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Budae Jjigae (Army Stew)
4.9 from 189 votes

Budae Jjigae (Army Stew)

Budae Jjigae, or Army Stew, blends kimchi, processed meats like hot dogs, bacon, and SPAM, along with tofu, mushrooms, and vegetables in a spicy broth seasoned with Korean chili flakes and paste. The combination yields a hearty, spicy stew with a mix of textures from soft tofu to crunchy vegetables and savory meats.

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Servings: 4
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Korean

Ingredients

  • 2 cups kimchi baechu (napa cabbage) variety
  • 2 hot dogs or sausages
  • 3 Bacon strips, or about 3 ounces fatty pork
  • ⅓ SPAM about 4 ounces, canned
  • 4 ounces tofu sliced, about 1/2-inch thick
  • 1/2 onion medium, thinly sliced
  • 3 to 4 mushrooms caps, sliced
  • 2 scallions cut into 2 inch pieces
  • 1/4 red bell pepper sliced, optional
  • 4 cups anchovy broth More if you want extra broth. You can also use water, or beef or chicken stock
Seasoning
  • 1 tablespoon Korean red chili pepper flakes Use more for a spicier stew, gochugaru
  • 1 teaspoon gochujang Korean red chili pepper paste
  • 1 tablespoon soup soy sauce or salt to taste
  • 1 tablespoon garlic minced
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons broth or water
  • black pepper to taste
Optional
  • 1 instant ramyeon noodles Pre-boil right before adding to the stew to keep them from absorbing too much liquid from the stew, package

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Cut the ingredients into bite size pieces, and arrange them in a medium size shallow pot. Mix all the seasoning ingredients in a small bowl.
  2. Add the broth, and stir in the seasoning.
  3. Cook over medium high heat until the bacon is cooked through and the kimchi has softened. Add the optional ramyeon noodles and more broth or water if necessary. (The noodles soak up a lot of the liquid, so I briefly cook the ramyeon noodles in a separate pot of water before adding to the stew.)

Notes

  • Use anchovy broth or good-quality beef or chicken broth for depth of flavor.
  • Keep extra broth on hand to add while eating to maintain stew consistency.
  • Pre-boil instant ramen noodles before adding to prevent them from absorbing too much liquid.
  • Cooking over a portable burner at the table enriches the dining experience and allows additions during the meal.
  • Leftover processed meats can be frozen for later use in this or similar stews.