What Is Doenjang Jjigae? Korean Soybean Paste Stew Explained

The Smell of a Korean Kitchen There is a smell that often fills Korean kitchens around lunchtime. It is deep.Savory.Fermented. For someone unfamiliar with Korean food, the aroma can feel surprisingly strong. For Koreans, it feels ordinary. That smell usually comes from “Doenjang Jjigae” (된장찌개). A soybean paste stew that appears on countless Korean tables.