Thought I'd Give It a Try....
I've prepared miso soup most every day for the past 40 years (white rice miso, barley, chickpea, sweet, 3-year, 6-year...). I met a woman from South Korea who came into my store wanting to sell traditional prepared foods. One of the ingredients was doenjang, which she explained to me. I was intrigued so did an online search about it and, when it came to selecting a brand, I was most impressed with Kisoondo Traditional. I ordered it; it arrived promptly; it was tastefully packaged... but how did it taste? Opening it, I noticed it had a different fragrance than miso paste and a slightly different look. My 40-year habit using miso raised alarms but I reminded myself it didn't have to smell and look like miso. It is its own unique product borne of South Korean tradition, most likely shared with Japanese miso-making traditions.
I made a large pot of vegetable soup yesterday and seasoned it with doenjang. It was so comforting! It felt wholesome, and it was delicious, and satisfying. It is unique and will become a large part of my diet going forward. Non-GMO and preservative-free.