There are other options of adding color, but please make sure that the coloring is for food.
After this is completed the mixed Song Pyon is placed into hot boiling water and is kneaded with
the hands for a long time. After this process the wet paste is placed in a damp wrap.
There is many special type of stuffing placed in the Song Pyon. Here is a list, of the more generally used stuffing, usually
beans, red bean, soybean, and mung beans. A mixture of Honey, sugar, sesame seeds are also another type of stuffing
for the Song Pyon, but the stuffing will usually be up to the person who makes the Song Pyon. After figuring out the stuffing,
from the wet paste, take a wrapped thumb size and place your finger in the middle to make a cup shape form.
The next step is to add to the cup shape Song Pyon, remember from the list of stuffing, they are added to the center, and
then gently squeezed together. The process will be explained in further detail as we move along. Because Song Pyon is
made differently through out Korea, I will give you a better idea what of Song Pyon may look like. In the North part of South
Korea, Song Pyon is famous because it is made the largest through out Korea. It is about the size of an American pear.
"Now that is a lot of Song Pyon." In Seoul, Song Pyon is made on a much smaller scale about the size of a US half dollar.
"Just enough to get you started."
Provinces that make Song Pyon according to their families and Areas
.
The first area I would like to talk about is Hwang Hae Province and Ka-Won Province, these two provinces are known to
Koreans because of the Song Pyon clam shape or similar to this a squeezed palm look, half the moon shape. In another part
of Korea, Kyong Sang Province, Song Pyon is made a little differently. First they take a Ramie plant and take the leaves
steam it, mixing it in with the rice mixture to make Song Pyon. Sometimes instead of using rice powder, many people sweet
potatoes starch or good of fashion starch is used. Koreans use a lot of traditional ideas in making certain dishes, because
of this it gives one dish for example, Song Pyon, many ways of making a new dish.
* These are the following Ingredients used in making Song Pyon.
1.Rice
2.Wormwood
3.Salt, Honey
4.Chestnut, Chinese Date or jujube (Stuffing for Song Pyon)
5.Sesame Seeds (Stuffing for Song Pyon)
6.Red Beans (Stuffing for Song Pyon)
7.Cinnamon Powder
8.Pine Tree Needles
9.Sesame Oil
* Getting ready to make Song Pyon:
1.Rice:
The first thing you must do is obtain some rice, preferably short grain and wash
the rice thoroughly and let it sit for about 30 minutes. Drain the water and let the rice sit again until the rice is dried. After
the drying process is completed take the rice and grind it until it becomes a fine white powder.
Then take the powder and split it into two groups. Take one portion of the rice powder and mix it in with the wormwood.
The wormwood should be cut up before mixed in with the rice powder.
2.Wormwood:
Fresh and soft looking wormwood should be used in the following steps. Wormwood is best found around the base of any
pine tree. In the states Wormwood can easily be found in recreations areas such as parks or areas with a lot of Pines. You
want to be sure to pick the leaves from Wormwood and with a touch a salt, boil the mixture. After the boiling the leaves,
take the leaves out and cut the leaves up thoroughly.
3.Chestnut, Chinese Dates or jujubes:
When using the stuffing make sure to thoroughly clean the chestnuts and peel the shell. After this process cut the
chestnuts into 4 equally shape pieces. With the Jujubes, take the seed out first and chopped them thoroughly.
4.Red Beans:
You can use any kind of red beans you like, you can pick up a can usually from any local supermarket. The first thing you
need to do is take the beans and let them sit for about in hour in a bowl. After an hour passes, take the red beans and
peel the cover from them. Remember to be gently because the beans will mush very easily. Take the red beans and then
steam them for about 20 minutes. Then crush the red beans until the beans look like powder. Take the powder and then
mix it in with the honey and cinnamon powder.
"Moving Right Along..."
5.Sesame Seeds:
Sesame Seeds may be found at some supermarkets, if not please check you local area for any Oriental Food Store.
Take the Sesame seeds and wash them thoroughly, then let the seeds sit until they are dried. After drying the seeds, crush
them and mix them with honey.
6.Pine Tree Needles:
Pine Tree Needles wash them and let them sit for about a thirty minutes to an hour.
Making Song Pyon:
The rice powder should be kneaded in warm temperature water. The paste is kneaded until it loses the sticky feeling.
This process is done for a long amount of time. The Paste dried somewhat must be wrapped in a damp cloth to prevent
lost of moisture, because if the paste is to dried it will become to hard in the process of making Song Pyon.
Stuffing:
When preparing the stuffing make sure you have everything you need at hand. The first thing you will want to do is take the
paste from the wrapping and with a small amount the size of a chestnut roll it into a ball. Take this ball shape dough and
stick your thumb into the center to hollow out the mid-section. Make sure the mid-section is a cup shape so there will be
enough room for the stuffing. The next step is to take the stuffing of your choice and gently place it in the center, just
enough so you can easily seal the top with no air bubbles contain inside. Then take your fingers and gently squeeze the
top closed. The Song Pyon will either look similar to a clam shape or half of a moon.
In China there is a similar dish to the Song Pyon. This particular dish is called, "Wol Byong."
The size of Wol Byong is about 4 times larger and stuffed with only red beans. The Chinese have a reason for this,
they believe everything they do must be prepared to the fullest. Where as Koreans believe the appearance and taste is more significant.
Stemming the Song Pyon:
When Steaming the Song Pyon place the pine needles inside the steamer. Take an absorbent towel and place it over the
Pine Needles, (Optional) take the Song Pyon and lay them carefully on top of the Pine Needles. Now you ready to start
steaming. There is a tricky part here though, but this has been done for many years. There is no exact way of telling how
long it takes to make Song Pyon. The best way to figure this out is to give it coloring, where you can tell by the color
change of the dough or by giving it a little poke, or the best way is to give it the old fashion little taste test.
After Steaming the Song Pyon, dip them into cold water, if you did not steamed the Song Pyon with an absorbent towel
between the pine needles, you will be able to take the pine needles off quite easily in the cold water. After dipping the
Song Pyon into the cold water you must let it dry for about five minutes, then finally add Sesame oil to the outer covering
and Well La! You are ready to eat the traditional Korean Thanksgiving dish, "Song Pyon." Believe me it will be cultural
experience as far as, preparing a Korean dish and letting your tummy enjoy something new.
For Further information on Chu Suk and Song Pyon on any part of this Essay please contact us a MAIL and we will be more than
happy to answer your questions.
