Korean 25 min

Korean Budae Jjigae (Army Stew)

Name: Korean Budae Jjigae (Army Stew)
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 2 servings
Cuisine: Korean
Ingredients: 2 cups anchovy broth or chicken broth; 4 oz Spam, sliced; 4 oz hot dogs, sliced; 4 oz canned beans or kidney beans; 4 oz firm tofu, cubed; 2 oz instant ramen noodles (just the noodles, no seasoning packet); 4 slices American cheese; 1/2 cup kimchi, roughly chopped; 2 tablespoons gochujang; 1 tablespoon gochugaru; 1 tablespoon soy sauce; 1 teaspoon sesame oil; 4 cloves garlic, minced; 2 green onions, sliced; 1 cup rice cakes (tteok), optional

spicycomfort-fooddairy-free

Ingredientsfor 2

480

Cal

24g

Protein

48g

Carbs

20g

Fat

12 cups anchovy broth or chicken broth
24 oz Spam, sliced
34 oz hot dogs, sliced
44 oz canned beans or kidney beans
54 oz firm tofu, cubed
62 oz instant ramen noodles (just the noodles, no seasoning packet)
74 slices American cheese
81/2 cup kimchi, roughly chopped
92 tablespoons gochujang
101 tablespoon gochugaru
111 tablespoon soy sauce
121 teaspoon sesame oil
134 cloves garlic, minced
142 green onions, sliced
151 cup rice cakes (tteok), optional

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Instructions

1
Arrange Spam, hot dogs, tofu, kimchi, beans, and rice cakes (if using) in a wide pot or hot pot in sections. In the center, make a small well and add gochujang, gochugaru, soy sauce, and garlic.
2
Pour broth over everything. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring the central paste to dissolve into the broth and turn it a vivid red. The visual spectacle of all the colorful ingredients is part of the dish's charm.
3
Add ramen noodles, pushing them into the broth. Cook 3–4 minutes until noodles are tender.
4
Lay American cheese slices over the top of the hot stew. Allow to melt for 1–2 minutes — the melting cheese is the signature of budae jjigae. Drizzle with sesame oil and top with green onions.
5
Serve directly from the pot at the table. The combination of American processed ingredients with Korean flavors reflects Korea's postwar history — this dish was born from necessity and became beloved comfort food.