Savory Cabbage Wraps with Hearty Soybean Paste
Nutritious Cabbage Wraps featuring a Rich Soybean Paste (Gangdoenjang) by Kkulcheo
Hello everyone, it’s Kkulcheo! ♡ On these hot summer days when cooking feels like a chore, here’s a simple yet delicious dish that’s perfect for a quick meal. It’s not too hot to cook, easy to prepare, and incredibly popular even when packed as a lunchbox meal: ‘Kkulcheo’s Gangdoenjang Cabbage Wraps’. Let’s get cooking right away! ♡
For the Cabbage Wraps
- 4-5 fresh cabbage leaves
- 10 clam meat pieces
- 1/4 onion
- 7cm piece of green onion
- 3 stalks of chives
- 1 cheongyang pepper (Korean chili pepper)
For the Rich Soybean Paste (Gangdoenjang)
- 4 Tbsp soybean paste (doenjang)
- 1 Tbsp spicy red pepper flakes (gochugaru)
- 2 Tbsp mirin (rice wine)
- 3 Tbsp sesame oil
- 0.5 Tbsp soy sauce
- 0.3 Tbsp sesame seeds
- 0.2 tsp black pepper
- 0.5 Tbsp minced garlic
- 4 Tbsp soybean paste (doenjang)
- 1 Tbsp spicy red pepper flakes (gochugaru)
- 2 Tbsp mirin (rice wine)
- 3 Tbsp sesame oil
- 0.5 Tbsp soy sauce
- 0.3 Tbsp sesame seeds
- 0.2 tsp black pepper
- 0.5 Tbsp minced garlic
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Bring a pot of water to a boil and add a pinch of salt. Gently blanch the cabbage leaves. For wraps, you want the cabbage to be pliable, so boil them slightly longer than you normally would until they are very soft and easy to fold.
Step 2
Finely mince the onion, green onion, and cheongyang pepper. To remove any fishy smell from the clam meat, marinate it with 1 Tbsp mirin and a tiny bit of pepper (0.1 tsp). Once the cabbage leaves are blanched, rinse them under cold water and squeeze out any excess moisture.
Step 3
Heat 2 Tbsp of sesame oil in a pot over medium heat. Add the minced onion, green onion, and the marinated clam meat. Stir-fry briefly, just until the vegetables and clams are coated with sesame oil, about 30 seconds to a minute.
Step 4
Add 4 Tbsp soybean paste, 1 Tbsp spicy red pepper flakes, 1 Tbsp mirin, 0.5 Tbsp minced garlic, and 0.1 tsp black pepper to the pot with the stir-fried ingredients. Pour in 1/2 cup of water. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the mixture thickens and the liquid has reduced, creating a rich paste. Once it reaches your desired consistency, turn off the heat and stir in the minced cheongyang pepper for a spicy kick.
Step 5
In a bowl, combine one serving of cooked rice with the chopped chives. Add 0.5 Tbsp soy sauce, 1 Tbsp sesame oil, and 0.3 Tbsp sesame seeds. Mix well to season the rice lightly.
Step 6
Shape the seasoned rice into compact portions, similar to sushi rice. Place a portion of rice onto each blanched cabbage leaf. Top with your desired amount of the rich soybean paste and carefully wrap the cabbage around the rice.
Step 7
Voila! Your delicious and healthy ‘Gangdoenjang Cabbage Wraps’ are ready. This dish is perfect for everyone, easy to make, and wonderfully satisfying. Enjoy!
