These Mayak Eggs, also known as Korean Drug Eggs, are seriously addictive and completely soy-free. With their jammy centers and umami-rich marinade made with coconut aminos, these eggs are the perfect protein-packed addition to any meal and great for meal prepping!
I absolutely love making these eggs on Sunday evening to enjoy throughout the week. They're perfect for quick breakfasts, protein-rich snacks, or as a topping for rice bowls. Plus, instead of using a soy sauce marinade, I like to use coconut aminos, so they're naturally soy-free for anyone with dietary restrictions or allergies. Coconut aminos are also less salty than traditional soy sauce and they have a slight sweetness to them!
The rich, sweet and savory marinade infuses the eggs with incredible flavor, the soft-boiled center creates that perfect jammy texture, and the chopped up jalapeños and cilantro adds such a nice crunch and texture that keeps you wanting more. Trust me, once you try these, you'll understand why these Korean marinated eggs recipe is often called "drug eggs"!
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Ingredients
- Coconut Aminos: The star ingredient that keeps this recipe soy-free while providing that perfect umami flavor. I use Coconut Secret brand for the best results.
- Water: To dilute the marinade a bit!
- Garlic: For a depth of savory flavor.
- Thai Chili & Jalapeño: Both Thai chili and jalapeno add the perfect kick of heat. Remove the seeds for less spice.
- Salt: Since we aren't using soy sauce here, add a bit of extra salt to the marinade for the best flavor.
- Scallions: For a mild onion flavor and fresh crunch!
- Cilantro: For some added brightness and freshness to the marinade.
- Sesame Seeds: Toast them until light brown for maximum nutty flavor.
- Eggs: For that jammy center, don't boil the eggs for longer than 7 minutes!
- Vinegar: A little bit of vinegar when you are boiling eggs will help them peel more easily!
See recipe card for quantities.
How to Make Korean Mayak Eggs
Step 1: Fill a medium-sized pot with water and bring to a boil. Add 1 tablespoon of vinegar.
Step 2: Using a spoon, gently lower the eggs into the water. Reduce heat to a simmer and simmer for 6 ½ minutes.
Step 3: While the eggs are cooking, prepare your other ingredients. Mince up your garlic and cilantro. Slice your scallions and Thai chili. Dice up your jalapeño. Toast your sesame seeds until a light brown.
Step 4: Once your eggs are cooked, place them into an ice bath or bowl of iced water. Allow to cool before peeling.
Step 5: In a large jar or container, add in your Coconut Aminos, water, garlic, thai chili, salt, jalapeño, scallions, cilantro, and toasted sesame seeds. Stir to combine.
Step 5: Gently add in your soft boiled eggs. Marinate in the fridge for at least 3 hours. Enjoy it over your favorite rice, topping it off with more marinade or enjoy it as is. Store in an airtight container and consume within 3 days.
Hint: If you are using more than 4 eggs, you might want to make some more marinade. You can double the recipe and use 8 eggs for meal prep if you prefer!
Top Tips
- Set a timer for exactly 6½ minutes for the perfect jammy center. If you like a more fully cooked yolk, cook them longer instead.
- Make sure to peel the eggs before adding them in to the marinade! This will allow the eggs to soak in all that flavor.
- The ice bath is crucial - don't skip this step! The ice will stop the cooking process so that the yolk doesn't get too hard, and it also makes peeling the eggs easier.
- Let the eggs marinate for at least 3 hours, but overnight is even better if you have the time!
- Make sure your sesame seeds are properly toasted for maximum flavor. They toast pretty quickly though, so keep an eye on them so they don't burn!
Variations & Substitutions
- Peppers: Replace Thai chili with red pepper flakes or swap jalapeño for serrano pepper if you prefer!
- Ginger: You can add fresh ginger for an extra zing!
- Soy Sauce: If you prefer not to use coconut aminos, you can use soy sauce. I recommend skipping the salt in this recipe since soy sauce is high in sodium! Alternatively, you can use low-sodium soy sauce.
Serving Suggestions
There are so many ways you can serve these soy free mayak eggs! Here are some of my personal favorite ways to serve them:
- Over rice with extra marinade
- Sliced on top of ramen or soup
- As a protein-rich snack on their own
- Chopped into a salad
- Alongside kimchi and vegetables
Frequently Asked Questions
Mayak eggs are Korean soy marinated eggs. These jammy eggs are marinated in a savory-spicy sauce traditionally made with soy sauce (though our version uses coconut aminos), aromatics, and chilies, making them a popular protein-rich addition to meals throughout Korea.
Once the eggs are marinated, take them out of the marinade and place them in a separate container in the fridge for up to 4 days. You can use the leftover marinade on top of rice bowls or in stir fries!
They have some heat to them, but they are mildly spicy! The marinade is spicier than the actual eggs will be. So if you are sensitive to spice, be careful when using the marinade on other things. Feel free to omit the peppers or add just one if you'd like.
More Recipes to Try
Mayak Eggs (Korean Drug Eggs)
Ingredients
- ½ cup coconut aminos I used Coconut Secret
- ½ cup water
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 Thai chili sliced
- 2 teaspoon salt
- 1 jalapeño diced
- 2-3 scallions sliced
- 1 small bunch cilantro minced
- 2 tbsp sesame seeds toasted
- 4 eggs
- 1 tablespoon vinegar
Instructions
- Fill a medium-sized pot with water and bring to a boil. Add 1 tablespoon of vinegar.
- Using a spoon, gently lower the eggs into the water. Reduce heat to a simmer and simmer for 6 ½ minutes.
- While the eggs are cooking, prepare your other ingredients.
- Mince up your garlic and cilantro. Slice your scallions and Thai chili. Dice up your jalapeño. Toast your sesame seeds until a light brown.
- Once your eggs are cooked, place them into an ice bath or bowl of iced water. Allow to cool before peeling.
- In a large jar or container, add in your Coconut Aminos, water, garlic, thai chili, salt, jalapeño, scallions, cilantro, and toasted sesame seeds. Stir to combine.
- Gently add in your soft boiled eggs. Marinate in the fridge for at least 3 hours. Enjoy it over your favorite rice, topping it off with more marinade or enjoy it as is. Store in an airtight container and consume within 3 days.
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