is Doubanjiang (Szechuan hot bean paste) an acceptable substitute in recipes calling for Doenjang (Korean fermented bean paste)?
I have a LOT of Doubanjiang taking up valuable space right now. I wanted to make some Ssamjang which calls for Doenjang.
Even the names are remarkably similar...
Best Answer
The two have almost nothing in common, beyond being fermented and pastes (though doubanjiang is only sort of paste-like). The ingredients (broad beans and chilies versus soybeans) and the taste are very different.
That’s not to say that you’re not allowed to make a sauce for your ssam with doubanjiang, of course. But one is not a straightforward substitute for the other.
Pictures about "is Doubanjiang (Szechuan hot bean paste) an acceptable substitute in recipes calling for Doenjang (Korean fermented bean paste)?"
Can I substitute doenjang for doubanjiang?
So, normally ssamjang calls for both doenjang (which is generally, but not always, not spicy), and gochujang (which is spicy). Presumably you'd be substituting your doubanjiang for both of those things, not just one of them, since it has both beans and chilis.What can I use instead of a doenjang?
The best substitutes for Doenjang- Sweet Bean Sauce.
- Miso.
- Gochujang.
- Doubanjiang.
- Korean soy sauce.
- Ground Bean Sauce.
- Fermented black beans.
- Hoisin Sauce.
Can doubanjiang substitute?
If you are looking for a substitute for your spicy Doubanjiang sauce, you can always go for some Indonesian chili sauce that is also called Sambal Oelek. It has a similar spicy flavor. Another substitute would be gochujang which is a Korean chili paste that is made with fermented soybeans.What can I substitute for fermented bean paste?
If you can't find ground bean sauce, you can substitute a similar fermented soybean sauce like hoisin sauce, chee hou sauce, or regular bean paste.Broad Bean Paste | Dou Ban Paste | 豆瓣酱 | Chinese Cooking Ingredients
More answers regarding is Doubanjiang (Szechuan hot bean paste) an acceptable substitute in recipes calling for Doenjang (Korean fermented bean paste)?
Answer 2
So, normally ssamjang calls for both doenjang (which is generally, but not always, not spicy), and gochujang (which is spicy). Presumably you'd be substituting your doubanjiang for both of those things, not just one of them, since it has both beans and chilis.
You'll also encounter three other differences: generally doubanjiang is looser than the Korean pastes -- it's more of a mixture than a paste, with lots of free oil. It's also both spicier and saltier than either Korean sauce.
That said, I'd bet that a sauce made with doubanjiang, green and white onion, sesame seeds, sesame oil, and honey, would actually be pretty good, even if it would taste substantially different from Korean standard. So it's a question of whether you're looking for a real Korean flavor, or just a tasty hot sauce.
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Ketut Subiyanto, Ketut Subiyanto, Ketut Subiyanto, Ketut Subiyanto