Spicy & Sweet Marinated Shrimp (Yangnyeom Saeu Jang)
#MarinatedShrimp #SpicyShrimp #KoreanHomeCooking #RiceThief #EasyShrimpRecipe
Introducing Yangnyeom Saeu Jang, made with freshly peeled and flash-frozen shrimp to preserve their crisp texture. This recipe features a homemade marinade blending sweet fruits like pear and apple with onions. The sauce is seasoned with rich Eogan-jang (fish soy sauce) and thickened with Jocheong (rice syrup), offering a subtle sweetness. A secret ingredient, spicy ramen soup powder, adds a thrilling, numbing heat, making this a truly addictive ‘rice thief’ dish. Perfect for a flavorful meal, this detailed guide ensures even beginners can create this delightful Korean delicacy.
Ingredients- Peeled Shrimp 500g
- 1 Onion (medium)
- 1 Pear (medium)
- 1 Apple (medium)
- 4 Tbsp Minced Garlic (approx. 40g)
- 1 tsp Minced Ginger (approx. 5g)
- 3 Tbsp Chopped Scallions (approx. 20g)
- 8 Tbsp Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes, approx. 50g)
- 1 Tbsp Spicy Ramen Soup Powder (approx. 10g)
- 5 Tbsp Eogan-jang (fish soy sauce, approx. 60ml)
- 1 Tbsp Minced Red Chili Pepper (approx. 15g, for garnish or added spice)
- 2 Tbsp Soju (Korean rice wine, approx. 30ml, to remove fishiness)
- 4 Tbsp Jocheong (rice syrup, approx. 60ml, for sweetness and gloss)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare the fruits and vegetables that will form the base of your marinade. Peel and core the apple and pear, then chop them along with the onion into manageable pieces. Place them in a blender and process until smooth and pureed. This fruit and vegetable puree will create a flavorful and moist foundation for your sauce.
Step 2
Transfer the pureed apple, pear, and onion into a clean bowl or a deep container. Be sure to scrape out all the puree from the blender to maximize flavor and minimize waste.
Step 3
Add the remaining marinade ingredients to the bowl with the fruit and vegetable puree. Mix well: incorporate the Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes), spicy ramen soup powder for that unique kick, minced garlic and ginger for aroma, Eogan-jang for deep umami, chopped scallions for freshness, Soju to eliminate any fishiness, minced red chili for color and heat, and Jocheong for a subtle sweetness and glossy finish. Stir everything thoroughly with a spoon until you achieve a thick, appetizing marinade consistency. Taste the marinade and adjust seasoning as needed – add more sugar or syrup if you prefer it sweeter, or more Eogan-jang or regular soy sauce if it lacks saltiness.
Step 4
Your thick and luscious Yangnyeom Saeu Jang marinade is now complete! You can mix it with the shrimp immediately, but for a deeper flavor, chill it in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes to an hour to let the flavors meld. (In this recipe, the shrimp arrived two days later, so the marinade was made ahead.)
Step 5
After some time, a little liquid will have released from the marinated ingredients, making the sauce even more moist and flavorful. Get ready to combine this enhanced sauce with your shrimp.
Step 6
Here are the fresh, peeled shrimp that arrived via early morning delivery. They are best when slightly icy from being kept frozen. If you are using fresh shrimp that you’ve cleaned and deveined yourself, it’s recommended to freeze them for about 2 hours before making the marinade. This slight freezing helps the marinade adhere better and improves the shrimp’s texture.
Step 7
Add the slightly frozen shrimp to the prepared marinade. Gently toss and mix, ensuring each shrimp is thoroughly coated with the sauce. Burying the shrimp within the marinade helps the flavors penetrate deeply. Place the finished Yangnyeom Saeu Jang in an airtight container and refrigerate. It’s highly recommended to let it marinate for at least 3 days before serving for the best taste. Storing it in a kimchi refrigerator allows for slow, optimal maturation.
Step 8
And here it is – the perfectly spicy and incredibly savory Yangnyeom Saeu Jang is ready! The pleasantly spicy and rich flavor is incredibly appetizing and truly earns its title as a ‘rice thief’. The plump, fresh shrimp combined with the exquisite marinade are so satisfying that one piece can easily make you devour a whole bowl of rice. Enjoy it over rice as a donburi-style dish, or simply pick at the shrimp with chopsticks for a delightful treat.
