Nutritious & Flavorful Tuna Ssamjang (Korean Dipping Paste)
No-Drip, Mouthwatering Spicy & Savory Tuna Ssamjang Recipe | Guaranteed Delicious!
Here’s a ssamjang recipe that’s perfect for wrapping, with a clean, non-watery texture. It’s packed with the goodness of fresh vegetables and protein-rich tuna, making it both nutritious and incredibly delicious. Anyone can easily make it, and the taste is absolutely guaranteed! It’s fantastic for mixing with rice or serving with leafy greens.
Ingredients
- 180g canned tuna, drained of oil
- 2 Cheongyang chili peppers (or adjust to your spice preference)
- 1/2 small onion
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 9cm length of green onion (white part)
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp doenjang (Korean soybean paste)
- 1 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili powder)
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp cooking oil
- Pinch of sesame seeds
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, thoroughly prepare all the vegetables. Finely chop the Cheongyang chili peppers and green onions. Finely dice the onion. Mince the garlic.
Step 2
Drain the tuna completely using a sieve. This step ensures your ssamjang will have a cleaner, less watery flavor.
Step 3
Heat 1 Tbsp of cooking oil in a pan over medium heat. Once the pan is adequately heated, begin sautéing the prepared ingredients.
Step 4
Add the Cheongyang chili peppers, onion, and green onion (but not the garlic yet) to the pan. Sauté until the onion becomes slightly translucent. Cooking the vegetables until fragrant will enhance the flavor.
Step 5
When the onion starts to turn transparent, add the minced garlic and sauté together. Cook for about 30 seconds until the garlic is fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic by cooking it for too long.
Step 6
Add the drained tuna to the pan and gently mix it with the vegetables. Stir carefully to avoid breaking up the tuna too much.
Step 7
Add 1 Tbsp of soy sauce. The savory depth of the soy sauce will contribute to the overall richness of the ssamjang.
Step 8
Add 1 Tbsp of doenjang (Korean soybean paste) and mix well with the tuna and vegetables. The nutty, savory flavor of doenjang pairs wonderfully with tuna.
Step 9
Add 1 Tbsp of gochugaru (Korean chili powder) and stir-fry to combine everything evenly. Feel free to adjust the amount of gochugaru based on your preference for spiciness.
Step 10
After stir-frying for about 30 seconds with all ingredients, turn off the heat. Drizzle in 1 Tbsp of sesame oil while the pan is still warm. (Adding a little extra sesame oil compared to the video recipe will enhance the nutty aroma!)
Step 11
Finally, sprinkle a pinch of sesame seeds on top to finish. The added nuttiness from the sesame seeds makes it even more delicious.
Step 12
Serve the finished tuna ssamjang with steamed cabbage, lettuce, perilla leaves, or other fresh wraps, or with warm grilled seaweed. It’s incredibly delicious when wrapped with rice! It also makes a fantastic meal simply mixed into rice. Enjoy your meal!
