Halal Korean Food Recipes You’ll Want Every Week

Halal Korean Food Recipes You’ll Want Every Week

Halal Korean Recipes You’ll Want Every Week

Craving bold Korean flavors but sticking to a halal diet? You’re not alone. The global love for Korean cuisine is undeniable, and now halal food lovers can fully enjoy it too—without compromising their values. In this blog post, we’ll share delicious halal Korean recipes you’ll want to cook every week. From sizzling bulgogi to hearty kimchi stew, these recipes are tailored for anyone following a halal diet food lifestyle. Let’s dive in.

Why Halal Korean Food Matters

Korean food is known for its rich umami, fermented elements, and protein-packed dishes. However, many classic Korean meals include pork, alcohol-based sauces (like mirin or cooking wine), or non-zabiha meat—all of which aren't suitable for halal eaters. This blog post offers satisfying alternatives without losing the signature taste. All ingredients used are halal-friendly, making these dishes perfect for Muslims or anyone following a halal food plan.

1. Halal Beef Bulgogi (불고기) – Korean BBQ at Home

Ingredients:

  • 500g halal-certified beef ribeye or sirloin, thinly sliced
  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon grated pear (Asian pear or regular)
  • 2 teaspoons minced garlic
  • 1 teaspoon grated ginger
  • 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
  • 1 small onion, thinly sliced
  • 2 spring onions, chopped
  • Black pepper to taste

Recipe:

  1. In a bowl, mix soy sauce, sesame oil, honey, sugar, grated pear, garlic, ginger, and black pepper to make the marinade.
  2. Add the sliced beef, onions, and spring onions. Mix well and marinate for at least 1 hour (overnight preferred).
  3. Heat a non-stick pan or grill over medium-high heat.
  4. Cook the marinated beef in batches until fully cooked and caramelized.
  5. Garnish with sesame seeds and serve with steamed rice and kimchi (see below for halal kimchi).

This recipe is a halal food lover’s dream, offering authentic Korean BBQ flavors without alcohol or pork.

2. Halal Kimchi (김치) – The Staple Side Dish

Ingredients:

  • 1 medium napa cabbage
  • 1/4 cup sea salt
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 3 tablespoons gochugaru (Korean red chili flakes)
  • 1 tablespoon fish sauce (halal-certified) or soy sauce
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon grated ginger
  • 2 spring onions, chopped
  • 1 small carrot, julienned
  • 1 small radish, julienned

Recipe:

  1. Cut the cabbage into quarters and soak in salted water for 2–3 hours. Rinse and drain well.
  2. In a bowl, mix gochugaru, sugar, fish sauce (ensure it’s halal), garlic, ginger, and a bit of water to form a paste.
  3. Add carrot, radish, and spring onions to the paste.
  4. Spread this mixture between cabbage leaves, making sure all layers are coated.Pack into a jar and leave to ferment at room temperature for 1–2 days, then refrigerate.

Kimchi is the soul of Korean cuisine and now a favorite for halal diet food fans. It’s probiotic-rich, spicy, and perfect with every meal.

3. Halal Dakdoritang (닭도리탕) – Spicy Chicken Stew

Ingredients:

  • 1 kg halal chicken (bone-in preferred)
  • 2 potatoes, chopped
  • 1 large carrot, sliced
  • 1 onion, quartered
  • 3 cups water or halal chicken broth
  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon gochujang (halal Korean red chili paste)
  • 2 teaspoons sugar
  • 2 teaspoons sesame oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon grated ginger
  • 2 spring onions, chopped

Recipe:

  1. In a pot, add chicken, water, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and gochujang.
  2. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes.
  3. Add potatoes, carrots, and onions. Cook until vegetables are tender (about 20 more minutes).
  4. Add sugar and sesame oil, adjust seasoning to taste.
  5. Garnish with spring onions and serve hot.

This comforting stew is perfect for colder nights and fits easily into a halal diet food plan.

4. Halal Japchae (잡채) – Glass Noodles with Vegetables

Ingredients:

  • 200g sweet potato starch noodles (dangmyeon)
  • 100g halal beef or chicken, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 onion, sliced
  • 1 carrot, julienned
  • 1 bell pepper, sliced
  • 100g spinach or bok choy
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • Sesame seeds for garnish

Recipe:

  1. Soak and boil the noodles according to package instructions. Drain and cut with scissors.
  2. Sauté the meat with garlic and soy sauce, set aside.
  3. Sauté each vegetable separately in sesame oil for 2–3 minutes each.
  4. Combine everything in a large bowl: noodles, meat, vegetables. Add soy sauce, sugar, and more sesame oil.
  5. Toss well and sprinkle with sesame seeds before serving.

Japchae is a beloved Korean dish that’s light, healthy, and a great halal food option for weeknight dinners.

5. Halal Kimchi Fried Rice (김치볶음밥)

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups cooked cold rice
  • 1 cup halal kimchi, chopped (see recipe above)
  • 1/2 onion, diced
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil
  • 1 teaspoon gochujang (optional for heat)
  • Spring onions and sesame seeds for garnish

Recipe:

  1. Heat sesame oil in a pan. Add onions and kimchi. Stir-fry for 3–4 minutes.
  2. Add cold rice and soy sauce. Mix until evenly combined.
  3. Push rice to one side, crack an egg and scramble. Mix into the rice.
  4. Add gochujang if desired, then top with spring onions and sesame seeds.

This quick, flavor-packed meal is an essential halal diet food staple. Use leftover rice and kimchi to whip it up in under 15 minutes.

6. Halal Tteokbokki (떡볶이) – Spicy Rice Cakes

Ingredients:

  • 300g Korean rice cakes (tteok), halal-certified
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 tablespoon gochujang (halal)
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 boiled egg (optional)
  • 2 fish cakes or halal tofu (optional)
  • 1 spring onion, chopped
  • Sesame seeds for garnish

Recipe:

  1. Soak rice cakes in warm water if frozen.
  2. In a pan, bring water, gochujang, sugar, and soy sauce to a boil.
  3. Add rice cakes, fish cakes, and simmer for 10–15 minutes until thick.
  4. Garnish with sesame seeds, spring onions, and a boiled egg if desired.

Tteokbokki is street food royalty in Korea—and now a spicy, sweet halal food snack you’ll keep craving.

7. Halal Sundubu Jjigae (순두부찌개) – Soft Tofu Stew

Ingredients:

  • 1 tube soft tofu (sundubu)
  • 100g halal ground beef or chicken
  • 1/4 onion, diced
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon gochugaru (Korean red pepper flakes)
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 2 cups halal chicken broth
  • 1 egg (optional)
  • Spring onion for garnish

Recipe:

  1. Sauté onion and garlic in a pot with gochugaru until fragrant.
  2. Add ground meat and soy sauce. Cook until browned.
  3. Pour in the broth and bring to a simmer.
  4. Add tofu, breaking it gently into chunks.
  5. Crack an egg on top and garnish with spring onions. Serve bubbling hot.

This stew is protein-rich, spicy, and soothing—ideal for those seeking halal diet food high in nutrients.

Tips for Cooking Halal Korean Dishes at Home

Mastering halal Korean food is all about technique and smart substitutions. Here are key tips:

  1. Use halal-certified sauces. Check soy sauce, gochujang, and fish sauce labels for halal certification.
  2. Swap alcohol-based marinades. Use apple juice, rice vinegar, or pear puree instead of mirin or cooking wine.
  3. Balance spice and sweetness. Korean cuisine often blends heat from gochugaru with sweetness from honey or pear—adjust these to your taste.
  4. Keep nutrition in mind. Use minimal oil, opt for brown rice instead of white, and add plenty of vegetables for fibre and vitamins.
  5. Make meal prep easy. Marinate proteins ahead of time or batch-cook for the week.

For busy weeks, explore pre-prepared diet-friendly halal meal options that save time while maintaining authentic Korean flavour.

What to Avoid When Making Halal Korean Food

When adapting Korean dishes to a halal lifestyle, avoid ingredients that can compromise halal compliance:

  • Pork and pork-based broth – common in dishes like kimchi jjigae and ramen. Replace with chicken or vegetable stock.
  • Alcohol-based sauces – like sake, mirin, or rice wine. Substitute with halal-friendly sweeteners or vinegars.
  • Non-halal fish sauce – check for halal certification or use soy sauce instead.
  • Gelatin-based snacks – some Korean desserts and sweets may contain non-halal gelatin.

Sticking to verified halal alternatives ensures your food remains both flavourful and compliant.

How to Keep the Nutritional Value in Halal Korean Meals

Cooking Korean food the halal way doesn’t mean you lose nutrition or taste. Here’s how to preserve both:

  • Cook with minimal oil and use sesame oil for flavour rather than frying.
  • Steam or stir-fry vegetables quickly to retain vitamins and texture.
  • Choose lean proteins such as chicken breast, tofu, or fish.
  • Use brown rice or quinoa instead of white rice for better fibre and slow-releasing energy.
  • Fermented foods like kimchi add gut-friendly probiotics—just make sure your version is halal-certified.

If you want to balance your meals, try weight loss meal plans or keto halal options that maintain your macros without sacrificing flavour.

Extra Tips for Storing and Reheating Halal Korean Food

  • Use airtight containers to keep dishes fresh for 3–4 days.
  • Reheat on low heat to preserve flavour and avoid overcooking.
  • Freeze sauces or marinades separately to reuse later.
  • Batch cook staples like rice or kimchi for the week to cut down prep time.

If you’re managing multiple meals a week, check out gluten-free halal meal plans for balanced, allergen-safe options, or grab deals from our First Week of the Month collection to save money.

Final Thoughts: Korean Cuisine Made Halal and Easy

Eating Korean food while maintaining a halal lifestyle is not only possible—it’s deliciously rewarding. With the right ingredient swaps and mindful preparation, you can enjoy everything from sizzling bulgogi to comforting jjigae. Whether you’re new to Korean cooking or a seasoned fan, these halal food recipes will make your weekly meal plan far more exciting.

Cookt is a halal meal delivery service that brings you ready-to-eat meals made by chefs who have trained at Michelin-starred restaurants. You may get your meals delivered to your door every week. Their platform offers rotating menus—typically 6–10 globally inspired dishes each week—from cuisines like Mediterranean, Latin American, and Asian, all prepared with 100% Zabihah‑certified halal meat and carefully sourced ingredients to meet the needs of the halal food and halal diet food community. You pick a plan (like 8, 10, or 12 meals) and then choose your meals before a weekly deadline. Cookt then delivers fully cooked, hand-cut meals that are ready in minutes, with macros, portion size, and flavor chosen for health and convenience.

Want more halal diet food inspiration? Bookmark this blog and try rotating these dishes each week to keep your dinners exciting, balanced, and bursting with flavor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is gochujang halal?

Yes, gochujang is halal as long as it’s made without alcohol or non-halal additives, so always check for halal certification on the label.

Can I make kimchi halal?

Yes, kimchi can be made halal by avoiding fish sauce with alcohol and using halal-certified alternatives like soy sauce or halal fish sauce.

What meat is best for halal Korean BBQ?

Halal-certified beef ribeye, sirloin, or chicken thigh cuts are ideal for Korean BBQ because they absorb marinades well and stay tender when grilled.

How can I replace mirin in halal cooking?

You can replace mirin with apple juice or rice vinegar mixed with a little sugar to achieve a similar sweetness and acidity.

Are Korean rice cakes (tteok) halal?

Yes, Korean rice cakes are halal if made only with rice flour, water, and salt—avoid those containing non-halal additives or flavorings.

Back to blog