Spicy and Hearty Army Stew (Budae Jjigae) Recipe: A Feast from Your Fridge!
Homemade Budae Jjigae: A Delicious and Satisfying Army Stew
Gather all the sausages and ham from your fridge and create a truly delicious Army Stew with a rich beef bone broth base. This recipe brings a comforting and flavorful dish right to your kitchen table.
Main Ingredients
- Generous amount of well-fermented Napa Cabbage Kimchi (chopped)
- 4 servings of Tteokguk Rice Cakes (rinsed in cold water)
- 1 pack of Assorted Sausages (sliced into bite-sized pieces)
- 1 pack of Spam or Luncheon Meat (sliced into bite-sized pieces)
- 1 pack of Instant Ramen Noodles
- 1 Onion (sliced into strips)
- 1/2 Green Onion (sliced diagonally)
- 200ml Rich Beef Bone Broth
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Welcome! Today, we’re going to make a delicious Army Stew that everyone loves, using ingredients you likely have at home. You can achieve a deep and spicy flavor without complex steps.
Step 2
Prepare the star ingredients of Budae Jjigae: the sausages and ham. Slice the canned ham into bite-sized pieces. For Viennese sausages, making a few diagonal cuts can make them look more appealing and help them cook evenly. This preparation also helps release more flavor into the broth.
Step 3
Now, it’s time to layer the prepared ingredients into a wide stew pot. Start by placing a generous amount of chopped kimchi and the tteokguk rice cakes at the bottom of the pot. Arrange the sliced sausages, ham, and thinly sliced onion beautifully on top.
Step 4
Let’s add the broth and seasoning to build the flavor. Pour the 200ml of beef bone broth into the pot. Sprinkle the prepared Budae Jjigae seasoning (or your homemade blend) evenly over the ingredients. You can adjust the amount of seasoning to your preference. We’ll simmer it until it’s just covered.
Step 5
Now, cover the pot and bring it to a simmer over medium heat. Cook for about 10 minutes, or until the ingredients meld together, the rice cakes become soft and chewy, and the stew begins to bubble vigorously. Spooning some broth over the ingredients occasionally will help the flavors penetrate better.
Step 6
The crowning glory of Budae Jjigae! It’s time to add the ramen noodles. It’s a good idea to briefly boil the ramen noodles separately in boiling water. This helps them cook faster and prevents the broth from becoming too cloudy. Add the par-cooked ramen noodles to the center of the pot and simmer for another 2-3 minutes until the noodles are cooked.
Step 7
Voila! Your hearty and delicious Army Stew is complete. Finally, garnish with the diagonally sliced green onions. For an extra touch of richness, you can place a slice of American cheese on top and let it melt into the stew. Enjoy this delightful dish with a bowl of rice!
