Can you swap miso for doenjang?

In a pinch, yes. Use a dark red miso and expect a milder, sweeter result. Going the other way, use less doenjang, since it's saltier and stronger.

A Korean dipping paste made from doenjang mixed with gochujang, garlic and sesame oil. It's what you smear inside lettuce wraps at Korean BBQ.

Miso vs doenjang: what's the difference?

Both are fermented soybean pastes, but Japanese miso is smoother, sweeter and milder, while Korean doenjang is chunkier, saltier and much funkier, closer to a strong cheese.

Miso

Very light

Indulgent

Subtle

Big punch

Mellow

Zingy

Salty, savory and a little sweet, especially the pale white kinds.

What does Miso taste like?

Doenjang

Very light

Indulgent

Subtle

Big punch

Mellow

Zingy

Deep, salty and funky, the paste behind Korea's most comforting stews.

The real difference

Miso is usually made with soybeans plus koji (a rice or barley mold that kick-starts fermentation), and it's often smooth and lightly sweet. Doenjang is mostly soybeans formed into blocks, fermented and aged, so it's coarser, saltier and far more pungent. Dark red miso sits somewhere in between.

Side by side

MisoDoenjang

Made fromSoybeans, salt and koji, often with rice or barleySoybeans and salt, fermented in blocks, then aged

TastesSavory, gently sweet, mellowSalty, earthy, pungent

On a menuMiso soup, miso-glazed black cod, ramen broth, dressingsDoenjang jjigae (stew), ssamjang dip at Korean BBQ

Which to order

Order miso if you want gentle savory sweetness, like glazed fish or a bowl of miso soup.
Order doenjang if you love funk, in a bubbling stew next to a bowl of rice.

Quick questions

Can you swap miso for doenjang?: In a pinch, yes. Use a dark red miso and expect a milder, sweeter result. Going the other way, use less doenjang, since it's saltier and stronger.
What is ssamjang?: A Korean dipping paste made from doenjang mixed with gochujang, garlic and sesame oil. It's what you smear inside lettuce wraps at Korean BBQ.