Korean Stew (Fermented Bean Paste)

Fermented Soybean Paste Stew (Doenjang jjigae) 된장찌개

Doenjang is a traditional Korean fermented soybean paste. Its name literally means "thick paste" in Korean. To produce doenjang, dried soybeans are boiled and stone-ground into coarse bits. This paste is then formed into blocks, which are called meju (메주). The blocks are then exposed to sunlight or warmth. When so exposed, dried rice plants are attached to the surface of the soybean blocks. Dried rice plants are readily available in Korea and are a rich source of bacteria (Bacillus subtilis). The fermentation process begins at this stage. The Bacillus subtilis bacteria reproduce, consuming soybean protein and water in the meju. The unique smell of the meju is mainly the ammonia produced by the bacteria. One to three months later, depending on the block size, the meju are put into large, opaque pottery jars with brine and left to further ferment, during which time various beneficial bacteria transform the mixture into a further vitamin-enriched substance (similar to the way milk ferments to become yogurt). Liquids and solids are separated after the fermentation process, and the liquid becomes Korean soy sauce (Joseon ganjang; 조선간장). The solid, which is doenjang, is very salty and quite thick, often containing (unlike most miso) some whole, uncrushed soybeans.

While traditional homemade doenjang is made with soybeans and brine only, many factory-made variants ofdoenjang contain a fair amount of wheat flour just like most factory-made soy sauce does. Some current makers also add fermented, dried, and ground anchovies to accentuate the doenjang's savory flavor.

Doenjang can be eaten as a condiment in raw-paste form with vegetables, as flavored seasoning or even as a dipping condiment. However, it is more commonly mixed with garlic, sesame oil, and sometimes gochujang to produce ssamjang, which is then traditionally eaten with or without rice wrapped in leaf vegetables such as red leaf lettuce. This dish is called ssambap. This combination of leaf vegetable and doenjang (or ssamjang) often complements popular Korean meat dishes, for example samgyeopsal, bulgogi, and bossam.

It can also be used as a component of soup broth, for example in a popular stew (jjigae) called doenjang jjigae which usually includes tofu, various vegetables such as chili peppers, zucchini and scallion, and (optionally) mushrooms, red meat, or scallops.

Doenjang is rich in flavonoids and beneficial vitamins, minerals, and plant hormones (phytoestrogens) which are sometimes claimed to possess anticarcinogenic properties. In Korean traditional meals, the menu has concentrated on vegetables and rice, but doenjang, which is made of soybeans, has a great deal of lysine, an essential amino acid that rice lacks. Linoleic acid (53% of the fatty acids) and linolenic acid (8% of the fatty acids) have an important role in normal growth of blood vessels and prevention of blood vessel-related illness. Doenjang's efficacy still exists after boiling, in dishes such as doenjang jjigae.

Doenjang is considered one of the essential sauces of authentic Korean cuisine. However, the condiment has historically been unknown outside of Korea, although recent international articles have resulted in an increase in its popularity. A 2007 Chinese article on the "Sauces of Korea" listeddoenjang and gochujang as essential flavorings, and explored the origins of the condiments, particularly focusing on Sunchang County, where most Korean soy sauce is produced. The article pointed out that doenjang does not contain any artificial additives and in fact has healthy amounts of essential vitamins, such as vitamin C and vitamin B₁₂. The health benefits of doenjang are rumored to extend longevity, and this is illustrated by the fact that out of the 32,000 people in Sunchung county, eight are over 100 years old and many are over 90. The article was influential throughout China, resulting in many Chinese restaurants adding doenjang stew, modified slightly to Chinese tastes, to their menus shortly after publication. South Korea'sJoongAng Ilbo covered this story in China on December 13, 2007. Claims are being explored about the role of Doenjang in reducing visceral fat, though studies have only been done on rodents.

Dajiang, a type of fermented soybean paste popular in northeast China, bears a great similarity in texture and taste to Korean doenjang. The tradition of eating dajiang is said to have been started by the Manchu people, who originally occupied China's northeastern provinces. Northeastern Chinese people enjoy eating raw vegetables in the summer, and dajiang is used like a salad dressing to add flavor.

Doenjang also bears similarities to Japanese miso.

Ingredients:

1 medium size potato (about 1 cup’s worth), peeled and cut into ½ inch cubes
1 cup worth of zucchini or squash, cut into ½ inch cubes
1 cup worth onion, cut into ½ inch cubes
5 cloves of garlic, minced
1 green chili pepper, chopped
7 dried anchovies, removed the heads and intestines and chopped
1 stalk of green onion, chopped
150 grams of tofu, cut into ½ inch cubes
5 tbs of soy bean paste (doen jang)
4 large shrimp, peeled, deveined, and chopped

Directions:

1. Prepare an earthenware pot. Add  potato, onion, garlic, zucchini, green chili pepper, shrimp, and dried anchovies.
2. Add 2 ½ cup water.
   *tip: Don’t put too much water, just enough to cover everything
3. When it starts boiling after 10-15 minutes, add 5 tbs (1/4 cup plus 1 tbs) of bean paste, stir the stew, and keep cooking for another 15-20 minutes.
4. Add tofu and cook another 5 minutes
   Tip: Occasionally stir the boiling stew with a spoon.
5. Add green onion and serve with a bowl of rice and other side dishes.
   Tip: to check whether or not the ingredients are cooked, taste the potato.

U-wa!! 우와!!