juicy Asian pear โ fruit, tenderizer and sweetener
- Storage
- Wrap pears individually and refrigerate; they keep for weeks.
- Substitute
- Bosc pear or a crisp apple.
- Recipes
- Used in 57 recipes on coo K food
In marinades
Grated pear is a key ingredient in bulgogi and galbi marinades: it adds gentle sweetness and moisture and helps tenderize the meat. Julienned pear is served with yukhoe (seasoned raw beef).
In kimchi and sauces
Blended pear sweetens kimchi paste, the broth of water kimchi and cold noodle broth, and replaces sugar in sauces. Many low-sodium recipes here add grated pear to soften the saltiness of gochujang or soy sauce.
Desserts and drinks
Baesuk is pear poached with peppercorns and ginger, and a pear steamed with honey is a traditional home remedy for coughs. Pear juice also sweetens punches such as omija-hwachae.
๐ง How to store it
Wrap pears individually and refrigerate; they keep for weeks.
๐ Substitutes
Bosc pear or a crisp apple. For tenderizing, a little kiwi works too, but it is much stronger โ marinate for a shorter time.
๐ Where to buy
This is a fresh ingredient, so it is best bought in person at a Korean or pan-Asian grocery store such as H Mart, or through an online Asian grocer that delivers fresh produce in your area. Look for it under its Korean name, ๋ฐฐ (bae).
