Frozen Meal Prep: Dwaeji Galbi Jjim and Gang Doenjang
This is a frozen meal prep recipe for Dwaeji Galbi Jjim (Braised Pork Ribs) and Gang Doenjang (Thick Soybean Paste Stew), prepared once every two weeks.
A meal prep recipe for tender, slow-cooked pork galbi-jjim (braised pork ribs) that can be prepared in advance and frozen.
📝 Editor's Notes
Gang-doenjang (강된장) is a Korean soul food that's perfect mixed with rice.
This recipe is for a meal-prep friendly gang-doenjang packed with various vegetables, offering both nutrition and flavor.
The savory and salty doenjang base, combined with the spicy kick of gochujang (고추장) and the refreshing heat of Cheongyang chili peppers (청양고추), makes for a hearty meal with just one bowl.
Preparing and freezing it in advance allows for easy enjoyment of a healthy and delicious meal even on busy days, making it a moderately easy recipe for even novice cooks.
It's suitable for the whole family to enjoy any season.
🛒 Ingredient Tips
For doenjang (된장), the key ingredient that determines the taste of gang-doenjang, choose a homemade one or a commercial product with a deep, savory flavor.
It's important to select a product that isn't too salty.
Fresh and delicious Korean zucchini (애호박) should be firm, glossy, and free of blemishes.
Although its peak season is summer, good quality Korean zucchini can be found year-round these days.
For shiitake mushrooms, thick, firm caps are best, and using dried shiitake mushrooms rehydrated in water will deepen the umami flavor.
Choosing good ingredients is half the battle won in cooking.
🔄 Substitution Guide
Instead of Korean zucchini (애호박), you can use potatoes or eggplant.
Potatoes will add a fluffier texture, while eggplant will offer a softer texture.
If you don't have shiitake mushrooms, king oyster mushrooms or oyster mushrooms can be good substitutes.
While they may lack the intense aroma of shiitake, other mushrooms will still provide plenty of umami and chewy texture.
If you dislike spicy food, you can use Korean shishito peppers (꽈리고추) instead of Cheongyang chili peppers (청양고추), or omit them entirely.
If you don't have anchovy and large-eyed herring broth coins, you can use kelp broth or rice water to achieve a savory and deep flavor, so feel free to cook flexibly according to what you have in your refrigerator.
🥘 Ingredients
👨🍳 Cooking Points
There are two main cooking points for this gang-doenjang recipe.
First, when dicing vegetables, cut them as small and uniformly as possible.
This ensures the seasoning is evenly absorbed by the vegetables and provides a tender, bite-sized texture.
Second, the process of stir-frying the doenjang (된장) and gochujang (고추장) with the vegetables is important.
Sautéing them sufficiently over low heat for 2-3 minutes removes the characteristic bitterness of the pastes and brings out a savory and deep umami flavor.
Finally, after adding water, simmer over low heat for 10-15 minutes to allow the flavors of all the ingredients to meld perfectly.
This is the secret to delicious gang-doenjang.
👨🍳 Directions
Wash 2 kg of pork ribs thoroughly a couple of times. Blanch them in boiling water with Cheongju (청주) or Soju (소주) for about 3 minutes to remove any remaining blood and impurities. Rinse well under cold water.
Score the thicker pork ribs (short ribs) which take longer to cook than back ribs, to ensure they cook evenly.
Prepare the blended seasoning by grinding the apple, onion, garlic, and ginger. Add 1.5 cups of soy sauce, 1/2 cup of sugar, 1 tbsp of coffee (granules), 1 tbsp of black pepper, and 4 tbsp of oligosaccharide syrup (올리고당). Mix well to create the marinade.
Coat the prepared pork ribs evenly with the marinade and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
Pour enough water into a pot to cover the meat. Add the marinated pork ribs and a few spicy chili peppers (e.g., Cheongyang chili peppers) or dried red chili peppers. Bring to a boil over high heat.
Once it boils, cover the pot and simmer over medium heat for 30 minutes.
After 30 minutes, add the carrots and continue to simmer over medium heat for another 20 minutes or longer.
After 20 minutes, season with soy sauce and sugar to taste. Add Cheongyang chili peppers (청양고추) and green onions, then boil over high heat for about 10 minutes until the sauce reaches your desired consistency.
Finally, sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and sesame oil. Let it cool completely, then portion and freeze for storage.
To thaw, briefly immerse the frozen portions in warm water for a few seconds to separate. Transfer to a plate, cover with plastic wrap, and microwave for about 6 minutes until heated through and warm.
💡 Tips
If you don't have fruit, you can add 1-2 cups of cola, adjusted to the amount of meat.
Pork ribs can be sharp due to the bones, so it's best to portion and freeze them in thick freezer bags.
Microwaving for just about 6 minutes will make it as warm and delicious as freshly made galbi-jjim.
📦 Storage & Reuse
It's crucial to cool the finished gang-doenjang completely before portioning and freezing.
Storing individual servings in heat-resistant glass containers in the freezer keeps it fresh for up to 1-2 months.
When serving, you can microwave it from frozen for about 5 minutes, or transfer it to a pot and gently heat it over low heat to enjoy the original taste.
Avoid refreezing after thawing.
Any leftover gang-doenjang is delicious mixed with warm rice or enjoyed as ssam (쌈) with fresh lettuce leaves.
🥢 Who This Is For
This gang-doenjang is an excellent dish for anyone who wants to enjoy healthy meals even during a busy daily routine.
It is highly recommended for those who find it hard to prepare meals on time, such as single dwellers or dual-income couples.
It's delicious mixed with warm rice, and you can experience an even richer flavor by enjoying it as ssam-bap (쌈밥) with ssam (쌈) vegetables like lettuce or perilla leaves.
It also pairs well with steamed cabbage or tofu.
It's a versatile dish, perfect as a side dish for rice or even an appetizer with drinks, so definitely give it a try.
🔥 Nutrition Info
This gang-doenjang is rich in dietary fiber due to its abundance of vegetables, and the fermented components of doenjang (된장) offer many benefits for gut health.
Per serving, it is estimated to be approximately 150-200 kcal, with about 5-10g of protein, 5-8g of fat, and 15-20g of carbohydrates.
Korean zucchini (애호박) and shiitake mushrooms, in particular, are rich in vitamins and minerals, which can help boost immunity.
You can also consume antioxidants like isoflavones found in doenjang itself, making it a nutritionally excellent meal.
However, the sodium content can be high, so it is recommended to adjust the amount of water or ingredients when consuming.
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