Korean Soy Marinated Eggs (Mayak Eggs)  - Chef Chris Cho (2024)

Mayak eggs are eggs soaked in a sweet, savory, and refreshing soy sauce marinade. It’s super easy to make, but surprisingly super flavorful and addicting!

When I was growing up, my mom used to make a batch of these eggs along with other side dishes like napa cabbage kimchi, radish kimchi, or stir-fried fish cake. It was always stored in the fridge so I could just have it with freshly cooked rice anytime.

My parents used to work 80+ hours a week in the restaurant so this is how I got by every day, and honestly, making this recipe makes me remember those good old times.

These “mayak eggs” literally translate to “drug eggs” simply because of the addicting sauce it has. In this recipe, I’ll be sharing a secret that makes it so much better than the other recipes you will see online.

Ingredients for Mayak Eggs

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Soft Boiled Eggs

One of the best parts of this dish is the soft, jammy center of the eggs. While I love mine a little bit done, I know you will enjoy the additional creamy texture of the yolk. To ensure that you keep the yolks soft:

1. Fill your pot with water and add salt. The salt will make the water boil faster.
2. Turn the heat to high and place your eggs in the pot.
3. Once the water starts to boil, cover for 6-7 minutes on the dot.
4. Right after the time goes off, place the eggs in cold water or an ice bath.
5. Allow the eggs to cool down before peeling. Be careful when you do so as it may still be hot!

Aside from eggs, you can also use quail eggs in this recipe just like in K-dramas!

Soy Sauce

The main base of this dish is soy sauce. Use regular soy sauce for this recipe, it will bring saltiness and savor to the whole dish! One cup may seem like a lot, but such quantity is needed because we need the eggs to be fully submerged in the marinade for the taste to come through.

Kelp and Radish Stock

This is my secret for the marinade. The kelp will bring umami, while the radish will bring that refreshing taste when you drizzle the marinade on your food. To make this, boil kelp and radish for 20 minutes.

Alternatively, you can simply use water to make the recipe easier to make.

Sugar

For this recipe, the sugar will balance the savory taste of the soy sauce. Feel free to substitute it with another sweetener like erythritol or honey according to your preference. This is a must!

Aromatics

See Also

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The aromatics that we will add to this recipe are garlic, scallions, onion, jalapeño peppers, and sesame seeds. When you combine the sauce base, I assure you that it is already tasty enough. However, adding the aromatics is a bonus and an ultimate level-up. I especially like adding the peppers for that kick!

How to Make Korean Soy Marinated Eggs?

This is a super easy recipe, but they are super worth it.In making this, you need a deep container because the eggs may overflow and you need it to be fully submerged to ensure they are marinated well.

Now, cook the eggs to the dot, make the stock, and prepare the aromatics.

Once your eggs, stock, and aromatics are prepared, all you need to do is combine soy sauce, stock, and sugar in your deep container. Mix until the sugar is dissolved. Add the garlic, scallions, onion, peppers, and sesame seeds, then mix it thoroughly.

Taste and adjust: If you think it needs more sweetness, add sugar. If you think it’s salty, add more stock. It’s not going to be bland, but if you need more, add soy sauce. And generally, it’s okay that it’s a bit salty since you will still add the eggs. Give the marinade one last mix, then add the eggs to marinate.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do you marinate the eggs in soy sauce?

• You can marinate the eggs minimum of 2 hours to overnight for the best taste.

How long do Mayak eggs last?

• The marinated eggs can be stored in the fridge for 3-4 days. Take note, however, that the longer they sit in soy sauce, the saltier it gets. The taste may vary as days go by.

Can you reuse the soy sauce marinade?

• You can reuse and add more eggs to the marinade. Do take note of how long you have already used it. It can last for 3-4 days. Alternatively, you can repurpose the marinade into Korean pancake or dumpling sauce.

What to serve with Korean marinated eggs?

• The eggs are best served with freshly cooked rice! To take it up a notch, drizzle the sauce and some sesame oil on the rice and eat it with the eggs. This is great for a quick meal or midnight snack cravings!Furthermore, as this is very similar to Japanese ramen eggs, you can also use these as a garnish for any noodle dish you may have!

Do you eat Mayak eggs cold?

• You don’t need to reheat the eggs when you consume them. The hot rice should suffice to make it hot!

Other easy and delicious side dishes you may like:

• Korean Crabcake
• Spicy Dried Squid
• Soy Garlic Enoki Mushroom
• Korean Sausage Stir Fry
• Korean Steamed Egg
• Korean Rolled Omelette

Make sure to leave a rating, a comment, or tag me onFacebook,Instagram, orTiktokwhen you chop them up! Yeobosayo!

Posted By: Chef Chris Cho · In: Broke Boyz, Chicken, Classic Korean Dishes, Mild Spicy, Side Dishes