Inbebo Recipes: Classic Korean Soul Food, Sogogi Doenjang-Jjigae
Doenjang-jjigae (fermented soybean paste stew) is a hearty, delicious, warm, and comforting everyday stew that Koreans love. Sogogi doenjang-jigae has so many variations that folks can happily and comfortably eat this dish several times a week with rice and kimchi. Some recipes use shrimp, anchovy stock, and vegetables while others are more adventurous and can include scallops! The classic though-- is beef as the hero ingredient, preferably a little fatty, marbled cut that will give the broth a rich flavor and allows you to leave out the cooking oil.
Tip: You may be tempted to be generous and load the stew with more ingredients, but adding 4 ounces of each, as I do in this recipe, will make for a well-proportioned stew with plenty of broth.
Ingredients
- 4 ounces any cuts of beef (or ground beef), cut very thinly
- 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 4 ounces potato, peeled and cut into ½-inch dice
- 4 ounces onion, cut into ½-inch dice
- 4 ounces zucchini, cut into ½-inch dice
- ¼ cup doenjang (Korean fermented soybean paste)
- 4 ounces medium-firm tofu, cut into ½-inch pieces
- 1 green chili pepper or jalapeño, sliced
- 1 green onion, sliced
- 1 teaspoon gochu-garu (Korean hot pepper flakes; optional
Direction
- Place a heavy, medium-sized pot over medium heat. When it is hot, add the vegetable oil, beef, and garlic. Cook, stirring, for a few minutes, until the beef is no longer pink. Add 2 cups of water.
- Cover and cook for 10 minutes over medium heat. If it begins to boil over, crack the lid.
- Add the potato, onion, zucchini, and doenjang
- Cover and cook for another 10 minutes. Stir the stew to make sure that the soybean paste is evenly incorporated.
- Add the tofu, green chili pepper, green onion, and gochu-garu (if used).
- Cover and cook for about 5 minutes, until the tofu softens, and the stew is bubbling. Serve right away with rice, kimchi, and more side dishes.
- You can refrigerate the stew for up to 3 days. When you want to have some, reheat gently on top of the stove.
Source: Maangchi
More Korean Innovation News
A Korean Marriage Story
Korean brides are sometimes proposed to after all the preparations for the wedding are done. Unlike the typical Western norms of marriage proposals, a proposal in Korea is more like a celebration of their union. Discover more about Korean proposals here!
Jwipo, Your New Jerky Obsession
Learn how to make Jwipo, a salty and savory fish jerky beloved all over Korea. Read more here!
Try these old-fashioned Korean snacks this Lunar New Year
These traditional Korean snacks are a certified hit this Lunar New Year with their sweet and savory offerings. If you find yourself in Korea or see an international market with these tasty treats, be sure to try them out. Read more about these snacks here!
Korean Sci-fi film ‘Jung_E’ tops Netflix charts
Netflix original film ‘Jung_E’ captures the attention of viewers worldwide. Set in a dystopian future, director Yeon Sang-ho's new film is a certified hit in the vain of similar Korean sci-fi films. Learn more about the film here!
To Binge or not to Binge?
Streaming companies like Disney+ are keying into the viewing habits of customers with their new suite of shows available to stream. These shows will be batched out in waves so viewers can enjoy them as they please while still allowing for anticipation for future releases. Read more here!
Revenge: K-drama exposes school violence
K-drama, The Glory, shows the omnipresent problem that is school bullying. The success of the show has led many fans internationally to begin campaigns to uncover the abuse and end it. Discover more about the movement here!
Woodstock to spread peace and love in Korea
For the first time, legendary music festival Woodstock will be in Korea. While the lineup has not been fully revealed, about 30 performances are expected to occur. Read more about the festival here!
The Little Cellist: 11-year-old prodigy takes First Prize
At the 11th International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians in Russia, 11-year old Korean cellist Kim Jung-a won first prize. There were a total of 128 contestants from 14 countries who participated in the piano, violin, and cello categories this year. Discover more about their achievement here!
BTS reclaims Billboard: And other popular K-pop music
Billboard 200 has a number of K-pop groups topping the charts, but the surprise hit is BTS reentering with a song from 2017. Read more about their unstoppable success and the latest K-pop groups with highly anticipated releases here!
