Danyang on the Table

A Perfect Harmony of Contrasting Ingredients
Yukjjok Garlic Butter Bread

With its sharp, intense aroma, garlic meets the rich, creamy flavor of butter in an unexpectedly delicious union. The contrast between the crispy, golden-baked exterior and the soft, moist interior soaked in garlic butter gives rise to Yukjjok Garlic Butter Bread.

📝Text by. Editorial Team  /  🎨Illustrated . Gyeol

While Danyang is well-known for its stunning natural landscapes, there is another local gem that is not to be missed: garlic. Garlic comes in two main varieties: hardneck and softneck. Danyang with its cooler temperatures is ideal for cultivating high-quality hardneck garlic.
What makes Danyang garlic so exceptional? The region's limestone-rich soil is the key. Areas with abundant limestone produce loamy soil that makes garlic bulbs grow firm and dense. Danyang is part of the Daedong Limestone Group, with its entire area sitting on top of a limestone formation. In addition, the soil here is high in potassium and magnesium and low in phosphorus, a combination that further supports garlic growth.
Danyang garlic is known for its large, solid cloves and well-balanced flavor profile, i.e., both pungent and slightly sweet. Danyang residents have a strong affinity to their garlic so they hold the Danyang Garlic Festival every year. Garlic here is enjoyed in many different forms: fresh, black (fermented), and as part of a rich local food culture. While garlic chicken and maneul-ssambap (garlic & rice wraps) are must-eat local delicacies, one of the newest and most popular snacks is Yukjjok Garlic Butter Bread, a perfect sweet-savory treat to enjoy after a meal. Shaped to resemble a garlic bulb with six segments ("yukjjok" means “six cloves”), the bread is made by slicing a round bun or a baguette into six wedges (without cutting all the way through), and then stuffing it with cream cheese and soaking it in a rich garlic butter sauce. The nutty, aromatic butter combined with the spicy and deep flavors of Danyang garlic creates a flavorful delight.

  • Ingredients
    Morning rolls or baguette, 150g cream cheese
  • For the Garlic Butter Sauce:
    40g sugar, 100g unsalted butter, 40ml milk, 1tbsp mayonnaise, 1 egg, 50g minced garlic, 3 tbsp parsley
  • Directions
    1. 1. Let the cream cheese sit at room temperature until soft. Melt the butter in the microwave for about 20–30 seconds.
    2. 2. Mix all the sauce ingredients into the melted butter and stir thoroughly to avoid separation.
    3. 3. Cut the top of each roll or baguette into six sections, taking care not to slice all the way through the bottom.
    4. 4. Generously fill the cuts with cream cheese.
    5. 5. Turn the bread upside down and dip into the garlic sauce so that the cut areas are well-coated with the sauce.
    6. 6. Place the bread on a baking tray and pipe a round dollop of cream cheese on top.
    7. 7. Bake in a preheated oven at 170°C (340°F) for about 10 minutes. Done!
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