Hearty and Satisfying Spam and Potato Stew Recipe
How to Make a Deliciously Spicy and Savory Spam and Potato Stew with Pantry Staples
After a long day out, I decided to take a nap, something I rarely do. Waking up feeling a bit groggy, the thought of cooking was unappealing, but with two hungry people to feed, I had to do something. A quick scan of the refrigerator revealed a can of Spam! ‘Ah,’ I thought, ‘Spam and Potato Stew it is!’ I had always wondered if it would taste as good as it looked when featured on ‘Home Cooked Baek’s Recipes.’ With no other compelling ideas and limited ingredients, it seemed like the perfect dish to make today. This stew, packed with savory Spam and tender potatoes, is sure to become a new favorite that goes perfectly with rice.
Main Ingredients
- 1 can Spam
- 2 potatoes
- 1/2 onion
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, open the can of Spam and place it in a plastic bag. Mash it with your hands until it’s chunky, not completely smooth. You want it to still be recognizable as Spam.
Step 2
While you can make this stew with plain water, for a deeper and richer flavor, it’s best to make a flavorful broth using dried anchovies and kelp.
Step 3
Cut the 2 potatoes into bite-sized pieces, thick enough so they won’t disintegrate while cooking. Slice the 1/2 onion similarly, not too thin.
Step 4
Let’s make the seasoning paste that will give the stew its signature flavor! Mix 2 Tbsp gochugaru, 2 Tbsp gochujang, and 1 Tbsp doenjang together.
Step 5
You can add the seasoning ingredients directly to the pot, but mixing them beforehand allows the flavors of gochugaru, gochujang, and doenjang to meld beautifully, creating a more complex taste.
Step 6
Slice 1 Cheongyang pepper diagonally for a bit of heat. If you don’t have green onions, scallions will add a nice freshness.
Step 7
Remove the anchovies and kelp from the broth. Add the prepared seasoning paste to the pot and dissolve it well in the broth. Stir to ensure there are no lumps.
Step 8
Add the prepared potatoes and onions to the pot and bring to a boil over high heat. The delicious aroma will start to fill your kitchen as the ingredients meld with the seasoning.
Step 9
As the stew begins to bubble, a familiar aroma, somewhat like tteokbokki broth, starts to waft. Although it’s not tteokbokki, the scent at this stage is wonderfully appetizing. The gochujang I used this time has a flavor profile perfect for tteokbokki, which might be why!
Step 10
Once the potatoes are tender, add all the mashed Spam to the pot. Reduce the heat to low and continue simmering. It’s important to let it simmer for a while to allow the savory flavor of the Spam to infuse into the stew.
Step 11
If you desire more spiciness, add 1 Tbsp minced garlic and the sliced Cheongyang pepper after adding the Spam. The pungent flavors of garlic and pepper will elevate the taste of the stew.
Step 12
Finally, add the chopped scallions and turn off the heat. Scallions cook quickly with residual heat, so adding them at the end preserves their fresh aroma and texture. Traditionally, jjigae has a thick, stew-like consistency. However, my family enjoys having more broth, so I added a bit more water than usual. Therefore, my Spam and Potato Stew might have more broth than others. It’s absolutely delicious mixed with rice!
