Goguma Yanggaeng (Sweet Potato Jelly)
A homemade sweet red bean jelly enriched with bites of sweet simmered sweet potato for added texture.
Translated from Korean by AI and not yet checked by a native speaker. Amounts and numbers are taken directly from the original recipe. Read the Korean original →
Sweet red bean paste and soaked agar-agar are gently simmered, mixed with candied sweet potato, and chilled until firm. It lets you adjust the sweetness more easily than store-bought yanggaeng, and the chewy sweet potato pieces add great texture. Chilled in molds, it makes a wonderful dessert to give as a gift.
- Servings
- about 4–6 servings
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Spiciness
- Not spicy
Ingredients
- Sweet red bean paste300 g
- Water1 1/2 cups
- Agar-agar powder10 g (1 tbsp)
- Sugar3 tbsp
- Corn syrup (mulyeot)3 tbsp
- Sweet potato1 (large, simmered)
- Salta little (a pinch between thumb and index finger)
- You can use chestnuts instead of sweet potato.
- Adjust the amount of sugar depending on how sweet your red bean paste is.
Steps
1. Use 1 large sweet potato.
Cut it into 1.5-2 cm cubes, place them in a container, sprinkle with about 2 tbsp of water, cover with plastic wrap, poke 2-3 holes,
and microwave for 3-4 minutes.
Adjust the time depending on the size of the sweet potato; it is fully cooked when a toothpick slides in smoothly.
2. Place the sweet potato in a pan, add 2 tbsp sugar and 2 tbsp water, and simmer until all liquid has evaporated.
(You can use chestnuts instead of sweet potato.)
3. Pour 1 tbsp agar-agar powder and 1.5 cups cold water into a deep pan and let it sit for about 10 minutes to bloom.
4. Stir with a spatula over low heat and bring to a gentle boil.
5. Add the sweet red bean paste, sugar, and a little salt, then simmer gently while stirring, for about 5 minutes.
(Adjust the amount of sugar depending on the sweetness of your sweet red bean paste.)
6. Add the sweet potato and corn syrup (mulyeot) and simmer for 1-2 minutes more.
7. Once it has simmered to a slightly thick consistency, let it cool as is.
8. Pour into a mold and chill in the refrigerator to set. This is an empty tofu container; try using one if you do not have molds.
After chilling in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours, push gently on the bottom of the container with your hands and it will release easily.
Ppunwife's tips
- When pouring into molds to set in the refrigerator, try using an empty tofu pack if you don't have dedicated molds.
- After letting it set in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours, gently press on the bottom of the container with your hands to release it easily.
- Cut into bite-sized pieces and wrap them individually, and it makes a great gift.
FAQ
Can I use another ingredient instead of sweet potato?
Candied chestnuts also work very well instead of sweet potato.
How can I set the jelly if I don't have a yanggaeng mold?
If you don't have dedicated molds, an empty tofu plastic pack works great as a mold.
Is there a trick to unmolding the set yanggaeng easily?
Once it has fully set in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 hours, gently press on the bottom of the container with your fingers and it will pop out cleanly.
How should I adjust the sugar to control the sweetness?
You can adjust the amount of sugar to taste, depending on how sweet your store-bought sweet red bean paste is.
