Mayak Eggs (Korean Soy Sauce Eggs) Recipe!

Mayak eggs – flavourful, addictive, and appetizing. With an umami taste and a savoury finish, it’s no wonder that this Korean dish is going viral on Tiktok and Instagram. 

These special soy sauce eggs can elevate any bowl of rice or noodles to a heavenly level. They’re healthy, low in calories, and simple to make. Trust us when we say that our tried and true timeless recipe is the one for you.

Jump to:

• What Is It?
• How To Eat Mayak Eggs
• Ingredients
• Using Quail Eggs
• Cooking Tips
• How To Store
• Leftover Marinade
• Mayak Eggs (Korean Soy Sauce Eggs)

What Is It?

Mayak Gyeran (마약계란) also known as Korean marinated eggs is a popular side dish originating from South Korea. You can enjoy it for breakfast, lunch, or even dinner!

Mayak eggs are marinated in a special sauce that hits all the right spots – sweet, spicy, and umami! It has a feel-good gooey centre, a fluffy taste and a jammy texture. This Korean dish’s alternate name “drug eggs” is given not because it consists of actual drugs; it is simply addicting!

Unlike other Korean dishes that went viral on the net, this dish is arguably healthy. This is mainly due to there being very little oil and sugar used to make it. Moreover, there is a keto variation you can also try if you keep reading on!

How To Eat Mayak Eggs

As a classic move, pair these yummy soy sauce eggs with a steaming hot bowl of rice! Unless, of course, you’d prefer to eat them over soba, ramen, or any other type of noodles. However, you could also opt to eat it on its own – that’s how locals commonly enjoy the dish.

This dish tastes best with extra garnish on top. Just drizzle in a bit of sesame oil and embellish with some sesame seeds or dried seaweed flakes and your special soy sauce eggs will be good to go.

Ingredients

For a perfect batch of mayak eggs, use room-temperature ones to get that jammy texture that we all love and crave! Whether you decide to make them soft-boiled or hard-boiled, they taste great either way.

However, the real secret that made this moreish Korean dish so popular lies in its marinade. Marinated eggs mirin require soy sauce and a little something more. To kick up the flavour, add honey, corn syrup, or sugar for sweetness and chilli peppers for the spice.

Using Quail Eggs

Although we usually use regular chicken ones to make this Korean dish, there’s no problem with switching it up by using quail eggs instead. In fact, quail is healthier for you due to its extra nutrients. 

Be aware of the price tag, though! Remember that your mayak eggs will taste great regardless of the type of egg you use. 

Cooking Tips

Here are a few quick tips:

• Having trouble with breaking down shells? Add vinegar and salt into the water before you boil it.
• The shells are sticking to the outer layer of the eggs? Dunk the boiled ones immediately into an ice bath. This will help to separate the shells from the flesh. Hence, making it easier to peel.
• Struggling to make the perfect soft-boiled eggs? Use room-temperature ones and fill the pot with enough water so they are completely submerged.
• Want your soy sauce eggs to have that extra punch of flavour? Marinate your mayak eggs overnight so they can soak up all the flavourful goodness.

How To Store

The best way to store your Korean marinated eggs would be in the refrigerator. It’ll last 5 to 7 days so don’t fret about finishing it right away.

However, note that these drug eggs are best to be consumed within 24 hours so you can savour their addictive taste.

Leftover Marinade

If you have any leftover marinade, your first idea might be to use them to make a second batch of mayak eggs. Although it’s not wrong to do this, the new batch won’t be as flavourful as the first. 

Alternatively, use the leftover marinade as a garnish to enhance the taste of other dishes. For example, any dish consisting of meat, tofu or vegetables could greatly benefit from its exquisite taste.

Or, if you're out of ideas - simply pour the leftover marinade over cooked rice! The flavourful sauce will enhance the rice meal by manifolds. The addictive appeal of these soy sauce eggs has always come from its marinade after all.

We also want to make a special introduction to KitchXenera’s Youtube video where she devised a keto-style recipe! Her method does not contain any sugar. Therefore, making it a healthier option for anyone looking to cut their weight down.

Mayak Eggs (keto style) | ASMR cooking

Ready to try our mayak eggs recipe? Have your own? Share your photos on our Instagram @honestfoodtalks. We can’t wait to see how your Korean marinated eggs turn out!