Budae Jjigae (Army Base Stew) – Ryu Soo-young’s Recipe
Make Delicious Budae Jjigae with Chef Ryu Soo-young’s ‘Eonamseonsaeng’ Recipe
Enjoy a wonderfully flavorful Budae Jjigae using the popular ‘Eonamseonsaeng’ (Ryu Soo-young’s) recipe! This hearty stew is packed with delicious ingredients and is perfect for a comforting meal.
Main Ingredients- Beef Bone Broth (packaged) 500g
- Minced Garlic 1 bowlful (generous amount)
- Spam 1 can (small size)
- Sliced Ham or Luncheon Meat 1/4 piece
- Green Onion 1 stalk
- Onion 1/2
- Napa Cabbage approx. 1/7 head
- Baked Beans 1/2 can
- Rice Cake for Soup 1/2 bowlful
- Tofu 1/2 block
- Ketchup 2 Tbsp
- Ramen Noodles 1 pack
Seasoning Sauce- Gochujang (Korean chili paste) 1 Tbsp
- Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes) 1 Tbsp
- Soy Sauce 1 Tbsp
- Fish Sauce (anchovy or sand lance) 1 Tbsp
- Sugar 0.2 Tbsp (a tiny pinch)
- Black Pepper a pinch
- Gochujang (Korean chili paste) 1 Tbsp
- Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes) 1 Tbsp
- Soy Sauce 1 Tbsp
- Fish Sauce (anchovy or sand lance) 1 Tbsp
- Sugar 0.2 Tbsp (a tiny pinch)
- Black Pepper a pinch
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, let’s prepare the vegetables for the Budae Jjigae. Slice half an onion into strips. This will add a natural sweetness to the broth.
Step 2
Cut about 1/7 of a napa cabbage into bite-sized pieces. Adding cabbage makes the broth refreshingly flavorful.
Step 3
Slice half a block of tofu into pieces that are easy to eat. Cutting them to a suitable size will prevent them from falling apart too much during cooking.
Step 4
Slice one green onion diagonally. This preparation method allows the green onion’s aroma to infuse well into the broth and also makes for a visually appealing presentation.
Step 5
Now, let’s prepare the processed meats. While frankfurters are ideal, using other available hams works wonderfully too. Slice 1/4 of a rectangular block ham (like the kind used for kimbap) into bite-sized pieces.
Step 6
Slice one small can of Spam into similar-sized pieces as the other ham. These sliced meats will be arranged attractively in the pot.
Step 7
Rinse 1/2 bowlful of rice cake for soup (tteokguk tteok) lightly in water. Chef Ryu Soo-young used tteokbokki rice cakes, but tteokguk tteok also provides a great chewy texture, so feel free to use your preference.
Step 8
Arrange the sliced vegetables, ham, and Spam in the pot in an appealing pattern. Then, add the prepared rice cakes on top.
Step 9
Add a generous amount of minced garlic, about 1 bowlful, to enhance the stew’s flavor. Plenty of garlic makes it taste even better!
Step 10
Next, we’ll make the seasoning sauce. In a small bowl, add just a tiny pinch of sugar (0.2 Tbsp). Sugar adds a touch of sweetness and depth.
Step 11
Add 1 Tbsp of soy sauce. Regular soy sauce is generally better suited for Budae Jjigae than soup soy sauce.
Step 12
Add 1 Tbsp of fish sauce (anchovy or sand lance) for a boost of umami and a briny flavor. You can substitute with another type of fish sauce.
Step 13
Add 1 Tbsp of gochujang (Korean chili paste) to create the spicy base of the stew.
Step 14
Add 1 Tbsp of gochugaru (Korean chili flakes) for a robust spicy flavor and vibrant color. If you like it spicier, you can add a bit more.
Step 15
Finally, add a pinch of black pepper and mix all the seasoning ingredients well to create the sauce.
Step 16
You might wonder about ketchup in Budae Jjigae, but add 2 Tbsp of ketchup to the sauce and mix well. Its distinct flavor isn’t noticeable; instead, it adds a subtle sweetness and depth.
Step 17
Now, add 1/2 can of baked beans to the pot, pour in the prepared seasoning sauce, and then add the entire 500g package of beef bone broth. (Chef Ryu Soo-young used the powder from a ramen pack, but packaged beef bone broth yields a richer soup.) Have some water ready in case the stew turns out too salty, as this will help you adjust the seasoning.
Step 18
Bring the pot to a boil, and once it’s simmering, add the 1 pack of ramen noodles. As the noodles cook, all the flavors will meld together, creating a wonderfully delicious Budae Jjigae. It’s fantastic how such simple ingredients can make such a satisfying stew!
