Every day people are making different types of food items. Nowadays, people from one side of the world can get an idea about the food of people from the other side due to the ease of human-to-human communication. Special food is gaining popularity among people in a short period of time. One such food is Hotteok (호떡). But the first thing we as Muslims need to know is – Is Hotteok halal or not?
To know if Fatik is halal, first we need to know what ingredients this food is made of. Then we have to do a theoretical research on its production process, whether it contains any alcohol or any material that is clearly haram in Islam.
We discuss in detail whether hotteok is halal or not in this blog post. Hope you get your question answered after completing this post.
What is Hotteok?
Hotteok is a popular Korean snack. It is made with leavened dough. It has sweet fillings like brown sugar, honey and cinnamon. When cooked on a griddle, the pancakes take on a golden-brown crust that oozes melted butter with every bite. It goes well during the winter months. Then this dish provides a warm treat to relieve the cold.
Ingredients of Hotteok
The ingredients in the standard hotteok recipe include:
- Dough: Wheat flour, water, sugar and yeast.
- Filling: Brown sugar, honey, cinnamon and nuts (such as peanuts or walnuts).
- Oil: Used for frying, usually vegetable oil.
Is Hotteok Halal?
Yes, Hotteok is basically Halal. Because its ingredients are plant-based. We have not found any element of haram here. So you can eat it. If meat is used or if alcohol is present then the question of haram arises. But we did not find anything like that in our research.
- Animal fat in batter: Shortening is used in some Hotteok recipes. It contains animal derived ingredients like lard.
- Type of Oil: Hotteok fried in animal based fat will make the snack haram.
- Cross-contamination: If Hotteok is prepared in the same vessel with a Haram food such as pork, it will be haram.
Basic provisions of Korean food
Since Korea is a non-Muslim country, the food they prepare there is not prepared according to Muslim principles. Most Quranic foods are Haram. So if you are consuming any Korean food you should check if it is made with halal ingredients.
But the good news is that some Kurian companies produce food specifically for Muslims. There they follow Halal policy seriously.
In some Muslim countries such as Indonesia, Pakistan, Malaysia, etc., the foods they prepare for their customers are certified as halal by an authority. So when you receive courier food, make sure it is Halal certified.
Halal version of Hotteok
To ensure hotteok is halal, some vendors and restaurants now offer halal-certified versions. Especially in areas with significant Muslim communities. These halal versions avoid cross-contamination and use vegetable-based oils. If you are in Korea or any country where Hotteok is sold, look for shops with clear halal certification.
Making Hotteok at Home: Halal Recipe
The best way to eat hotteok halal is to make it at home. Here are the rules for making Hotteok:
Ingredients:
- Dough: 2 cups wheat flour, 1 cup warm water, 1 teaspoon sugar, 1 teaspoon active yeast and a pinch of salt.
- Filling: 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 2 tablespoons honey, and a handful of chopped almonds.
- Vegetable Oil: For frying.
Instructions:
Prepare the dough: mix water, sugar and yeast and let it become active. Then add flour and salt, knead until smooth and let rise for 1 hour.
Make the filling: Combine brown sugar, cinnamon, honey and almonds.
Assemble: Divide dough, fill with filling and form into balls.
Cook: Flatten a hot frying pan with vegetable oil, cook on each side until golden brown.
last word
We have been informed that Hotteok is halal according to our research. Also you can check Hotteok’s level to be more sure. What type of material is given, whether the material that we talked about is there. If there are any extra ingredients that are forbidden in Islam. Then you should avoid Hotteok.
Another way is to check directly with the restaurant serving Hotteok to find out if it is halal. If you can’t do that, take one of the Hotteok products to an Islamic center near you and discuss with them directly.
Because according to the needs of different countries and different customers, this food may differ in ingredients and preparation process
