Savory & Sweet Soy-Braised Beef and Crunchy Cucumber & Pepper Salad
Savory & Sweet Soy-Braised Beef and Crunchy Cucumber & Pepper Salad
Heartfelt Homemade Side Dishes for My Beloved Daughter
My daughter always says the side dishes Mom makes are the most delicious! When she told me we were out of kimchi, I quickly whipped up some favorite homemade dishes on my day off. Let’s fill our table with this comforting soy-braised beef and crunchy cucumber and pepper salad!
Beef Jorim Ingredients- 300g beef (for jorim)
- 200g quail eggs (approx. 10-12 eggs)
- 20 whole garlic cloves
- 3 Cheongyang peppers
- 2 red chili peppers
- A few pieces of leftover pineapple for tenderizing (optional)
Jorim Seasoning- 5 Tbsp soy sauce
- 3 Tbsp mirin (or rice wine)
- 3 Tbsp rice syrup (or corn syrup)
Cucumber Pepper Doenjang Salad Ingredients- 5 cucumber peppers (or regular chili peppers)
- 1/2 Tbsp doenjang (Korean soybean paste)
- 2 Tbsp water
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- Toasted sesame seeds
- A drizzle of sesame oil
- 5 Tbsp soy sauce
- 3 Tbsp mirin (or rice wine)
- 3 Tbsp rice syrup (or corn syrup)
Cucumber Pepper Doenjang Salad Ingredients- 5 cucumber peppers (or regular chili peppers)
- 1/2 Tbsp doenjang (Korean soybean paste)
- 2 Tbsp water
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- Toasted sesame seeds
- A drizzle of sesame oil
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
[Beef Jorim] First, wash the red and Cheongyang peppers for the jorim, remove the stems, and cut them into bite-sized pieces (about 2-3 cm long). You can remove the seeds if you prefer less spice. 
Step 2
In a pot, combine 2 cups of water, the beef, and a few pieces of pineapple to help tenderize the meat. Bring to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, reduce to medium-low heat and simmer for about 10-15 minutes. Discard this initial water; this step helps remove impurities and unwanted odors.
Step 3
Add fresh 2 cups of water and the remaining pineapple pieces to the pot with the beef. Simmer until the beef is very tender, about 30 minutes to 1 hour. Once tender, remove the beef, let it cool slightly, and then slice it into bite-sized pieces following the grain. (The pineapple helps tenderize the meat and makes it more succulent.)
Step 4
Now, let’s make the jorim sauce and braise the ingredients. In the pot, combine the braised beef, hard-boiled quail eggs, sliced red and Cheongyang peppers, 20 whole garlic cloves, 5 Tbsp soy sauce, 3 Tbsp mirin, and 3 Tbsp rice syrup. Bring to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, reduce to medium-low heat and simmer for about 15-20 minutes, or until the sauce has reduced and coated the ingredients well. Stir occasionally to ensure even flavoring.
Step 5
[Cucumber Pepper Doenjang Salad] Wash the cucumber peppers thoroughly and remove the stems. Slice them into pieces about 0.5 to 1 cm thick. In a large bowl, combine the sliced peppers with 1/2 Tbsp doenjang, 2 Tbsp water, and 1 Tbsp minced garlic. Gently mix everything together with your hands. Finally, add toasted sesame seeds and a drizzle of sesame oil for a fragrant finish. This results in a crunchy and flavorful doenjang salad. 
