How to Make Aju: A Step-by-Step Guide

If you love Korean cuisine, chances are you’ve come across aju. This sweet and savory Korean dipping sauce is a staple in many Korean dishes and adds the perfect balance of flavor to any dish. While you can easily buy aju at your local Korean grocery store, it’s always more satisfying to make your own at home. Not to mention, making aju is incredibly easy and requires just a handful of ingredients.

To make aju at home, you only need five ingredients: soy sauce, rice wine, honey, vinegar, and garlic. These ingredients are easy to find at any grocery store, and you can adjust the proportions of each ingredient to your liking. Whether you’re planning on pairing the sauce with Korean BBQ or using it as a marinade for your favorite meats, making aju at home ensures that you can customize the flavor to your liking. In this article, we’ll walk you through how to make aju at home step-by-step, ensuring that you can whip up a batch of this delicious sauce in no time.

The Ingredients for Making Aju

Aju is a famous Korean dipping sauce that is usually served with barbecued meat. It has a unique flavour that compliments the taste of grilled meat, making it a favourite among Korean cuisine enthusiasts. Making aju at home is not complicated, and you only need a few ingredients to make it. Here are the ingredients you need to make aju:

1. Soy Sauce

Soy sauce is a crucial ingredient when making aju. It is made from soybeans, wheat, and salt. Due to its savoury and salty taste, it adds flavour to the aju.

2. Rice Vinegar

Rice vinegar brings a mild acidity flavour to the aju. The vinegar is made from fermented rice, and it helps balance the saltiness of the soy sauce.

3. Sugar

Sugar adds sweetness to the aju, and it is essential in creating the perfect balance of taste.

4. Garlic

Garlic is used to give the aju a unique flavour. It adds a slightly pungent taste, making the sauce more flavourful.

5. Scallions

Scallions, also known as green onions, are added to the aju to give it a fresh and grassy flavour.

6. Water

Water is used to dilute the aju and ensure it is not too salty or overpowering.

7. Sesame Oil

Sesame oil adds a nutty flavour to the aju, making it more fragrant.

8. Sesame Seeds

Sesame seeds are added to the aju to give it a crunchy texture.

9. Red Pepper Flakes

Red pepper flakes are added to the aju to give it a spicy kick. This ingredient is optional, and you can adjust the quantity based on your spice preference.

10. Ginger

Ginger is added to the aju to give it a mild spicy flavour. It also adds a refreshing taste to the sauce.

The Process of Making Aju

Now that you know the ingredients needed to make aju, let’s dive into the process of making it.

Ingredients Needed to Make Aju

To make aju, you need a few essential ingredients that will give your dish the perfect flavor. These ingredients include:

1. Beef bones: Beef bones are the main ingredient for making aju. You can use any kind of beef bones, but the most commonly used are beef trotters, beef shank, and beef knee bones.

2. Garlic: Garlic is another essential ingredient in making aju. It adds a unique flavor to the broth and also has many health benefits.

3. Ginger: Ginger adds a spicy and warm flavor to the broth and also aids digestion.

4. Onion: Onion adds a sweet and savory flavor to the broth and also has many health benefits.

5. Black peppercorns: Black peppercorns add a spicy and bold flavor to the broth.

6. Dried red chili peppers: Dried red chili peppers add a fiery and spicy flavor to the broth.

7. Soy sauce: Soy sauce adds a salty umami flavor to the broth.

8. Sake: Sake adds a sweet and fruity flavor to the broth.

9. Mirin: Mirin adds a sweet and tangy flavor to the broth.

10. Water: Water is necessary to create the broth and bring all the flavors together.

Preparation Steps for Making Aju

Now that you have all the necessary ingredients, here are the steps to make aju:

1. Blanch the beef bones in boiling water for 10-15 minutes to remove any impurities and blood.

2. Rinse the bones thoroughly in cold water.

3. In a large pot, add the beef bones, garlic, ginger, onion, black peppercorns, and dried red chili peppers.

4. Fill the pot with water until the bones are covered.

5. Bring the water to a boil and skim off any foam that appears on the surface.

6. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let the broth simmer for at least 10 hours. The longer the broth simmers, the richer and more flavorful it will be.

7. After the broth has simmered, remove the bones and strain the broth through a fine-mesh strainer to remove any remaining impurities.

8. Add soy sauce, sake, and mirin to the broth and bring it to a boil.

9. Skim off any foam that appears on the surface.

10. Reduce the heat and let the broth simmer for an additional 10-15 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.

Congratulations, you’ve just made a delicious bowl of aju! Serve it with your favorite Korean dishes or enjoy it as a light and flavorful broth on its own.

How to Make Aju: The Steps Involved

Making aju is not a complicated process, but it does require some careful attention to detail to get the best results. Here are the steps you should follow to make this delicious Korean dipping sauce:

Step 1: Prepare the Ingredients

Before you begin making aju, it’s essential to gather all the necessary ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:

Make sure all your ingredients are fresh and clean before you begin.

Step 2: Prepare the Pear and Onion

Take half a pear and half an onion and cut them into small pieces. Put them in a pot with 3 cups of water and bring to a boil.

Step 3: Add Spices and Green Onion

Once the water reaches a boil, peel and chop the garlic and ginger and add them to the pot. Then, slice 6 stems of green onion, discarding the white parts, and add them to the pot.

Step 4: Simmer and Strain

Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot and let the mixture simmer for about 45 minutes. After that time has elapsed, strain the liquid into another pot, removing all the solids.

Step 5: Add Soy Sauce and Sesame Oil

Add soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil, and red pepper flakes to the liquid and bring it to a boil. Then reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for another 10-15 minutes until the sauce has thickened.

Congratulations, you’ve made yourself a delicious, authentic Korean aju! This versatile dipping sauce can be served with a range of Korean dishes, including meats, stews, and salads. Whether you’re making it for yourself or for guests, this aju recipe is sure to impress!

That’s How You Make Aju!

Now that you know how to make a delicious bowl of aju, it’s time to give it a try! Just follow the steps carefully, and you’ll end up with a flavorful and savory broth that’s perfect for your homemade meals. Don’t forget to thank your butcher for the bones and make sure to use top-quality ingredients. Enjoy your soup alone or with your favorite Korean dishes, and make sure to come back for more recipes and tips on how to cook Asian cuisine. Thanks for reading, and see you next time!