Soy Sauce
Soy sauce seasons marinades, namul, soups, and sauces across Korean cooking. It is one of the site's most-used pantry ingredients.
Soy sauce looks simple, but it quietly does a huge amount of work in Korean cooking. It seasons bulgogi marinades, vegetable side dishes, noodle sauces, steamed eggs, and soup bases. For most home cooks, regular soy sauce is enough to start. Soup soy sauce is useful later if you want lighter-colored broths, but it is not essential on day one. If you stock one dependable bottle and sesame oil, you can already make a surprising number of recipes on this site.
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Guides & Tips
Korean Pantry Starter Kit — Everything You Need Under $50
Build a complete Korean pantry for under $50. Covers gochugaru, gochujang, doenjang, soy sauce, sesame oil, and more with brand picks and substitutes.
Korean Pantry for Beginners — The 7 Ingredients You Actually Need
Stock your kitchen with these 7 Korean pantry essentials and you can make dozens of authentic dishes. No specialty store required.
Where to Buy Korean Ingredients — H Mart, Amazon, and Your Regular Grocery Store
A practical guide to finding Korean cooking ingredients at H Mart, Amazon, Trader Joe's, and your regular grocery store. No specialty trips needed.
