Jang

In the first book on the subject in English, South Korea's best chef shows readers how to cook with jangs-the sauces that are the essential building blocks of all Korean cuisine. In the 60 home-cook-friendly dishes, he demystifies jangs while showing how they can be used to make both Korean and Western dishes more delicious.

Like butter in French cooking or olive oil in Italian, jangs are the soul of Korean cuisine. These umami sauces are found in every meal, from soups and stews, to salads, marinades, and even desserts, adding depth and complexity to every dish. The foundation of the three main jangs- gochujang, doenjang, or ganjang-is simple. Soybeans, water, and salt are dried, aged, and fermented in earthenware pots, extracting flavor from their environment and slowly blossoming into intensely flavored jangs. Few understand these ingredients better than chef Mingoo Kang, who has dedicated his Seoul restaurant to the exploration of jangs. In his first cookbook, Kang expertly weaves jangs' history and methods into 60 accessible recipes to bring the sauces to life. Dishes like Fish Dumplings and Gang-Doenjang Bibimbap showcase the sauces' traditional Korean roots, while Western-inspired recipes like Doenjang Creme Brulee and Ssamjang Cacio e Pepe reinvent favorite meals. Through artisan profiles, sidebars, and step-by-step photographs, Jang uncovers one the culinary world's best-hidden secrets.

"I have plenty of Korean cookbooks, but none as deeply focused on a singular topic as this. . . . As much as this is a work of food history, it is also a master class on fermenting and cooking with umami."--David Zilber, coauthor of The Noma Guide to Fermentation
"Mingoo Kang, a luminary of cooking, knows that to truly harness flavor, we must honor the past and let the art of fermentation shape our future."--René Redzepi
"This book serves as a necessary guide to improving the understanding of traditional Korean food and applying it in a modern way. Jang will help readers forge deeper relationships with many people through Korean food."--Jeong Kwan
"Throughout the ages, Korean cuisine has employed fermentation techniques that we are rediscovering. Jang is an integral part of this food, with variations that define its DNA. Chef Mingoo Kang is a brilliant creator who shares with us his vision of a unique and inspiring cuisine."--Yannick Alléno
"It's crazy to me that there hasn't been a book like this before. Jangs, and not just gochujang, should be in every kitchen in America."--David Chang
"Jang introduces a Western audience to the wonders of gochujang, doenjang, and ganjang. These 'mother sauces' should be just as useful in any cuisine's dishes as they are in hansik. Mingoo Kang shows you how to expand your cooking by understanding jang."--Nobu Matsuhisa

Mingoo Kang is one of the most important and respected chefs in Korea. Since he opened his Michelin-starred restaurant, Mingles, in 2014, he has been both a champion of traditional Korean cuisine and a restless innovator, continually pushing the cuisine forward. Mingles is one of the most-awarded and highly regarded restaurants in South Korea, the holder of a pair of Michelin stars and ranked #10 on the Asia's 50 Best Restaurants list. Since 2016, Mingles has been named the best restaurant in Korea. Chef Kang was also recently named winner of the Innedit Damm Chef's Choice Award, determined by a jury of his peers. He lives in Seoul with his wife and children.

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.