Spicy and Flavorful Pork Kimchi Stew Recipe
How to Make Delicious Pork Kimchi Stew: A Family Favorite
Our household’s go-to dish, this Pork Kimchi Stew is made with plenty of tender pork and aged kimchi. Its rich, spicy broth and the perfect balance of ingredients make it an ideal main course for dinner. (Tbsp: Tablespoon, measured with a standard Korean rice spoon)
Main Ingredients- Pork belly or shoulder 175g
- Well-fermented kimchi (aged kimchi) 170g
- Tofu 180g
- Onion 1/2 medium (75g)
- Green onion 1/4 stalk (28g)
- Red chili pepper 1, Green chili pepper 1 (20g)
- Minced garlic 1 Tbsp
- Sesame oil 1 Tbsp
- Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes) 1 Tbsp
- Rice water or water 700ml
Seasoning Ingredients- Soup soy sauce (Gukganjang) 1 Tbsp
- Anchovy sauce (Kkanari aekjeot or Myeolchi aekjeot) 1 Tbsp
- Soup soy sauce (Gukganjang) 1 Tbsp
- Anchovy sauce (Kkanari aekjeot or Myeolchi aekjeot) 1 Tbsp
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Cut the pork into bite-sized pieces (about 2-3 cm). Chop the well-fermented kimchi (aged kimchi) into 3-4 cm lengths, after lightly shaking off any excess kimchi juice. If your kimchi is too sour, you can add a little sugar.
Step 2
Slice the tofu into pieces about 5-7mm thick. It’s important to cut them into a size that won’t easily break apart while simmering, ensuring they maintain their shape.
Step 3
Remove the seeds from the red and green chili peppers and finely chop them for a spicy kick. Slice the green onion diagonally to add aroma. Thinly slice the onion (about 4-5mm thick) to bring out its sweetness and fresh flavor. Prepare 1 Tbsp of minced garlic.
Step 4
In a pot, combine the pork pieces and 1 Tbsp of sesame oil. Stir-frying the pork with sesame oil first helps to reduce any porky smell and enhances its flavor.
Step 5
Turn the heat to medium and stir-fry the pork, tossing it occasionally, until it changes color to opaque (white). It doesn’t need to be fully cooked through at this stage, but the surface should be cooked to release its fats and blend with other ingredients.
Step 6
Once the pork has changed color, add the chopped kimchi and 1 Tbsp of gochugaru (Korean chili flakes) to the pot. The gochugaru will add a vibrant color and a nice spicy depth to the stew.
Step 7
Continue to stir-fry for another 2-3 minutes, ensuring the kimchi and pork are well coated with the gochugaru. This step helps to meld the deep flavor of the kimchi with the richness of the pork, creating a truly delicious stew base.
Step 8
Pour in 700ml of rice water (or plain water). Using rice water makes the broth smoother and richer. Add the chopped red and green chilies and the sliced onions to the pot.
Step 9
Now, let’s add the seasonings for umami. First, add 1 Tbsp of soup soy sauce (Gukganjang) to enhance the fundamental savory flavor of the stew.
Step 10
Next, add 1 Tbsp of anchovy sauce (Kkanari aekjeot or Myeolchi aekjeot) for a deeper, more complex savory taste. The anchovy sauce will add a delightful richness to the broth.
Step 11
Bring the kimchi stew to a boil over high heat. Once it starts boiling, give it a stir to ensure all ingredients are well combined.
Step 12
As the stew boils vigorously, skim off any foam that rises to the surface with a spoon. Removing this foam will result in a clearer and cleaner-tasting pork kimchi stew.
Step 13
After skimming off the foam, cover the pot with a lid and reduce the heat to medium-low. Let it simmer for about 10 minutes. This allows the kimchi to soften beautifully and all the flavors to meld into the broth.
Step 14
After 10 minutes, remove the lid and check the broth consistency and taste. If it feels a bit bland, add a little more soup soy sauce or anchovy sauce. If the broth has reduced too much, add a bit more water and adjust the seasoning again. Now is also a good time to add the minced garlic.
Step 15
Finally, add the sliced tofu and green onions. Stir gently and let the stew come to a gentle boil again. The tofu will become tender, and the green onions will release their aroma into the broth, making it even more delicious.
Step 16
Simmer for a final moment until everything is well combined. Your delicious Pork Kimchi Stew is now ready! Enjoy it with a warm bowl of rice.
