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Home Condiments and Sauces

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jin ganjang in glass gravy boat

Soy Sauce

Korean Name: 간장

Romanization: Jin-Gan-Jang

Also Known As: Ganjang, Whe Ganjang,

Flavor Profile/Texture:

salty umami sweet

Substitutes:

salt, chinese or japanese soy sauce

Goes well with:

meats, vegetables, vinegar, sugar, oil

What is Soy Sauce (Jin Ganjang) ?

Korean Guk Ganjag (Soy sauce for Soup) vs Jin Ganjang (Soy Sauce)
Korean Guk Ganjag (Soy sauce for Soup) vs Jin Ganjang (Soy Sauce)

Ganjang (soy sauce) is a liquid condiment made with fermented soybeans. Fermented bean blocks (meju) are put into brine, then strained and made into bean paste which is Doenjang. The left-over brine is further fermented into Guk Ganjang at first but then when it has matured over 5 years, it grows darker, less saltier and turns into Jin Gangjang.

Because it takes so many years to make Jin Ganjang, people mostly buy Jin Ganjang is the most commonly known type of soy sauce. The commercial Jin Ganjang is made from soybean paste, brine, koji cultures and caramel coloring. 

Koreans use Jin Ganjang in meat marinades, dipping sauces, braising and more.

Not To Be Confused With

Guk Ganjang 국간장 (Soup Soy Sauce), Chinese Dark Soy Sauce

Where and What To Buy

Korean Grocery Stores or Asian Grocery Stores. You can also buy the Organic Sempio Naturally Brewed Soy Sauce (my favorite) online at my Kimchimari shop HERE. You can also find it on Amazon but it's usually expensive so check the price before you buy.

Sempio is a well-known soy sauce company with a long history. Make sure you buy "Naturally Brewed" or Yangjo Ganjang 양조간장 but NOT Sanbunhae Ganjang 산분해간장 which is made chemically.

If you can, buy one with a high T.N. number which is a good indication of whether the sauce was naturally brewed or not. Read all about different types and more in my Korean Soy Sauce Guide article on how to buy the best soy sauce.

Here's what I like to buy when I feel I can afford to 😉.

I SELL these at my NEW Kimchimari Shop online store - BUY NOW.

but if you can't find this or feel it's too expensive, go for ones that say it's 자연 (natural).

 

Organice Naturally Brewed Soy Sauce by Sempio
Organice Naturally Brewed Soy Sauce by Sempio

How to Use/Cook

Soy sauce are great in

  • dipping sauce
  • marinades
  • braising meats
  • many korean side dishes

How to Clean/Store

Store at room temperature and the soy sauce will keep for years. Can be refrigerated but not necessarily.

Nutrition/Health Info

  • Does not contain the level of isoflavones that are associated with other soy products like doenjang or tofu.
  • High in Sodium content.
Click here to read more about Soy Sauce

Recipes that use it:

close up view of poke nachose plated

Poke Nachos with Gochujang Mayo Sauce

Snowman Rice Balls Christmas

Snowman Rice Balls (Jumeokbap) for Christmas!

Cooked bulgogi on white blueish plate topped with chopped green onions

Bulgogi (Korean BBQ Beef 불고기)

jangjorim braised beef in instant pot

Pressure Cooker Jangjorim (Soy Braised Beef) with Eggs

Braised Pike Mackerel (Kkongchi Jorim)

Korean Braised Saury and Rice Lettuce Wraps (Kkongchi Jorim Ssam-bap 꽁치조림 쌈밥)

InstantPot Short Ribs - Korean Galbi Jjim

Instant Pot Short Ribs (Galbi Jjim) – Fast and Delicious!

Chicken Bulgogi Rice

Easy Chicken Bulgogi (Dak Bulgogi) for Korean BBQ

oven baked korean spicy pork on green lettuce lined plate

Simple Oven Baked Korean Spicy Pork

soy sauce bibim guksu noodles picked up with chopsticks

Simple Korean Soy Sauce Noodles (Ganjang Bibim Guksu)

Kalbi Korean Short Ribs and Lettuce Ssam

BEST Kalbi (Korean BBQ Short Ribs) Marinade Recipe

chicken katsu sliced drizzled with sauce on plate

Chicken Katsu (치킨까스)

Korean pork belly bean sprouts stir fry on black plate

Pork Belly Stir Fry with Bean Sprouts (Daepae Samgyeopsal Sukju Bokkeum)

pan-fried abalone with sweet soy glaze

Pan-Fried Abalone Recipe with Soy Glaze

osam bulgogi spicy squid and pork stir fry all cooked in pan looking spicy and glistening

Spicy Squid and Pork Stir-Fry (Osam Bulgogi 오삼불고기)

Mumallaengi Muchim plated in white dish on striped bamboo mat

Mumallaengi Muchim (Spicy Dried Radish Salad)

Acorn Jelly pieces laid out on plate on greens then topped with sauce

How to make Acorn Jelly (Dotorimuk 도토리묵)

steamed perilla leaves plated on white dish with chopsticks

Steamed Perilla Leaves (Kkaennip Jjim)

Japchae Korean Glass Noodles Closeup

Best Japchae (Korean Glass Noodles) – Authentic and Amazing

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References:

Healthline

Korean Ingredient Glossary!

Learn about over 100 popular Korean ingredients in our new ingredient glossary!

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