19 Nov 2021, 11:15
Cultural
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Red light, green light… It’s cooking time!

“Would you like to play a game with me?”
You will need to carve out a shape from a sweet treat. A simple child’s game, right?
That’s what they thought at Netflix’s Squid Game.
But we promise - no red jumpsuits with eerie masks. And no need to fear for your life, either.
Join Sing Kee as we explore the Korean food portrayed in the phenomenon that is Squid Game and learn how to challenge your friends into a game of Ppopgi with Dalgona candy.

The Netflix show that put South Korean food on people’s plates

Whatever your thoughts on Squid Game, there is no denying Netflix’s South Korean drama has got people talking worldwide – and curious about the Korean food displayed on the show. And it is no wonder as food plays a character of its own on Squid Game.
Food is used to show inequality in the form of our main protagonist only affording to buy his daughter Tteokbokki for her birthday. Food is also used to manipulate the unfortunate contestants on Squid Game. A boiled egg for dinner to cause upheaval, a bento box to make the contestants feel like children… and of course, most famously, Dalgona candy as a crucial part of a brutal game.
Yet whatever the context, people around the world are keeping Google busy with their searches for authentic South Korean food.

What is South Korean cuisine like?

Korean food has been influenced by tradition, history, social trends, religion and the natural environment. Koreans have largely relied on products of the land and the sea for centuries. Hence, rice, seafood, soybeans, red beans and other grains are staples in Korean cuisine.
Steaming, stir-frying and braising are commonly used methods of cooking.
In taste, Korean food is spicy and diverse. It contains many seasonings like garlic, ginger, green onion, soy sauce and red pepper paste.
Some popular South Korean dishes are:

Kimchi (spicy pickled cabbage)
Bibimbap (rice dish with sauteed vegetables, beef and egg)
Juk (Korean porridge)
Bulgogi (marinated slices of beef)
Tteokbokki (spicy, stir-fried rice cakes), now made famous by Squid Game.

The use of a bento box (packed meal) is also popular in South Korea.

And then there is Dalgona candy…

The Dalgona Candy challenge the world can’t get enough of

One of the deadly games in Squid Game features the Dalgona Candy challenge - the participants are given a South Korean honeycomb candy and their mission is to carve out the shape on the candy without breaking it.
Unlucky contestants and TikTok at large agree it’s not as easy as it sounds. The Internet and even some restaurants are encouraging people to try their hand at this game of patience.
Now it’s your turn.
Try the Dalgona Candy challenge at home
See how steady your hand is by competing against your friends in the Dalgona Candy challenge. With just two ingredients, Dalgona candy (or Korean honeycomb toffee) is simple to make at home.
Follow our instructions for a nerve-biting evening – with no threat to your life!

Rules of the game:

Carve out the shape (star, triangle, circle or the wretched umbrella) imprinted on the cookie without breaking it using a needle or a toothpick.

Ingredients needed for Dalgona candy:

2 tbsp white, fine-granulated sugar
1 pinch baking soda (1/16 tsp)

How to make Dalgona candy:

Place the sugar on a metal ladle and caramelise it over medium to low heat. Stir constantly with a wooden chopstick.
Add the baking soda and mix well.
Pour the mixture onto baking paper in two equal circles. Press down with an oiled measuring cup to make sure the cookie has a flat, even surface.
Use a cookie cutter to add the intended shape in the centre. Press gently to increase the difficulty level!

How would you have fared in Squid Game?

If you have tried Squid Game’s Dalgona Candy challenge, tag us on our social media and tell us how you would have fared in the controversial Squid Game!