Korean Daegu Doenjang Gui (Doenjang-Grilled Cod)

Name: Korean Daegu Doenjang Gui (Doenjang-Grilled Cod)
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 37 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Korean
Ingredients: cod fillet 700 g; doenjang 2 tbsp; cooking wine 1 tbsp; minced garlic 1 tbsp; oligosaccharide syrup 1 tbsp; sesame oil 1 tsp; black pepper 0.3 tsp; sesame seeds 1 tsp

Doenjang burns easily, so spread the marinade thinly over cod that has been pressed dry with paper towels, and let it sit for 15 minutes. Cook over medium heat with no added oil, or on parchment paper, for 5 to 6 minutes per side, and flip when the flesh opens into thick flakes and turns white and opaque: forcing it earlier breaks the fish apart. Cover thick fillets for 1 minute to finish cooking through.

Quick answer

Total time: 37 min
Level: Medium
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients: 8

About this dish

Brushed thinly with doenjang and grilled, the cod forms a thin, dark-brown skin of paste on top while the white flesh below stays moist and breaks into thick flakes.

Sliced scallion or perilla leaves go alongside.

Ingredients

servings

IngredientAmount

oligosaccharide syrup

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Instructions

6 steps

1

Press paper towels firmly over 700g cod fillets to remove all surface moisture, then cut into bite-size pieces about 5 to 6cm each.
2

Mix 2 tablespoons doenjang, 1 tablespoon cooking wine, 1 tablespoon minced garlic, 1 tablespoon oligosaccharide syrup, 1 teaspoon sesame oil, and 0.3 teaspoon pepper.
3

Apply the marinade thinly over the cod using a brush or fingers and let marinate for 15 minutes so the doenjang seeps evenly into the surface of the fish.
4

Preheat a pan or grill over medium heat, then place the cod without additional oil or on a sheet of parchment paper so the doenjang coating does not scorch.
5

Cook each side for 5 to 6 minutes.

The cue to flip is when the fish flesh opens into thick flakes and turns white and opaque. Forcing an early flip will break the fish apart, so wait until it releases naturally.
6

Plate the fish and sprinkle 1 tsp sesame seeds evenly for a nutty finish, then serve immediately while the savory fermented aroma of the doenjang is still vivid.