Rich and Flavorful Beef Brisket Doenjang Jjigae (Korean Soybean Paste Stew)
The Epitome of Home Cooking! How to Make Delicious Beef Brisket Doenjang Jjigae
If there’s one stew that frequently graces the Korean dining table, it’s undoubtedly Doenjang Jjigae (Soybean Paste Stew)! While I fondly recall my grandmother’s style, made with a rich anchovy broth and plenty of shiitake mushrooms, nowadays, we can elevate it even further by adding thinly sliced beef brisket for a deeper, more complex flavor. Today, I’ll share with you the secret to making a perfectly balanced Doenjang Jjigae, featuring the savory goodness of beef brisket, that is both clean-tasting and incredibly rich. Impress your family with a homemade stew that rivals any restaurant’s! Let’s get started.
Main Ingredients
- 200g thinly sliced beef brisket
- 2 Tbsp Doenjang (Korean soybean paste)
- 400mL Water
- 1/2 Onion
- 1/2 Zucchini (or Korean zucchini)
- 1 Potato
- 100g Chives
- 1/2 pack Enoki mushrooms
- 1 Hot pepper (e.g., Cheongyang chili pepper)
- 1 Tbsp Minced garlic
- 1/2 block Firm tofu
- 1/2 Tbsp Gochugaru (Korean red chili flakes)
- For Broth: 1 anchovy broth bag (5 anchovies, 2 pieces of dried kelp measuring 4x4cm)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, let’s prepare the vegetables that will give our Doenjang Jjigae its wonderful flavor. Dice the onion, potato, and zucchini into approximately 2cm cubes. Trim the base of the enoki mushrooms and cut them into 5cm lengths. Cut the chives into similar lengths. Thinly slice the hot pepper into about 0.7cm thick rounds – this adds a pleasant spicy kick. Cutting the ingredients into uniform sizes ensures they cook evenly, leading to a more delicious stew.
Step 2
Next, let’s prepare the firm tofu. Cut it into generous 2cm cubes, similar in size to the vegetables. Be careful not to cut them too small, as they might break apart during cooking.
Step 3
Now, let’s make the base for our delicious stew: the broth. In a pot, combine 400mL of water with the anchovy broth bag (containing 5 anchovies and 2 pieces of dried kelp). Bring it to a rolling boil over high heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium and simmer for about 7 minutes to extract the deep umami flavor from the anchovies and kelp. Remove the broth bag, leaving you with a clear, flavorful broth.
Step 4
Add all the prepared vegetables – the potato, onion, and zucchini – to the simmering anchovy-kelp broth. Bring it back to a boil over high heat and cook for 5 minutes. As the potatoes begin to soften, the vegetables will release their natural sweetness into the broth, creating an even richer taste.
Step 5
While the vegetables are cooking, prepare the Doenjang. Measure out 2 tablespoons of Doenjang. It’s crucial to adjust the amount based on the saltiness of your specific Doenjang. Taste the broth and add more Doenjang gradually until it reaches your desired saltiness. If it’s too salty, you can add a little more water.
Step 6
Once the vegetables are partially cooked, add the thinly sliced beef brisket. Let it cook briefly – just until it’s no longer pink. Beef brisket cooks very quickly, and overcooking can make it tough. The key is to cook it just enough for its rich juices to meld into the stew.
Step 7
When the beef brisket is just cooked, stir in 1 tablespoon of minced garlic. This will further enhance the savory aroma and flavor of the Doenjang Jjigae. Adding minced garlic towards the end helps preserve its fresh, pungent aroma.
Step 8
Now, gently add the cubed firm tofu. Let the stew simmer for a little longer until the tofu is heated through and has softened slightly, absorbing the flavors of the broth. Avoid stirring too vigorously to prevent the tofu from breaking apart.
Step 9
Finally, sprinkle in 1/2 tablespoon of Gochugaru (Korean red chili flakes) for a final touch of spicy, refreshing flavor. Your delicious Beef Brisket Doenjang Jjigae is now complete! This classic Korean comfort food, Doenjang Jjigae, is now ready to be enjoyed in your home with its rich and satisfying taste. Make this special Beef Brisket Doenjang Jjigae, often a delicacy at Korean BBQ restaurants, and enjoy a hearty and warm meal with your entire family!
