Budae Jjigae (Korean Army Stew) Recipe
Budae Jjigae, also known as Korean Army Stew, is a flavorful and hearty one-pot dish combining savory Spam, sausages, tofu, kimchi, rice cakes, mushrooms, and instant ramen noodles simmered in a spicy and savory broth. Topped with melted American cheese and fresh green onions, this comfort food masterpiece blends Korean ingredients with a nostalgic twist, perfect for sharing and satisfying your cravings.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Stew
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Korean
Ingredients
Scale
Stew Ingredients
- ½ can Spam, sliced
- 10 mini sausages or 2 hot dogs, diced or sliced
- ½ block soft or firm tofu, sliced
- ½ cup rice cakes
- ½ onion, sliced
- 1 bunch enoki mushrooms
- ½ cup kimchi
- 1 green onion, chopped
- 1 pack instant ramen noodles
- 2 slices American cheese
Sauce Ingredients
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 1 tbsp Gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp mirin
- 2 tsp sugar
- ⅛ tsp black pepper
- 1 L chicken stock or anchovy stock
Instructions
- Prepare the Sauce: In a bowl, mix together the minced garlic, Gochugaru, Gochujang, soy sauce, mirin, sugar, and black pepper until well combined. Set the spicy sauce aside for later use.
- Arrange the Ingredients in the Pot: Take a shallow pot and evenly place sliced Spam, diced sausages, tofu slices, rice cakes, sliced onion, enoki mushrooms, and kimchi. This layering helps meld the flavors during cooking.
- Add Sauce and Broth, then Boil: Pour the prepared sauce over the arranged ingredients, then add 1 liter of chicken or anchovy stock. Cover the pot with a lid and bring everything to a vigorous boil over high heat.
- Add Noodles and Cheese: Once the stew is boiling, add the instant ramen noodles and place the American cheese slices on top. Cover again and let it cook for a few minutes until the noodles are fully cooked and cheese is melted into the broth.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove the lid, sprinkle chopped green onions on top for freshness and vibrant color. Serve the hot stew immediately, optionally with steamed rice on the side to make it a complete, satisfying meal.
Notes
- You can substitute the Spam and sausages with other processed meats as preferred.
- Adjust the level of spiciness by adding more or less Gochugaru and Gochujang according to your taste.
- If rice cakes are unavailable, omit or replace them with extra noodles or vegetables.
- The dish cooks quickly, so keep an eye on noodles to avoid overcooking.
- American cheese adds a creamy, melty texture that balances the spicy broth – don’t skip!
- Serving with steamed white rice helps temper the heat and makes the meal more filling.
Keywords: Budae Jjigae, Korean Army Stew, Korean stew, spicy stew, ramen stew, kimchi stew, one-pot meal
