Spicy & Hearty Korean Potato Stew (Gamja Jjageuli)
Easy Homemade Delicious Gamja Jjageuli Recipe
Gamja Jjageuli is a traditional Korean soup dish made with potatoes. This stew is known for its tender texture and rich, savory flavor, making it a beloved staple in Korean households. It’s a comforting and flavorful dish that’s perfect with a bowl of rice. Here’s a simple and delicious recipe to make this classic at home.
Main Ingredients- 2 medium potatoes
- 1 medium onion
- 1/2 stalk green onion (scallion)
- 1-2 chili peppers (such as Korean or regular)
- 1 can (small) Spam
- 1 can (small) tuna
Seasoning- 2 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 1 Tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 3 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp tuna extract or soup soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp cooking wine (mirin)
- 1/3 Tbsp doenjang (Korean soybean paste)
- 1/2 Tbsp sugar (adjust to taste)
- 2 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 1 Tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 3 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp tuna extract or soup soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp cooking wine (mirin)
- 1/3 Tbsp doenjang (Korean soybean paste)
- 1/2 Tbsp sugar (adjust to taste)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Wash the potatoes thoroughly before cooking. Two medium-sized potatoes are usually sufficient. If you’re using smaller potatoes, you might need 3 to 4.
Step 2
To prevent the potatoes from falling apart too much while cooking, slice them lengthwise into pieces about 1 cm thick, rather than dicing them. Layering the potatoes at the bottom of the pot will help them absorb the flavors as the stew simmers.
Step 3
Peel the onion and cut it into roughly 1.5 cm cubes. Place the cubed onion evenly over the potatoes. (The recipe calls for one onion, but I added a second small one from my pantry to enhance the sweetness and flavor. Feel free to use what you have!)
Step 4
Open the small can of Spam and remove the contents. Place the Spam in a plastic wrap or ziplock bag and break it into bite-sized pieces by pressing down firmly with a rolling pin or your hands. Leaving some chunks will provide a better texture.
Step 5
Distribute the broken-up Spam evenly over the potatoes and onions in the pot. Allowing the Spam to simmer with the other ingredients will infuse the broth with delicious umami.
Step 6
Now it’s time to add the seasonings. Instead of mixing them separately, which creates more dishes, simply add all the seasoning ingredients (gochugaru, gochujang, soy sauce, minced garlic, tuna extract, cooking wine, doenjang, and sugar) directly into the pot. This makes the cooking process much simpler.
Step 7
Place the pot on the stove over medium-high heat and add 500ml (about 2 cups) of water. Bring it to a boil.
Step 8
Once the stew is boiling vigorously, add the diagonally sliced green onions and thinly sliced chili peppers (using spicy Cheongyang peppers will add a nice kick, if you like heat). Let it simmer for another 5-7 minutes, or until the ingredients are cooked through and the broth has slightly reduced. Be careful not to overcook, as the potatoes can become mushy. Then, turn off the heat.
Step 9
Your delicious and hearty Gamja Jjageuli is ready! Enjoy it with a warm bowl of rice. It’s also fantastic mixed directly into the rice.
