What to Serve with Bo Ssam? 7 BEST Side Dishes

Bo Ssam’s on the menu tonight, and trust us, it’s a show-stopper.

This Korean dish of slow-cooked pork shoulder is unbelievably tender and flavorful, practically melting in your mouth.

But here’s the secret sauce to elevating it even further: the right side dishes.

Finding the perfect complements is key to unlocking an unforgettable dining experience.

And we’ve got you covered with some killer pairings.

No more scrolling through pages of suggestions; we’ve narrowed it down to the 7 best sides that will make your Bo Ssam dinner unforgettable.

Stay tuned as we dish out these mouthwatering accompaniments.

You’re gonna want to take notes. Your dinner guests will thank you.

Why Consider Serving Side Dishes with Bo Ssam?

It is a tradition for Koreans to enjoy the bo ssam at the beginning of every winter.

Such a time of celebration cannot go without a set of memorable side dishes.

Since pork contains a lot of fat, you must balance your nutrition intake by adding some side dishes with a mild, refreshing taste.

Something with carbs and fiber should do the trick of ensuring that you get the most of your meal.

Even so, you should consider how the side dishes are prepared and if they appeal to your preferences.

What to Serve with Bo Ssam? 7 BEST Side Dishes

Since bo ssam is a Korean dish, we have brought together seven of the best side dishes that could complement the delicious pork dish.

Keep reading to discover the treat.

1 – Sundubu-jjigae (Tofu stew)

A spicy, delicious, and filling stew, sundubu jjigae will be a great option to start the list.

This stew tastes fantastic when paired with the savory meat in bo ssam.

Tofu generally goes well with meat, but a for a stew meant to soothe you after a tiresome day? Well, you wouldn’t want to have difficulty chewing and swallowing firm pieces of food.

Many types of tofu exist, but soft tofu works best for this stew.

This stew melts in your mouth because of the well-balanced ingredients and soft texture, and it is one of the most comforting Asian stews.

2 – Pajeon

Pajeon is the Korean word for ‘scallion pancake’.

It consists of a batter made of flour, scallions, and cold water that is pan-fried like regular pancakes.

A good source of fiber and low in calories, scallions benefit your health in many ways.

The slightly sharp flavor and aromatic scallions add fresh flavor to regular pancakes.

It also has a bright green color that gives the pancake an exciting visual.

So, the next time you have some fresh vegetables in your kitchen, try making a scallion pancake.

Also, remember to serve them hot with the bo ssam.

3 – Kimchi Fried Rice

You might have already heard of kimchi in many TV shows or restaurants, so why not make another side dish using kimchi.

Eating plain kimchi as a side dish for bo ssam is fine but let’s try a more filling variant of this popular side dish.

It is good when paired with any meaty dish.

To make kimchi fried rice, you will need kimchi, cooked rice, hot pepper, shredded seaweed, sesame oil, green onions, and water.

You can make many recipes with the spicy red kimchi, depending on what other dishes you are serving.

Just be careful with the amount of chili pepper you add.

4 – Musaengchae (Spicy radish salad)

This dish is similar to kimchi and can be easily substituted when you don’t have cabbage at home.

The difference is that musaengchae is not fermented, unlike kimchi, so that you will be left with a fresh and crunchy salad.

Fish sauce, garlic, ginger, chili pepper, sugar, and salt are the most common complementary ingredients in a Korean spicy radish salad.

This spicy radish salad has a vibrant red color that is almost irresistible not to eat.

During the fall and the winter months, Korean radish has an addictive sweet taste; it would be an excellent time to enjoy this salad.

5 – Sigeumchi Namul

Sigeumchi namul is a seasoned Korean spinach side dish.

It has a sweet and salty flavor that makes it a good side dish for any dish that includes meat.

To make this side dish, you will need spinach, green onions, garlic, red pepper, sesame oil, and soy sauce.

You must lightly blanch the spinach before mixing the other ingredients.

It is effortless to make and takes less than 10 minutes.

You should try it when the spinach season is on.

Or, if you cannot find any spinach, try replacing it with bok choy, kale, or arugula; you will love the slight variations in flavor.

6 – Steamed Sweet Potatoes

Steamed sweet potatoes are a much-enjoyed side dish in Korea.

Sweet potatoes are naturally sweet, so you don’t need any other seasonings to go with them.

Because the bo ssam is already full of many flavors, simply steaming the sweet potatoes will be enough to make a good side dish.

Adding sweet potatoes to your diet is downright necessary because these sweet root tubers benefit your health.

Though steamed potatoes can quickly become your next favorite side dish because of how easy they are to prepare and how comforting they taste.

7 – Yachae Mandoo (Korean Veg dumplings)

Now that you’ve read about a simple side dish are you in for a slightly exciting one? Well, some veg dumplings can be the answer.

But why veg? That’s simply to balance your meal by pairing the meat with some vegetables.

Dumplings can make any boring meal enjoyable; even in Asian homes, everyone looks forward to dinner when dumplings are on the menu.

To make yachae mandoo, you only have to make a mixture of seasoned minced vegetables and use it as a filling for the dumplings.

You have the option to either steam or pan-fry the dumplings; both will taste amazing.

Conclusion

These seven side dishes you’ve read about will elevate your mealtime.

Try each of them out every single time you make some bo ssam.

Since Asian food such as bo ssam has a lot of spices and is also entirely on the hot end of the pole, try to adjust the side dishes to a milder to medium-hot unless you crave such peppery food.

Despite all the trouble you might have to go through by looking for the ingredients, you will be rewarded with a hearty meal.