Spinach Doenjang Guk (Soybean Paste Stew): Nutritious and Rich in Umami
The Ultimate Home-Style Korean Recipe: How to Make Delicious Spinach Doenjang Guk
A comforting and hearty Spinach Doenjang Guk that makes you want to eat it with rice. The fresh, crisp spinach combined with the savory depth of doenjang is perfect even when you don’t have much appetite.
Main Ingredients- 1/2 bunch fresh spinach
- 1/2 medium onion
- 1/2 stalk green onion
Broth Seasoning- 1L water (or anchovy-kelp broth, or rice water)
- 1 Tbsp Doenjang (Korean soybean paste)
- 1/2 Tbsp Gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp dried shrimp powder
- 1L water (or anchovy-kelp broth, or rice water)
- 1 Tbsp Doenjang (Korean soybean paste)
- 1/2 Tbsp Gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp dried shrimp powder
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare 1L of broth, which is the foundation for a delicious stew. You can make your own anchovy-kelp broth or use a convenient teabag broth for a deep flavor. Using rice water will also give a nice savory taste.
Step 2
Carefully trim the roots of the fresh spinach and rinse it thoroughly under running water several times to remove any dirt. This ensures a clean and pleasant taste.
Step 3
To add sweetness and a refreshing flavor to the stew, thinly slice half of the onion into about 0.5cm thick strips. Slicing them too thinly might cause them to break down too much during cooking.
Step 4
Now, let’s start cooking the stew! Heat a pot over medium heat. Add 1 Tbsp of doenjang and dissolve it in the broth or water, stirring gently. It’s important to make sure the doenjang is fully dissolved without clumps.
Step 5
Once the doenjang is mostly dissolved, add 1/2 Tbsp of gochujang for a touch of spice and deeper flavor, and stir it in. The balanced ratio of doenjang and gochujang will make the broth wonderfully rich.
Step 6
When the doenjang and gochujang mixture comes to a rolling boil in the broth, get ready to add the next ingredients.
Step 7
Add the thoroughly washed spinach and sliced onions to the pot. Spinach wilts down quickly, so don’t worry if it looks like a lot initially.
Step 8
Gently stir the spinach and onions so they are submerged in the broth. Make sure to stir to ensure the ingredients cook evenly.
Step 9
Add 1 Tbsp of minced garlic to enhance the stew’s flavor and stir gently. The pungent aroma of garlic will infuse into the broth, making it even more delicious.
Step 10
The key to the broth’s flavor! Add 1 Tbsp of dried shrimp powder for that extra umami boost and stir well. After all the seasonings are combined, reduce the heat to medium and simmer for about 5 minutes. This allows the ingredients to soften and the broth to deepen in flavor.
Step 11
While the stew is simmering, thinly slice about 1/2 cm of green onion, either diagonally or straight across, to add fresh fragrance. You can also add more minced garlic at this stage if you like.
Step 12
After simmering for 5 minutes and allowing the flavors to meld, add the prepared green onions to the pot. This will add a fresh aroma to the stew.
Step 13
Simmer for just 1 more minute after adding the green onions, and your nutritious and delicious Spinach Doenjang Guk is ready! Enjoy it immediately with a warm bowl of rice. ^^
