Rich Budae Jjigae (Army Stew) Made with Hearty Beef Bone Broth
Deep and Flavorful Budae Jjigae with Abundant Ham and Rich Beef Bone Broth
Hello there! It’s Kkotjuma. Today, we’re making Budae Jjigae, a dish everyone in the family loves. My husband is away on a business trip, so I wanted to put extra effort into breakfast. My father-in-law mentioned he’d like some Budae Jjigae, so I made a generous portion for him. I didn’t hold back on the ingredients, using plenty of ham, spam, and most importantly, a rich beef bone broth, which resulted in a flavor even better than store-bought! We really enjoyed the abundant ham and the deep, satisfying taste.
Ingredients- Rich beef bone broth 1.5L
- Fresh bean sprouts 1 handful
- Well-fermented kimchi 1 handful
- Green onion 1 stalk
- Onion 1/2
- Korean green chili peppers 3
- Ramen noodles 1 serving
- Soaked glass noodles 1 handful
- Minced pork loin 1 handful
- Baked beans 1 can
- Spam
- Frankfurter sausage
- Assorted hams (use what you have)
- Sliced ham
- Sausages
Seasoning Paste- Minced garlic 2 Tbsp
- Soy sauce 1 Tbsp
- Oyster sauce 2 Tbsp
- Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes) 3 Tbsp
- Sugar 1.5 Tbsp
- Black pepper (a pinch)
- Minced garlic 2 Tbsp
- Soy sauce 1 Tbsp
- Oyster sauce 2 Tbsp
- Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes) 3 Tbsp
- Sugar 1.5 Tbsp
- Black pepper (a pinch)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, let’s make the seasoning paste, which is the key to a delicious Budae Jjigae. Combine all the ingredients listed above and mix them well. The soy sauce, oyster sauce, and sugar provide a good base flavor. If you have MSG (monosodium glutamate) at home, adding a little bit will enhance the depth of flavor even further. Oyster sauce adds umami and also acts as a soy sauce substitute. Budae Jjigae is quite forgiving, as the flavors from the various ingredients and the ham will naturally create a delicious broth. Feel free to adjust the sweetness, saltiness, and spiciness to your preference. I like it spicy, so I used plenty of gochugaru and Korean green chilies. If you have a ramen soup packet, adding one will give it an extra boost of flavor. 🙂
Step 2
Next, prepare the vegetables. Rinse the bean sprouts thoroughly. Chop the kimchi into bite-sized pieces. Slice the green onion diagonally, and thinly slice half an onion. Finely chop the 3 Korean green chilies for a spicy kick. Feel free to use any leftover vegetables you have in your fridge! If you have scallions, they would also add a nice aroma. If you have tofu, cut it into large chunks and add it. Budae Jjigae is best when you add a variety of ingredients!
Step 3
Now, let’s slice the various hams and sausages. I used a mix of what I had at home and some on sale from the market. You can save any leftovers for grilling later. Spam is a crowd-pleaser, so cut one can into large pieces. Slice the frankfurter sausage diagonally into long pieces. Fold the sliced ham for a nice presentation. Cut regular sausages into rounds, and the garlic ham into larger, flatter pieces for a satisfying bite. Prepare about a handful of minced pork loin. Adding a variety of ingredients makes the Budae Jjigae look incredibly appetizing.
Step 4
Oh dear! While looking for the Spam, there was an unexpected little adventure. It seems the Spam was hiding somewhere, and my mother-in-law eventually found it for me! We even had a minor mishap with opening the can, and the opened can was put aside for Dad to deal with later. With a bit of humor and effort, cut the Spam into manageable pieces. Cutting them not too thinly will give them a better texture when you eat them.
Step 5
Now, let’s arrange the ingredients attractively in the pot. Start by placing the bean sprouts at the bottom, followed by a generous layer of kimchi. Add the soaked glass noodles, also spread out at the bottom. Sprinkle the prepared seasoning paste evenly over the ingredients. Then, artfully arrange the sliced hams, sausages, and pork. Place the prepared vegetables on top. There’s no strict order, so focus on making it look appealing! Finally, scoop two spoonfuls of the sweet baked beans and place them on top. Just arranging them like this already creates a mouthwatering visual. Doesn’t it look delicious and inviting?
Step 6
I’ve transferred everything to a convenient stew pot for cooking on the stovetop. I’ve rearranged the ingredients beautifully and added all the essential Spam to complete our authentic Budae Jjigae. Doesn’t it look fantastic? With the generous amount of seasoning paste, it’s bound to be incredibly flavorful. Budae Jjigae is visually appealing because of its abundant ingredients. Doesn’t it look grand and delicious?
Step 7
Now it’s time to add the broth and start simmering. While anchovy broth or rice water would also work well, I chose a rich beef bone broth today for an extra deep and flavorful soup base. Since beef bone broth is delicious on its own, it simplifies the process of achieving a deep flavor. Pour the beef bone broth into the pot and bring it to a rolling boil over high heat. Cooking with beef bone broth truly creates a deep, rich flavor without any gamey smell. If you don’t have beef bone broth, you can use plain water. The hams and sausages will release plenty of flavor on their own. However, using beef bone broth will give you a more profound and savory depth. Remember, beef bone broth is a versatile ingredient, great for dishes like Tteokguk (rice cake soup) and more.
Step 8
Let it simmer until the flavors from the ham and sausages have fully melded into the broth. The seasoning paste will naturally dissolve and infuse the soup with its taste. Listen to that satisfying simmer! Let it boil until you feel the flavors have thoroughly developed. Taste the broth and adjust the seasoning if needed with salt or soy sauce, according to your preference. While the base is good, it’s important to tailor the sweetness, saltiness, and spiciness to suit your palate.
Step 9
Once the Budae Jjigae is simmering nicely, add the ramen noodles and let them cook for another minute or two. If you have cheese, placing a slice on top will add an extra layer of creaminess and richness. (Unfortunately, I didn’t have any cheese this time!) Add another spoonful of baked beans for visual appeal, and voila! A hearty and delicious Budae Jjigae is ready. Cheese makes it incredibly savory. You can also add tteokbokki rice cakes, bacon, or any other stray ingredients you find in your fridge. Some people even add dumplings! Budae Jjigae is essentially a ‘mixed stew,’ so feel free to add whatever you like and enjoy!
