BUDAE JJIGAE (KOREAN ARMY STEW)

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Budae Jjigae (Korean Army Stew) image

A popular Korean hot pot dish, budae jjigae or army base stew, evolved in the years following the Korean war, when food was scarce and the local population made a stew using processed foods like spam and canned pork and beans from American army bases. The ingredients vary by recipe, but the best versions feature homemade broth and come to the table bubbling hot.

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Categories     main-dish

Time 1h10m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 26

1/2 cup gochugaru (Korean red chile flakes)
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup fish sauce
3 tablespoons minced garlic
2 tablespoons mirin
1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
1 teaspoon sugar
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup dried anchovies
5 cloves garlic
One 2-inch piece daikon radish
One 2-inch piece kombu
1/2 onion
6 ounces sliced Spam
10 cocktail sausages
6 strips bacon, cut in half
8 ounces firm tofu, sliced
8 ounces tteok (Korean cylindrical rice cakes)
8 ounces canned pork and beans
1 cup kimchi
1/2 onion, sliced
One 4.5-ounce package dried ramen noodles
1 cup shredded mozzarella
4 scallions, thinly sliced
2 cups watercress (about 1 bunch)
Steamed rice, for serving

Steps:

  • For the sauce: Put the gochugaru, soy sauce, fish sauce, garlic, mirin, sesame oil, sugar, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper in a medium bowl. Whisk to combine, cover with plastic wrap and set aside.
  • For the broth: Put the dried anchovies, garlic, daikon, kombu, onion and 2 quarts water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 25 minutes. Strain into a bowl or saucepan and discard the solids.
  • For the toppings: Arrange the Spam, cocktail sausages, bacon, tofu, tteok, pork and beans, kimchi and sliced onion in a large, low-sided skillet. Add the sauce to the middle of the pot; don't stir. Heat on high heat for 5 minutes. Add enough broth to cover all the ingredients (you may not use all the broth), bring to a boil and boil on high heat for 5 minutes. Mix the sauce gently into the broth so it is well incorporated. Lower to medium heat and add the remaining broth. Simmer for 10 more minutes, then add the ramen and cook until the noodles are just tender, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat and top with mozzarella, scallions and watercress. Serve with steamed rice.

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