Mayak eggs (마약계란), or Korean marinated eggs is a popular Korean side dish that makes for a tasty and unique snack! The combination of savory, sweet, and spicy makes the soft-boiled eggs so addicting. They’re easy to make at home, and this version is soy- and gluten-free!
Store the eggs in an airtight container. They will last in the fridge for up to 5 days. If you dilute the marinade with water, then the eggs can be stored in the marinade for the whole 5 days. Make sure the eggs are not cracked, so that the egg yolks will not leak out while they marinate.
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- eggs: I used 6 large eggs, but 7 medium eggs will also work.
- vinegar: Using vinegar in boiling water helps the egg shells become easier to peel. I highly recommend you don’t skip this ingredient!
- coconut aminos: I use this brand. It’s my favorite! You can also use Tamari sauce or soy sauce. See the tips below for details.
- honey: Adds a hint of sweetness to the marinade and eggs.
- green onion
- garlic
- chili peppers: I like to use a combination of red chili and green chili peppers. Any kind will work!
- sea salt
- toasted sesame seeds
How to Make Mayak Eggs
- Boil water in a saucepan or pot and add vinegar and sea salt.
- Add the eggs to the water, then simmer for 6 minutes for soft-boiled eggs. For hard-boiled eggs, you will need to adjust the cooking time for 3-5 more minutes.
- Transfer to an ice bath and cool for 5 minutes. Remove the eggs from the cold water and peel them carefully.
- In a bowl or container just large enough to fit the eggs, combine all ingredients for the egg marinade and stir together, ensuring the honey is mixed in.
- Add the eggs to the marinade, then cover.
- Refrigerate and marinate for 8 hours up to overnight.
- Serve the Mayak Eggs over a hot bowl of rice or cauliflower rice, spooning the sauce mixture over the eggs.
- Ice Bath: The ice water bath is what stops the eggs from cooking further. So if you are cooking soft-boiled eggs, this process is essential to keep the eggs from getting too firm.
- Traditional Ingredients: Traditionally, this recipe uses soy sauce and mirin in the marinade. I substituted ingredients for these to keep this recipe soy-free and gluten-free. There’s no loss in flavor at all! Feel free to these ingredients if you prefer.
- Sweetener: I like using honey to sweeten this dish, but some recipes use regular sugar or even corn syrup. While I prefer natural sweeteners, if regular sugar is all you have on hand, it will work with this recipe.
- Soy Sauce: If you’d rather use soy sauce or tamari sauce, just use 1/2 cup sauce and 1/2 cup water and omit the salt. The rest of the recipe can stay the same.
- The best way to serve Mayak Gyeran is to serve it over rice or cauliflower, spooning extra sauce on top so the rice can soak it all up.
- You can garnish with more green onions, sesame seeds, and sliced chili peppers if you like, or even add a drizzle of sesame oil.
- It’s also delicious over ramen, kind of like ramen eggs!
- Store leftover Mayak eggs in an airtight container with the marinade in the fridge for up to 7 days.
- I don’t recommend saving leftover marinade to marinate another batch of eggs since the flavors won’t be the same, and it may go bad. Instead, you can use it as stir-fry sauce or to flavor fish or other Asian dishes and use it within 24-48 hours.
I recommend using room temperature eggs, and GENTLY lower the eggs into the pot of water using a ladle. Make sure to simmer the water instead of a rolling boil.
The Korean word, Mayak (마약) translates to “narcotic” or “drug” in English.
Up to 7 days if stored in a container with a lid in the fridge.
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FAQ
How long does marinated eggs last in the fridge?
Does soy sauce stop eggs from rotting?
Can you save egg marinade?
How long should you marinate eggs for ramen?
How long do marinated eggs last?
To serve, place the egg over a bed of rice and garnish with green onion, seaweed flakes, and/or sesame oil to your preference. These eggs serve as an excellent garnish over a bowl of noodles as well. Enjoy! These marinated eggs will last about 3-4 days in the fridge.
How long are eggs good after the expiration date on the package?
Eggs have a lifespan of approximately 30 days. To know if an egg is fresh you can see if the egg floats. If it sinks, it is because it has lost air and it is no longer so cool. Also, the yolk becomes more liquid and mixes with the white.
How long do you marinate eggs?
Boil (with the lid off) for 6-7 minutes. Boil closer to 6 minutes for a softer yolk, and closer to 7 minutes for a firmer yolk. Transfer eggs to a bowl of ice water and let cool. Once cool, peel off the shells and place the eggs into the bowl with the marinade. Marinate the eggs in the fridge overnight (or at least a minimum of 6 hours).
How long can you keep marinated eggs in soy sauce?
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?