Korean · soup

Doenjang Jjigae (된장찌개)

Name: Doenjang Jjigae (된장찌개)
Prep time: 30 min
Total time: 35 min
Cuisine: Korean
Ingredients: 3 tbsp doenjang fermented soybean paste; 4 cups anchovy and kelp broth; 1 small zucchini, diced; 7 oz firm tofu, cubed; 4 oz mushrooms, sliced; 1 onion, diced; 1 medium potato, diced; 3 garlic cloves, minced; 1 tsp gochugaru; 2 scallions, sliced

Doenjang Jjigae (된장찌개) reads umami 8.0, salinity 6.5 and funk & ferment 5.3 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a Korean soup, about 35 min. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.

The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10

Umami & Savory — 9.6 / 10
Sweet & Fruity — 1.6 / 10
Sour & Bright — 0.6 / 10
Bitter & Earthy — 3.4 / 10
Rich & Fat — 4.4 / 10
Aromatic & Spice — 4.5 / 10

The measured notes (of 18)

Umami 8.0 · Salinity 6.5 · Funk & Ferment 5.3 · Marine & Briny 4.3 · Richness 4.2 · Allium 4.1 · Earthy 3.1 · Herbaceous 2.1 · Heat 1.5 · Sweetness 1.5 · Warm Spice 1.1 · Bitterness 1.0 · Nutty 0.6 · Smoke 0.6 · Sourness 0.6

What's in it (10)

3 tbsp doenjang fermented soybean paste
4 cups anchovy and kelp broth
1 small zucchini, diced
7 oz firm tofu, cubed
4 oz mushrooms, sliced
1 onion, diced
1 medium potato, diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp gochugaru
2 scallions, sliced

Time & effort: about 35 min (30 min active) · effort: easy

Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 131.2 kcal, 16.1 g protein, 5.9 g fat, 4 g carbs

Dietary: Contains meat · Contains seafood — engine-derived; double-check anything allergy-critical.

How it's cooked (3 steps)

Bring anchovy-kelp broth to a boil and dissolve in doenjang, adjusting to taste.
Add diced potato, zucchini, onion, and mushrooms and simmer until vegetables are tender.
Add tofu and a little gochugaru, simmer briefly, and serve scattered with scallions.

Dishes with a similar flavor shape

Yukgaejang (Spicy Shredded Beef Soup with Fern and Sprouts) — Korean
Sundubu Jjigae (순두부찌개) — Korean
La Paz Batchoy (Ilonggo Noodle Soup) — Filipino
Banh Cuon (Steamed Rice Rolls) — Vietnamese
Cha Gio (Fried Spring Rolls) — Vietnamese

Keep reading: what umami, salinity, funk & ferment mean in the flavor lexicon · the world's cuisines, by flavor.

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Every number above is Palate's engine-measured estimate, computed from this recipe's ingredients and techniques — not human-tasted ratings or reviews.