Ganjang Gejang (Raw Crabs Marinated in Soy Sauce)
Ganjang gejang is a traditional dish that’s made by marinating fresh raw crabs in a mild soy-sauce based brine.
- Prep time
- 20 min
- Cook time
- 30 min
- Yield
- 10 servings
- Difficulty
- HARD
Ingredients
Quantities are shown as originally provided.
- 5 medium fresh blue crabs or kkotge (about 2 pounds)
- 2 cups soy sauce
- 1/2 cup rice wine (or mirin)
- 6 cups water
- 3 tablespoons sugar (adjust to taste)
- 1/2 medium onion (roughly sliced)
- 5 - 6 plump garlic cloves
- 3 - 4 thin ginger slices (about 1-inch round)
- 1 piece dried kelp ( dashima (about 5-inch square))
- 1 small apple (roughly sliced (or 1/2 small Korean/Asian pear, if in season))
- 1 bay leaf
- 1/2 teaspoon whole black peppers
- 2 to 3 small dried whole red chili peppers
- 2 - 3 green and/or red chili peppers (thinly sliced)
- a few thin onion slices
- 3 thin lemon slices
Instructions
- 1
Put the live crabs in the freezer for an hour or two (longer is fine as well), unless you are comfortable with handling live crabs.
- 2
Meanwhile, bring all the marinade ingredients to a boil over medium high heat. Reduce the heat to medium low, and continue to boil, covered, for about 20 minutes. Remove the kelp after about 10 minutes of boiling. Strain the brine. Discard the fruit and vegetables. Cool completely, and then refrigerate until ready to use.
- 3
Clean each crab thoroughly with a kitchen brush. Drain well in a colander in the fridge.
- 4
Place the crabs in an airtight container or jar. Add the chili pepper, onion and lemon slices. Pour the brine over the crabs. Make sure all the crabs are submerged. Weigh them down, if necessary, with a small bowl or plate that fits inside the container. Refrigerate.
- 5
After one day, strain the brine into a pot (and put the crabs back in the fridge). Bring the brine to a boil over medium heat, and boil for 3 to 4 minutes. Wait for the brine to completely cool, and then pour it back over the crabs. You can skip this process, but it enhances the flavor of the brine and helps the crabs to last longer.