Myeolchi-jeot or salted anchovies is a variety of jeotgal, made by salting and fermenting anchovies. Along with saeu-jeot, it is one of the most commonly consumed jeotgal in Korean cuisine. In mainland Korea, myeolchi-jeot is primarily used to make kimchi, while in Jeju Island, meljeot is also used as a dipping sauce. The Chuja Islands, located between South Jeolla and Jeju, are famous for producing the highest qualitymyeolchi-jeot.
Names and etymology
Myeolchi-jeot is a compound of myeolchi, the Korean word for anchovy, and jeot, the word meaning salted fermented seafood. Meljeot is also a compound, consisting ofmel, the Jeju name for anchovy, and jeot. The Jeju word mel is cognate with the first syllable myeol of the Korean word myeolchi, whose second syllable -chi is a suffix attached to fish names. Similar forms to meljeot also occur in mainland Korean dialects, including metjeot and mitjeot in Gyeongsang dialect.
Preparation
The anchovies for Myeolchi-jeot are harvested along the southern coasts of the Korean Peninsulaen masse. Myeolchi-jeot used in the process called gimjang are prepared with mature anchovies known as osari-myeolchi, which are harvested in July and August. On Jeju Island, bigger anchovies harvested in the spring along the coasts of Seogwipo are made into meljeot. Cleaned fresh anchovies are drained on sokuri, and salted with coarse salt weighing 15‒20% of the anchovies. In an onggi, the anchovies and salt are put in layers, with the uppermost layer being a thick layer of salt, to prevent the anchovies from coming in contact with the air. The jar is sealed, and the salted anchovies are then allowed to ferment at for two to three months in onggi. Once the myeolchi-jeot has aged another couple of months, it becomes myeolchi-jeot-guk.
Culinary use
The liquid extract, made after around six months of fermentation of myeolchi-jeot, is filtered and boiled to be used in kimchi. Alternatively, two parts myeolchi-jeot can be mixed with one part water, boiled over high heat, filtered, let set, and the upper, clear layer is used in kimchi. The boiled and filtered myeolchi-jeot liquid may also used to flavor seaweed dishes. Myeolchi-jeot made with boned anchovies are seasoned and eaten as banchan. In Geomun Island, where it is difficult to grow soybeans, the remaining solids and cloudy lower layer of liquid after extractingthe clear, upper liquid from myeolchi-jeot is used to make myeoljang. In Jeju Island, meljeot is used as dipping sauce for grilled pork. In summer, meljeot is used in blanched soybean leafssam, and in winter, napa cabbage leaves are dipped in meljeot. Meljeot may also be eaten as banchan, either as is or seasoned with garlic and chili peppers.
