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Korean Pickled Garlic Maneul Jangajji

Growing up my mom always had one or more jars of Korean Pickled Garlic (Maneul Jangajji 마늘장아찌) under the sink waiting to be opened and eaten. I have now been making my own Korean Pickled Garlic and always have a jar in the fridge. I have to keep up with demand because my oldest son continuously pulls out the jar of garlic and eats it- with or without rice! lol It is delicious and slightly addictive and is a great addition to any Korean meal.

Korean pickled garlic

Korean Pickled Garlic is incredibly easy to make and lasts in the fridge for a couple of months, the only downside is it has to sit undisturbed for at least 3 weeks before it is ready to be refrigerated and eaten. This means you have to be patient and give the garlic time to soak in all the flavor, but it is definitely worth the wait!

Ingredients and Jars Needed for Pickled Garlic

peeled garlic

The ingredients are very simple, just peeled garlic, soy sauce, water, vinegar, and sugar. Be sure to have a clean glass jar with a lid, I often use large mason jars or reuse an empty kimchi jar.

If you do not want to peel a pound of garlic many Asian markets sell bags of garlic already peeled. However I fondly remember peeling garlic with my mom and my Halmeoni, or Korean grandma as a kid and now my kids enjoy peeling garlic with me!

How to Eat Pickled Garlic

Korean pickled garlic

The best way to eat Korean Pickled Garlic is simply with rice and kimchi. Of course this banchan (Korean side dish) pairs well with any Korean meal and the brine can be used for a dipping sauce or poured over rice for extra flavor. The longer the garlic sits in the brine the smoother and less spicy it becomes.

Blue or Green Pickled Garlic?

Sometimes when pickling garlic it can get discolored and change to a green or blue color but is still safe to eat. This does not mean something went wrong, it can happen due to “…a reaction between enzymes and sulfur-containing amino acids in the garlic (the same enzymes are responsible for garlic’s flavor). When these enzymes are activated by mild acid, they produce blue and green pigments” –America’s Test Kitchen. I personally have not had this happen, however I know that it can so do not be alarmed if this happens to your garlic!

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Other Korean Recipes You Might Like

Here are some other Korean recipes you may want to check out and enjoy!

Korean Stuffed Cucumbers

Spicy Korean Tilapia

Ttoekguk- Korean Rice Cake Soup

Korean Pickled Garlic (Maneul Jangajji)

Crystal Archer @Kinda Sorta Simple
Korean Pickled Garlic is a sweet, salty, slightly tangy banchan or Korean side dish that is easy to make with very few ingredients.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Resting Time 21 days
Course Side Dish
Cuisine Korean

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb garlic peeled and rough end trimmed off
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 cup soy sauce
  • 1/3 cup white vinegar

Instructions
 

  • Place clean and peeled garlic in a clean jar that has a tight fitting lid.
  • In a pot over medium heat stir together water, soy sauce, sugar, and vinegar until well combined. Bring to a light boil until sugar completely dissolves.
  • Allow mixture to cool slightly then pour mixture into the jar over the peeled garlic until all of the garlic is fully submerged.
  • Close lid tightly and add date on the lid.
  • Store in a cool, dark place for at least 3 weeks. After 3 weeks garlic can be eaten, however the longer you allow it to sit the less of a garlic bite will be present.
  • Store in fridge for a few months.

Video

@kindasortasimple

Korean pickled garlic 마늘장아찌 is a great Korean side dish and goes well with rice and KBBQ. Keeps in the fridge for months! #koreanpickledgarlic #garlictok #koreanfood #마늘 #마늘장아찌 #soypickledgarlic #banchan #반찬 #pickledgarlic #kbbq #koreansidedish #halfkorean #fyp #foryoupage

♬ OMG – NewJeans
Keyword banchan, Korean side dish, pickled garlic

One Comment

  • Dawn Hirakawa

    5 stars
    I made this recipe and let it sit in the refrigerator for 4 weeks. The garlic formed brown spots all over the cloves. Is this normal? Is this because I used garlic that was already peels and not fresh garlic bulbs you peel yourself? I haven’t thrown it out as it smells good but I want to make sure it’s safe to eat.

    I also made another recipe with a double brine process first brining it with salt and vinegar and it turned blue but I know that’s natural, then when I brined it with the soy sauce and sugar brine and let it sit for another 2 weeks the cloves formed those brown spots again. I sterilized the jar. What am I doing wrong? Help!

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