Bon Appetit, Your Majesty Episode 7 Recap: Race to Build a Pressure Cooker

Bon Appetit, Your Majesty Episode 7, Yeon Ji-young decided she needed something no one in Joseon had seen before. A pressure cooker. The final round of the cooking competition against the Ming Dynasty was near, and she believed this pot could change everything.

She called it the key to flavor. It would mix science with cooking to create something new.

Lee Heon was startled by her request. Jang Yeong-sil, the legendary inventor from the past, was long gone. But there was talk of a descendant named Jang Chun-saeng.

He once worked in the palace, known for building strange contraptions, until an explosion got him banished. The show cleverly creates a legacy character.

Jang Yeong-sil (Chang Yŏngsil) was a real historical figure, a brilliant inventor and scientist during King Sejong’s reign.

By creating a fictional disgraced descendant, the writers tap into authentic Joseon history while building their own story. Lee Heon warned her that the man was unpredictable. Still, Ji-young insisted.

She disguised herself as a man and set off with Im Song-jae by her side. Lee Heon told Song-jae to watch over her. Yet his worry pulled him out of the palace, too.

He followed with a restless heart, fearing trouble. As they traveled, he kept glancing at them and muttered if they looked like a married couple. His jealousy was thinly hidden.

A Dangerous Trip and a Stubborn Inventor

They reached Jang Chun-saeng’s remote home. The place was guarded like a fortress. When Lee Heon opened the gate, a blast went off. Dust filled the air. He instinctively shielded Ji-young with his body.

It turned out to be only a puffed rice machine exploding. Chun-saeng glared at them with suspicion. He thought they had come to use him like the palace once did.

He told them to leave. He said the palace threw away both him and his ancestor Jang Yeong-sil after using them. His bitterness was deep.

They found themselves standing outside, rejected. Another explosion echoed, and again Lee Heon threw himself in front of Ji-young. The two locked eyes, unsure what they were feeling.

Ji-young decided to reach him another way. She noticed his Busan accent and cooked Busan-style green onion pancakes. This is a masterclass in ‘show, don’t tell.’

Instead of pleading, Ji-young uses her core skill—empathy through food—to communicate. She demonstrates respect for his origin and heritage, something the palace, which only valued his output, never did.

It’s the perfect solution for a character who values craftsmanship above words. She worked quietly, hoping her effort would speak for her.

The smell softened Chun-saeng. He tasted them, and something shifted. Her sincerity cracked through his walls. At last, he agreed to make the pressure cooker.

While Chun-saeng began his work, Ji-young set off again to find rare ingredients for her samgyetang. Time was thin. The Ming team was skilled. The final round would decide everything.

Jealousy, Secrets, and Schemes

Meanwhile, Lee Heon’s feelings kept getting messy. He walked beside Ji-young but watched Im Song-jae closely. Song-jae tried to act casual, but he saw it too.

When Lee Heon argued that men and women should not travel together, Song-jae reminded him she was dressed as a man. Lee Heon snapped that anyone could see she was a woman.

Song-jae warned him the envoy from Ming was waiting in Taepyeonggwan. Lee Heon brushed it off. He said Joseon’s future depended on this competition, and he must walk the same road as her.

Song-jae tried to stop him, worried about the long journey, but Lee Heon refused. He pressed forward, determined and jealous all at once.

Back at the palace, new secrets rose. Chu-wol whispered to Kang Mok-ju that Gong-gil might be the younger brother of Ok-dan. That name struck Mok-ju.

Ok-dan once worked in Jahongwon before dying mysteriously. Mok-ju’s anger flared. She ordered Chu-wol to investigate Gong-gil deeply. She wanted to know why he kept lurking around the palace.

Prince Jesan also learned Lee Heon had left the palace. He started plotting. He wanted to ruin Joseon’s chances before the final round even began. The political tension grew while Ji-young chased her impossible idea.

The Road Ahead

Episode 7 pulled the story into risky territory. Ji-young’s plan to use science in cooking clashed with Joseon’s old traditions. Lee Heon’s emotions tangled his duty.

Even Song-jae could see it. Their journey carried danger not only from Ming but from the cracks inside their own group.

Chun-saeng’s agreement gave them a chance. But trust around him felt fragile. He was not someone who forgives easily. If he changed his mind, everything would collapse.

Meanwhile, palace politics started to stir in the background. Jesan’s schemes, Mok-ju’s hunt for truth, and Gong-gil’s hidden ties all pointed toward coming chaos. While Ji-young dreamed of flavor and victory, others sharpened their knives.

Assassins Break the Peace

At last, the pot was finished. Yeon Ji-young smiled, holding it with pride. Lee Heon seemed almost relieved. But peace did not last.

A group of assassins stormed the house. Chaos erupted. Lee Heon reacted first. He pulled Yeon Ji-young behind him and raised his sword. “Hide behind me,” he ordered, blocking a blade aimed at her.

Jang Chun-saeng used his inventions to fight back. Some assassins fell, but more came through. One of them kicked the new pressure cooker.

The lid flew off. Yeon Ji-young grabbed it and ran, clutching it like her life depended on it. Lee Heon stayed close, swinging his sword to clear a path.

She hurt her wrist in the melee. Lee Heon was stabbed in the shoulder yet kept going. Blood soaked through his sleeve. Still, he said, “Don’t make a fuss. I’m not going to die.” His voice was calm, almost teasing.

Im Song-jae returned at the right moment and helped drive off the attackers. The group escaped with the damaged pot. Yeon Ji-young finally collapsed from exhaustion. Lee Heon dropped to his knees beside her, panic flashing across his face.

Even wounded, he brushed it off. He said it was nothing. But his earlier words gave him away. “This is about Joseon’s survival,” he told her. “Of course I should walk on my own two feet.” There was a sharp edge in his tone, as if trying to convince himself.

The episode ended with Chun-saeng starting work on the pressure cooker. Sparks flew as he hammered metal. Ji-young’s eyes followed each strike. This pot could decide Joseon’s fate—or destroy it if it failed.

Editor’s Analysis: Why Episode 7 Worked

1. Parallel Antagonists: The threat isn’t just the Ming Dynasty. It’s also Prince Jesan’s political scheming and Kang Mok-ju’s investigation. This multi-layered conflict ensures the narrative remains tense even away from the main plot.

2. The Symbolism of the Pressure Cooker: It represents progress, risk, and the fusion of ideas. Its potential for both “great flavor” and “explosion” mirrors Ji-young’s own precarious position—her success could elevate Joseon or lead to her downfall if it fails.

1. Efficient Storytelling: The episode efficiently advanced multiple character arcs (Lee Heon’s jealousy, Gong-gil’s mystery, Chu-wol’s allegiance) without feeling overcrowded, thanks to tight writing that connected every subplot to the central stakes of the competition.

Looking Ahead: Speculation & Questions

Will the pressure cooker work as intended, or will its unpredictability cause a problem during the final round? How will Gong-gil’s connection to Ok-dan tie into Mok-ju’s quest for power? Prince Jesan’s move is the most immediate threat. How will he attempt to sabotage the team before the finale?

📌 Bookmark