Budae Jjigae (Korean Army Stew)
Budae Jjigae (Korean Army Stew) is a wonderfully hearty kimchi stew that has become really popular since its creation after the Korean war. Even if you don't like spam, this is a MUST-TRY EASY dish that is just too delicious not to eat.
Ingredients
- 4 cups cabbage kimchi sliced
- 1/2 can SPAM (sliced)
- 2 hot dog sausages (sliced)
- 4 oz ground pork
- 4-6 oz extra firm tofu (sliced)
- 1 green onion (sliced)
- 1 onion (sliced)
- 1 Tbs chopped garlic
- 2/3 cups rice cake slices (optional)
- 3 cups water
- 1 Tbs Gochujang (Korean red chili paste)
Instructions
- Prepare ingredients by washing, cutting, and slicing.
- Get a pot or skillet with a cover and first layer Kimchi at the bottom and then the remaining ingredients on top except for the garlic. Pour water, cover and start cooking on med high heat until it starts to boil. Lower heat and simmer for 15 min.
- Add the chopped garlic and simmer for another 10 min or so. Taste the broth and adjust if necessary. If it’s too sour, add a little bit of sugar. For more spicy or stronger flavor, add more gochujang and garlic.
Notes
- *** The calorie count does NOT include rice cakes (tteok). Sodium level is quite high for this dish but if you are not going to drink all the liquid, it will be less. Use low sodium spam and sausages to reduce salt level. You can also substitute some kimchi with fresh napa cabbages to reduce the seasoning level.
- Budae Jjigae keeps well in the fridge and tastes even better when reheated. Just be sure to leave out noodles or rice cakes when storing. It also tastes good cold with hot rice – when you don’t feel like going through the trouble of reheating.
For variations, you can add one or more of the following:
a slice of American cheese on top ramen noodles – just add dried noodles to the pot in the middle of cooking. Be sure to add more water because noodles will absorb a lot of water (If you think you will have leftovers, don’t add ramen noodles to the pot since the noodles will continue to soak up any excess liquid) baked beans bacon chrysanthemum leaves (sookat)
- a slice of American cheese on top
- ramen noodles – just add dried noodles to the pot in the middle of cooking. Be sure to add more water because noodles will absorb a lot of water (If you think you will have leftovers, don’t add ramen noodles to the pot since the noodles will continue to soak up any excess liquid)
- baked beans
- bacon
- chrysanthemum leaves (sookat)
Nutrition Information
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 6Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 248
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 248kcal | 12% |
| Carbohydrates | 4g | 1% |
| Protein | 13g | 26% |
| Fat | 19g | 29% |
| Saturated Fat | 6g | 30% |
| Cholesterol | 54mg | 18% |
| Sodium | 610mg | 25% |
| Potassium | 306mg | 7% |
| Sugar | 1g | 2% |
| Vitamin A | 40IU | 1% |
| Vitamin C | 2.8mg | 3% |
| Calcium | 21mg | 2% |
| Iron | 0.9mg | 5% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.