A classic Korean dipping sauce.
Typically eaten with galbi, ssamjang is usually smeared onto a lettuce leaf, along with a morsel of barbequed meat and raw vegetables. Ssamjang’s appeal is not just confined to being a condiment for Korean food; it is also great on burgers and is insanely good in grilled/toasted cheese sandwiches! The soya bean paste gives the sauce a wonderful smoky depth which, in truth, goes with just about any kind of barbequed meat – Korean or not!
For years I have always thought of ssamjang as being a hot, spicy sauce, and why would I think otherwise? Ssamjang is, after all, a Korean condiment. And then, quite by chance, I recently re-read the recipe and realised that I had, in fact, been confusing the quantities of the soya bean and chilli pastes! I was mortified. My beloved spicy ssamjang was, in fact, nothing more than a fiery aberration! At any rate, it turned out to be a happy mistake, as both versions are equally tasty. I have just come to think of my spicy ssamjang as being my personal contribution to Korean cuisine.
The following recipe is actually for the traditional version of the sauce, but if you would like to try my mutant ssamjang, simply reverse the quantities of the chilli and soya bean pastes (i.e. 1/4 cup gochujang and 1 tbsp. doenjang).
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Ssamjang (Spicy Korean Dipping Sauce)
- ¼ cup doenjang (Korean soya bean paste)
- 1 tbsp gochujang (Korean chilli paste)
- 1 spring onion, finely minced
- 1 garlic clove, crushed
- 1/2 tbsp honey
- 2 tsp sesame seeds, toasted
- 2 tsp sesame oil
Method:
- Place all the ingredients in a bowl
- Combine until completely mixed
- Transfer to a small serving bowl
the muddled pantry 