Creamy doenjang pasta perfectly blends Korean flavors with Italian pasta. This easy recipe combines a creamy doenjang sauce with Korean barbecue, creating a unique and delicious pasta dish that can be made in just minutes. If you love trying new Korean-Italian fusion recipes, you must try this dish!
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What is Doenjang Pasta?
Creamy doenjang pasta is a fusion dish combining traditional Korean soybean paste (doenjang) and Italian-style pasta. Its creamy sauce, made with doenjang, butter, and sometimes cream, gives the pasta a rich, umami flavor.
Bon Appétit Your Majesty Recipes
Are you looking for Bon Appétit Your Majesty recipes? Do you remember the doenjang pasta that Yeon Ji-young made in the drama? She made the pasta sauce with broth infused with small clams and stir-fried doenjang, used buckwheat noodles as the pasta base, and topped it with seasoned spinach as a garnish!
Actually, Korean doenjang has a much stronger aroma and saltier flavor compared to Japanese miso. So, if you’re not familiar with doenjang or Korean food, the doenjang pasta shown in the drama might not suit your taste.
But if you make it like this creamy doenjang recipe I’m about to share—adding cream to soften the flavor—it creates a rich, cheese-like taste that turns into an incredibly delicious fusion Korean pasta. And if you top it with Korean BBQ seasoned with doenjang, it’s no less than a Michelin restaurant dish.
What Is Doenjang?
Doenjang is one of the most important fermented seasonings in Korea. It is made by mixing meju (fermented soybean blocks) with brine and then fermenting the mixture. The remaining solids are used after the soy sauce has been extracted. Doenjang is commonly used to make soups, stews, and ssamjang, a dipping sauce for wraps.
Doenjang: The umami-rich secret of Korean flavors
Korean BBQ is trendy all over the world these days. Even here in Belgium, Korean BBQ restaurants are popping up more and more. Have you ever tried Korean BBQ marinated with doenjang (Korean fermented soybean paste)? It might sound unusual, but doenjang can be one of the best marinades for meat. Marinating meat with doenjang adds a rich depth of flavor and boosts its umami. The fermentation in doenjang tenderizes the meat, and its natural sweetness and saltiness create a complex flavor. Plus, the enzymes in doenjang helps to age the meat, reducing any strong odors.
Ingredients for Pasta with Creamy Doenjang
- Linguine or any pasta
- Pork belly
- Garlic
- Olive oil
- Doenjang (Korean soybean paste): for pasta sauce and marinating the pork
- Heavy cream
- Black pepper
- Salt
- Scallions: for garnish)
Quick Creamy Doenjang Pasta Recipe
- Marinate Pork: Mix 1/2 tbsp doenjang with garlic, coat pork, sit 10 min.
- Cook Pasta: Boil linguine in salted water 7 min, drain.
- Grill Pork: Cook marinated pork over medium heat, set aside.
- Make Sauce: Sauté garlic in olive oil, add 1 tbsp doenjang, then cream and black pepper. Simmer until slightly thick.
- Combine: Toss pasta with sauce and pork, add pasta water for consistency.
- Serve: Plate, garnish with scallions, enjoy!
FAQs about Doenjang Cream Pasta
Is doenjang the same as miso?
No, doenjang is a Korean fermented soybean paste, while miso is Japanese. Doenjang is chunkier and has a deeper, stronger flavor.
What is the difference between miso and doenjang pasta?
Miso pasta tends to be lighter and sweeter, while doenjang pasta is richer and more earthy, providing a distinctive Korean umami flavor.
Can I replace doenjang with miso?
Yes, but the flavor is very different. For authentic Korean taste, doenjang is recommended.
What is doenjang good for?
Doenjang is used in stews, soups, sauces, and marinades, adding umami flavor and depth.
Is doenjang spicy?
No, doenjang is not spicy, though some recipes combine it with chili for heat.
Is soybean paste healthy?
Yes, doenjang is rich in protein, probiotics, and vitamins, making it good for digestion and overall health.
What is doenjang in English?
Doenjang is Korean fermented soybean paste.
How do you eat doenjang?
Commonly in soups, stews, sauces, or as a seasoning for vegetables, meat, and rice dishes.
How do I make my pasta more creamy?
To make your pasta creamier, you can use all cream instead of adding milk. Grating in Parmesan cheese will also make it richer, thicker, and more flavorful.
Other Korean Dishes Using Doenjang
- Clam Spinach Doenjang Soup: This is the spinach doenjang soup recipe featured in the Korean drama Bon Appétit, Your Majesty. The soup has a refreshing broth made with clams, and the natural sweetness of the spinach pairs perfectly with the savory flavor, making it a delicious Korean soup.
- Kimchi Jjim (Braised Kimchi): Adding doenjang to braised kimchi helps remove the pork odor and deepens the flavor of the broth.
- Bossam (Korean Boiled Pork Wraps): Doenjang is essential when making bossam. It eliminates the pork odor and infuses the meat with rich, savory flavor.
Kitchen Guide for Doenjang Pasta
- Doenjang: Korean soybean paste. This cannot be substituted with Japanese miso, as doenjang has its own unique aroma and deep, rich flavor that is distinct to Korea.
Creamy Doenjang Pasta with Korean BBQ
Equipment
- 1 Medium-sized pan
- 1 Pot (for boiling pasta)
- 1 Knife and cutting board
- 1 Tongs
- 1 Sauce ladle (for scooping pasta water)
Ingredients
- 100 g Linguine
- 100 g Pork belly
- 2 cloves Garlic
- 5 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp Doenjang (Korean soybean paste) for pasta sauce
- 1/2 tbsp Doenjang (Korean soybean paste) for marinating pork
- 150 ml Heavy cream
- 1 tsp Black pepper
- 2 pinches Salt
- 5 g Scallions for garnish
Instructions
- Marinate the pork belly with 1/2 tbsp doenjang
- and 1 tsp minced garlic.
- Let the meat sit for 10–15 minutes.
- Boil linguini in salted water (with 2 pinches of salt) for 7 minutes.
- Grill the pork belly in a pan.
- Cook the meat over medium heat, being careful not to let it burn.
- Then set it aside.
- Slice garlic and sauté in the pork fat oil.
- Add 1 tbsp of doenjang to the garlic and cook on low heat.
- Pour in 150ml of heavy cream .
- Add a generous amount of black pepper.
- Simmer the cream over low heat until it thickens slightly.
- Transfer the cooked pasta into the cream sauce.
- Add 1/2 ladle of pasta water, and continue to simmer.
- Add the pork belly back in, and cook until the sauce reaches a creamy consistency.
- Plate the pasta.
- and pork belly
- , and garnish with chopped green onions.
Jal meokgetseumnida!
- 잘 먹겠습니다!
Video
Did you make this recipe?
Please let me know how it turned out for you! Leave a comment below and tag @blondekimchi_ on Instagram and hashtag it #blondekimchi.
This fusion recipe is brilliant! The richness of doenjang paired with the creaminess of the sauce is just amazing. I never thought to mix Korean BBQ with pasta, but it works so well! The pork belly adds the perfect amount of juiciness, and the scallions give it that extra freshness. It’s definitely a dish that will impress anyone you serve it to.