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    Home » Stew

    Doenjang Jjigae (Soybean Paste Stew with Pork and Vegetables)

    Published 06/10/2018. Updated 02/08/2021

    Jump to Recipe

    Doenjang jjigae is a staple Korean stew made with fermented soybean paste! It’s hearty, delicious and comforting!
    DSC 0686 - Doenjang Jjigae (Soybean Paste Stew with Pork and Vegetables)
     
    Doenjang jjigae (된장찌개) is a staple Korean stew made with doenjang (된장), fermented soybean paste. It is one of the most popular everyday home-cooked Korean dishes.
     
    This hearty stew is my husband’s all-time favorite meal and my go-to dish when I want to make a quick satisfying meal. The distinct aroma of sizzling doenjang makes my mouth water every time I make this dish! Such a comforting, delicious dish! 
     
    Depending on the other ingredients added, you can make endless variations of the stew. This recipe is made with fatty pork, but you can also make it with beef or seafood.
     
    As I explained in my Korean Pantry Seasoning Ingredients post, doenjang.is one of the three primary Korean sauce and pastes, collectively called jang (장) along with ganjang (간장, soy sauce) and gochujang (fermented chili pepper paste). Every Korean home has it all year round. Its deep, rich flavor is created by several months of fermentation and aging.
     
    In the past, every household made doenjang at home. However, there are many commercial brands available at Korean markets and on line these days. Of course, it goes without saying good doenjang makes good jjigae! So quality of doenjang matters. See my Korean Pantry Seasoning Ingredients post for a buying guide. 
     
    DSC 0521 - Doenjang Jjigae (Soybean Paste Stew with Pork and Vegetables)
     
    In terms of other ingredients added, tofu is typical in doenjang jjigae. For vegetables, I usually use Korean white radish (mu, 무), zucchini, onion, and fresh green and/or red chili pepper. Korean radish adds flavor and helps create a clean, refreshing broth.
     
    If Korean radish is not available, you can add some potato slices which will make the stew slightly thicker. I often use both. Mushrooms are a good addition as well.

    Tips for delicious doenjang jjigae

    By now, you know Korean home cooks save the water used to rinse rice (ssalddeumul, 쌀뜨물) and use it as a stew or soup base. The rice water adds starch to the stew and works as a binding agent between the soybean paste and the broth. It also enhances the flavor of doenjang. If you didn’t have to make rice, or forgot to save the water, add a little bit of flour or rice flour to water, but not absolutely necessary.
     
    Use a small amount of vinegar at the end to make doenjang jjigae even more delicious! It will brighten the doenjang taste in the stew and round everything up nicely, but totally optional! 

    More Doenjang Jjigae Recipes

    Seafood doenjang jjigae
    Beef doenjang jjigae

    DSC 0672 - Doenjang Jjigae (Soybean Paste Stew with Pork and Vegetables)

    Watch How to Make It

    For more Korean cooking inspirations, follow along on YouTube, Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

    DSC 0672 350x350 - Doenjang Jjigae (Soybean Paste Stew with Pork and Vegetables)

    Doenjang Jjigae (Korean Soybean Paste Stew)

    4.24 from 259 votes
    Main
    Prep Time: 20 minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes
    Servings: 2
    Print Recipe

    Ingredients

    • 3 ounces pork (preferably fatty pork) shoulder, or loin (or beef)
    • 9 ounces tofu (dubu, 두부)
    • 1/2 medium zucchini (4 to 5 ounces)
    • 2 ounces Korean radish (mu, 무) and/or 1 small potato, sliced into 1/4-inch thick bite size pieces.
    • 1/4 medium onion
    • 1 chili pepper green or red
    • 1 scallion
    • 2 tablespoons doenjang (된장), Korean soybean paste
    • 1 teaspoon gochugaru (고추가루 ), Korean chili pepper flakes adjust to taste
    • 2 teaspoons minced garlic
    • 2 cups water (or anchovy broth) see note
    • 1 teaspoon vinegar (optional)

    Instructions

    • Cut the tofu and zucchini into about 1-inch cubes. Cut the radish into thin small squares. Thinly slice the onion and pepper. Roughly chop the scallion. Slice the meat into thin strips.
      DSC 0315 600x401 - Doenjang Jjigae (Soybean Paste Stew with Pork and Vegetables)
    • Preheat a small pot with a little bit of oil. Sauté the meat, soybean paste, and chili pepper flakes, over medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes.
      DSC 0349 600x401 - Doenjang Jjigae (Soybean Paste Stew with Pork and Vegetables)
    • Add the water (or anchovy broth) and stir well to dissolve the soy bean paste. Add the radish (if using a potato, add it in the next step). Boil over medium high heat for 3 to 4 minutes.
      DSC 0353 600x401 - Doenjang Jjigae (Soybean Paste Stew with Pork and Vegetables)
    • Add the onion, garlic, tofu, zucchini, and chili pepper. Boil for an additional 5 to 6 minutes. Throw in the scallion pieces and add the optional vinegar with a minute or two remaining.
      DSC 0357 600x401 - Doenjang Jjigae (Soybean Paste Stew with Pork and Vegetables)
    • Serve with a bowl of rice while it is still bubbling from the heat.

    Notes

    Save the water used to rinse rice (from the second or third rinsing), ssalddeumul for jjigae/stew.  You can also use anchovy broth. 
    Tried this recipe?Mention @koreanbapsang or tag #koreanbapsang!

    This recipe was originally posted in April 2010. I’ve updated it here with minor changes to the recipe and new photos.

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    Hi! I'm Hyosun, and I am a Korean-American mom of two wonderful grown-up children. Here, you will learn how to cook Korean dishes the way we Koreans traditionally eat at home. Read More...

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