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Korean-style serving of Cheonggukjang stew

청국장 · Cheonggukjang stew

Cheonggukjang stew

청국장

What exactly is it?

Quick-fermented soybeans make a stew with visible beans and a pronounced fermented aroma. Its flavor differs from a stew using long-aged doenjang. Kimchi can add acidity, and the amount of chili varies by cook.

Main ingredients

Quick-fermented soybeans, tofu, vegetables such as radish or kimchi

Ordering and serving

If the aroma is unfamiliar, a small accompaniment portion can be an easier introduction. Some sets pair it with barley rice. Kimchi or meat stock may be included, so the soybean base does not guarantee a vegetarian dish.

Origins and changes

Jeungbo Sallim Gyeongje records a preparation involving fermented beans. Stories connect the name with wartime cooking or Qing China, but those explanations are not a single established invention account. The documented short soybean-fermentation method is the firmer basis.

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Dish to compare

Cheonggukjang stew

청국장

Main ingredients
Quick-fermented soybeans, tofu, vegetables such as radish or kimchi
Flavor and character
Quick-fermented soybeans make a stew with visible beans and a pronounced fermented aroma. Its flavor differs from a stew using long-aged doenjang. Kimchi can add acidity, and the amount of chili varies by cook.
How to eat it
If the aroma is unfamiliar, a small accompaniment portion can be an easier introduction. Some sets pair it with barley rice. Kimchi or meat stock may be included, so the soybean base does not guarantee a vegetarian dish.
Read about this dish →

Kimchi jjigae

김치찌개

Main ingredients
Aged kimchi, pork or tuna, tofu
Flavor and character
Ripe, sour kimchi is simmered with ingredients such as pork and tofu. The cooking draws meat fat and seasoning into the broth and softens the cabbage. Pork, canned tuna and saury versions differ, so the meat or fish named on the menu matters.
How to eat it
Distinguish an individual bowl from a shared pot with a minimum order. A table burner may simply keep a prepared stew hot. If raw meat is added, wait until it is cooked before eating.
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