Meaty Ssamjang (Korean Dipping Sauce)
Meaty Ssamjang (Korean Dipping Sauce)
Make Delicious, Long-Lasting Ssamjang at Home
With just 6 simple ingredients from your pantry, you can make a generous batch of ssamjang to enjoy for a long time! Perfect for grilled meats and fresh vegetables.
Ingredients- Gochujang (Korean chili paste) 200g
- Doenjang (Korean soybean paste) 600g
- Garlic cloves 7
- Honey 85-90g
- Crushed toasted sesame seeds, a pinch
- Sesame oil, a drizzle
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
For a more engaging and detailed walkthrough with helpful tips, please refer to the video: https://youtu.be/adgVxDhDlg0
Step 2
For making ssamjang, I prefer using homemade doenjang that’s less than a year old and ‘Taeyangcho’ gochujang (sun-dried chili paste). Homemade doenjang is typically not too salty and has a milder aroma, making it ideal for ssamjang. Taeyangcho gochujang offers a nice balance of spiciness and sweetness. Using extremely spicy gochujang can sometimes overpower the other flavors, creating an unbalanced taste. When mixed, these ingredients create a beautiful color.
Step 3
I generally use a 1:3 ratio of gochujang to doenjang (this recipe uses 200g gochujang and 600g doenjang). If you prefer a stronger doenjang flavor, feel free to adjust the ratio to 1:3.5 or 1:4.
Step 4
Next, roughly mince 7 cloves of garlic and add them to the mixture. (You can also use pre-minced garlic, but I find that fresh garlic provides a better umami flavor and prevents the ssamjang from becoming watery later on.)
Step 5
Add 85-90g of honey and mix everything thoroughly. (Some honeys have a very strong aroma; I prefer using acacia honey which has a milder scent. If you don’t have honey, you can substitute it with corn syrup.)
Step 6
After mixing all the ingredients, taste the ssamjang. Adjust the flavor by adding more gochujang, doenjang, or honey until it reaches your desired taste. This is where you personalize your ssamjang!
Step 7
Finally, add a pinch of crushed toasted sesame seeds and about one tablespoon of sesame oil. Mix well. Be careful not to add too much sesame oil, as its strong aroma can dominate; just a drizzle is usually enough. Your delicious ssamjang is now ready!
Step 8
This homemade ssamjang can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 6 months. Enjoy it anytime you crave a flavorful dipping sauce!
