Budae Jjigae(Korean Army Stew)

Ingredients

• 1 medium Onion (thinly sliced)
• 2 stalks Scallions (cut into 2‑inch pieces)
• 3 cloves Garlic (minced)
• 200 g Spam (cut into bite‑size cubes)
• 2 pieces Korean Sausage (e.g., hot dog‑style) (sliced diagonally)
• 200 g Firm Tofu (cut into cubes)
• 100 g Mushrooms (sliced; shiitake or button work well)
• 1 cup Kimchi (well‑fermented, roughly chopped)
• 1/2 cup Baked Beans (drained)
• 2 Tbsp Gochujang (Korean red‑pepper paste)
• 1 Tbsp Gochugaru (Korean red‑pepper flakes)
• 1 Tbsp Soy Sauce
• 1 Tbsp Mirin
• 1 tsp Granulated Sugar
• 2 cups Dashi Broth (warm; can use instant dashi powder dissolved in water)
• 1 package Instant Ramen Noodles (discard seasoning packet)
• 2 slices American Cheese (cut into strips)

Instructions

1. Prep Vegetables & Aromatics

   Slice the onion, cut scallions into 2‑inch pieces, and mince the garlic cloves.

   Time: PT5M

2. Prep Proteins & Tofu

   Dice the Spam, slice the Korean sausages diagonally, and cube the tofu.

   Time: PT3M

3. Make the Sauce

   In a small bowl combine gochujang, gochugaru, soy sauce, mirin, sugar, and the minced garlic. Stir until smooth.

   Time: PT3M

4. Layer Ingredients in the Pot

   Place a bed of sliced onion and scallions in the bottom of the large pot. Arrange Spam, sausage slices, mushrooms, tofu cubes, kimchi, and baked beans around the edges. Spoon the prepared sauce over the top and pour the warm dashi broth until everything is just covered.

   Time: PT4M

5. Simmer the Stew

   Bring the pot to a gentle boil over medium heat, then reduce to a simmer. Cook for about 5‑7 minutes, allowing the kimchi and sauce to infuse the broth.

   Time: PT5M

   Temperature: medium heat

6. Add Noodles and Cheese

   Break the instant ramen noodles into halves and add them to the pot. Top with the cheese strips. Simmer for another 5 minutes, or until noodles are tender and cheese has melted.

   Time: PT5M

   Temperature: medium heat

7. Serve

   Turn off the heat. Ladle the hot stew into bowls, making sure each serving gets a mix of meat, tofu, kimchi, and noodles. Enjoy immediately.

   Time: PT0M

Nutrition Facts

Calories

620

Protein

25 g

Carbohydrates

55 g

Fat

30 g

Fiber

5 g