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Kongjuk
Kongjuk (콩죽): creamy Korean soybean and rice porridge
Kongjuk is the porridge Korean families make when they want something filling but plain: soaked soybeans ground into a milk with rice and cooked until it is thick, pale and creamy. It is a breakfast and a summer staple in the countryside, eaten with a little salt and some kimchi or radish on the side. The mistake to avoid is under-blending the beans: gritty bean skins make the porridge grainy, so blend long and fine, or sieve it. Stir often too, because soy milk catches on the bottom quickly. Chef's tip: skim off the loose skins after soaking by rubbing the beans between your palms under water; the porridge comes out silkier and whiter.
- Total time
- 60 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 5 ½ oz dried soybeanssoaked in cold water for 8–12 hours
- 2 ⅞ oz short-grain ricesoaked for 1 hour
- 1.2 litres water
- ½ tsp saltplus more at the table
- 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds (optional)
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What you'll need
Spices & pantry
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Drain 5 ½ oz dried soybeans, rub them between your hands in a bowl of fresh water to loosen the skins, and pour off the skins that float. Drain again.
Step 2: Blend the beans with 600 ml of 1.2 litres water for 2 full minutes, until completely smooth. Sieve if you want it very silky.
Step 3: Drain 2 ⅞ oz short-grain rice and blend it with 200 ml of the remaining water until it looks like coarse sand.
Step 4: Put the rice mixture and the last 400 ml of water in a heavy pan and cook over a medium heat, stirring, for 10 minutes until it starts to thicken.
10 minStep 5: Pour in the soybean milk and bring to a gentle simmer over a medium-low heat. Cook for 25–30 minutes, stirring the bottom every couple of minutes, until thick enough to coat a spoon and no longer tasting of raw beans.
30 minStep 6: Season with ½ tsp salt, ladle into bowls and scatter with 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds. Let everyone add more salt to taste.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 280 kcal
- Protein
- 16 g
- Carbs
- 36 g
- Fat
- 8 g
- Fibre
- 4 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does kongjuk take?
- About 60 minutes in total: 20 minutes to prepare and 40 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of short-grain rice?
- Any long-grain rice, same amount.
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