Soy-marinated eggs are a staple of Korean banchan and have avowed fans. The recipe requires minimal effort and prep time, but how you boil your eggs is essential. Jammy eggs with tender-firm egg whites have the optimal texture for this dish, but if you prefer hard-boiled eggs or soft-boiled eggs, adjust the cooking time accordingly. Either way, have an ice bath ready to keep the eggs in your preferred state of doneness. Once they’re cool enough to handle, peel the eggs under running cold water to watch the eggshells practically slip away.
The marinade is slightly different from those for the viral dish mayak gyeran or mayak eggs, which typically uses scallions and sugar or another sweetener in the marinade. This one is a tangy-spicy-salty mix of chiles, soy, mirin, and vinegar. The longer soy-sauce eggs marinate, the more flavorful they’ll be; if you have an hour or less, serve them quartered with some of the pickling liquid drizzled over, or stir some of the marinade into store-bought mayo (like Kewpie) and spread on toast before laying a sliced egg on top.
The submerged eggs will hold in the refrigerator in an airtight container for two days. Enjoy them atop a bowl of ramen, juk, or kimchi jjigae. Or, eat them more simply, over hot rice with a drizzle of sesame oil and a scattering of sliced green onions, pop a wedge or two as a midday snack, or put them out as an appetizer alongside deviled eggs and see which moves faster.
Recipe information
Total Time
1 hour 15 minutes
Yield
6 servings
Ingredients
6
5
3
¾
3
2
Preparation
Step 1
Fill a medium bowl halfway with ice, then cover ice with water and set aside. Gently lower 6 large eggs into a large saucepan of boiling water. When water returns to a gentle boil, cook 7 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer eggs to ice bath and let cool 2 minutes (eggs may still be a little warm). Remove eggs from ice bath and peel.
Step 2
Meanwhile, bring 5 garlic cloves, peeled, 3 dried chiles de árbol or 1 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes, ¾ cup soy sauce, 3 Tbsp. mirin, 2 Tbsp. unseasoned rice vinegar, and 2 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Reduce heat; simmer 5 minutes. Remove from heat and add peeled eggs. Let sit at room temperature at least 1 hour.
Step 3
To serve, drain eggs, quarter, and sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds (if using).
Do Ahead: Eggs can be marinated 2 days ahead. Cover and chill.
Editor’s note: This recipe for soy-marinated eggs was first printed in our March 2019 issue. Head this way for more top-tier egg recipes →
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