Cycle 17 – Item 271

Post 6,115

3 (Sat) October 2026

Spaghetti alla N(a)eran(h)o(bak)

3.0

by me

at home

-Oksu, Seongdong, Seoul, Republic of Korea-

with W and IZ

Dissatisfied by the flavor of the zucchini on my first attempt (see previously 17.261 Spaghetti alla Nerano), I gave the dish a second shot with Korean aehobak, a reasonable substitute (see generally 4.084 Taste Test: A vs Z).  I also sliced the squash thicker for better texture and, rather than adding basil directly into the sauce, which I’d found a bit too strong, I rested the fried pieces on top of basil leaves to infuse a hint of the aroma.

Much improved.  The aehobak was sweet, pleasantly chewy on the outside, pleasingly mushy on the inside.  But I wasn’t overwhelmed by the dish, the way everyone else seems to be – whether because the zucchini/aehobak here in Korea aren’t quite right, or because I’m not making it quite right.

In any case, I’m closing the book on this one for now (much to IZ’s relief).  Hopefully someday, I’ll get a chance to try the dish at a proper restaurant on the Amalfi Coast and give a final verdict.

(See RESTAURANTS IN KOREA)

(See GLOBAL FOOD GLOSSARY)

(See HANSIK)

(See BOOZE)