Savory Tuna Ssamjang Sauce
Quick & Delicious Tuna Ssamjang Sauce from Pantry Staples
For picky eaters who aren’t fond of vegetables, I cleared out my fridge to make this flavorful Tuna Ssamjang! It’s a versatile dipping sauce that’s perfect for boosting your appetite.
Main Ingredients- 1 can Tuna (drained)
- 1/4 Onion
- 1/4 Carrot
- 1-2 Cheongyang peppers (optional, adjust to taste)
- A small amount of Green onion
Seasoning- 1.5 Tbsp Doenjang (Korean soybean paste)
- 1 Tbsp Gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 1 Tbsp Minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp Mirin (rice wine for cooking)
- 0.5 Tbsp Sugar
- 1 Tbsp Toasted sesame seeds
- 1 Tbsp Tuna extract (or soy sauce)
- 1 Tbsp Sesame oil
- 1.5 Tbsp Doenjang (Korean soybean paste)
- 1 Tbsp Gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 1 Tbsp Minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp Mirin (rice wine for cooking)
- 0.5 Tbsp Sugar
- 1 Tbsp Toasted sesame seeds
- 1 Tbsp Tuna extract (or soy sauce)
- 1 Tbsp Sesame oil
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, don’t discard the oil from the canned tuna. It adds great flavor! Heat the tuna oil in a pot and sauté the chopped green onions until fragrant and slightly golden. Once the green onions are fragrant, add the drained tuna and sauté it together.
Step 2
I used whatever vegetables I had in the fridge. Finely chop the onion, carrot, and Cheongyang peppers. If you’re making this for children, you might want to reduce or omit the spicy peppers and chop the vegetables very finely for a smoother texture.
Step 3
Add the chopped vegetables to the pot with the sautéed tuna and green onions. Stir-fry until the vegetables soften slightly. Then, add the doenjang, gochujang, minced garlic, mirin, sugar, and tuna extract (or soy sauce). Stir well to combine all the ingredients and cook over medium-low heat. Cooking slowly prevents the sauce from burning and allows it to thicken beautifully.
Step 4
As the sauce thickens and the ssamjang reaches a rich consistency, it’s almost ready. Finally, add the toasted sesame seeds and sesame oil, and give it one last stir. The nutty aroma of sesame oil will add an extra layer of deliciousness.
Step 5
Once the vegetables are tender and the savory flavors of the doenjang and tuna have melded into a thick ssamjang, it’s complete! Serve this over hot rice for a delicious rice bowl, or spoon it generously onto fresh leafy greens for an amazing side dish. Enjoy!
