Korean Army Stew: Budae Jjigae
Budae Jjigae, or Korean army base stew, is a flavorful and hearty dish born from post-Korean War ingenuity. It combines readily available ingredients like canned spam and hot dogs with traditional Korean kimchi, vegetables, and spicy seasonings to create a deeply satisfying and comforting meal.
Ingredients
- 1 can spam sliced into 1/2-inch pieces
- 6 large hot dogs sliced diagonally
- 1 cup aged kimchi chopped
- 1/2 block firm tofu sliced (optional)
- 1 medium onion sliced
- 1 cup enoki or shiitake mushrooms trimmed (optional)
- 2 stalks green onions chopped for garnish
- 2 slices American cheese (optional)
- 4 cups anchovy or chicken broth
- 2 packs ramen noodles without seasoning packets
- 1 small can baked beans drained (optional)
- 3 tbsp gochugaru (Korean red pepper powder)
- 2 tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- 1. In a large, shallow pot or electric skillet, arrange the sliced spam, hot dogs, kimchi, tofu (if using), sliced onion, and mushrooms (if using).
- 2. In a small bowl, combine the gochugaru (red pepper powder), gochujang, soy sauce, minced garlic, and black pepper to form the sauce. Pour this mixture into the center of the arranged ingredients.
- 3. Pour the broth into the pot. If using baked beans, add them now. Bring the stew to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat to medium and simmer for 10-15 minutes, allowing flavors to meld.
- 4. Add the ramen noodles to the pot, pushing them down into the broth. Continue to cook until the noodles are tender, about 3-5 minutes.
- 5. If desired, place cheese slices on top of the noodles just before serving, allowing them to melt. Garnish with chopped green onions.
- 6. Serve hot, directly from the pot, often with steamed white rice on the side.
Notes
Adjust spice level by adding more or less red pepper powder and gochujang. Feel free to add other ingredients like tofu, mushrooms, or different types of noodles. Serving with a bowl of rice is highly recommended to soak up the delicious broth.