Spam Kimchi Jjigae: The Essence of Home Cooking
Easy and Delicious Spam Kimchi Stew Recipe for Beginners
A hearty and comforting Korean stew featuring tender spam and soft tofu in a rich, spicy kimchi broth. This recipe is designed for even novice cooks to achieve a delicious, restaurant-quality Kimchi Jjigae at home. Perfect for a satisfying meal!
Main Ingredients- 2 cups aged/fermented kimchi, chopped
- 1/2 can Spam (approx. 200g), cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1/2 block firm tofu (approx. 150g), cut into cubes
- 800ml water (or anchovy-kelp broth)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Start by building a fragrant base. Heat a pot or deep pan over medium-low heat. Add 1 tablespoon of perilla oil and 1 tablespoon of minced garlic. Sauté gently until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic. You’ll know it’s ready when you can smell the aromatic garlic.
Step 2
Once the garlic is fragrant, add 2 cups of chopped kimchi and 1 tablespoon of sugar. Stir-fry together for about 3-5 minutes. The sugar helps to balance the sourness of the kimchi, and stir-frying enhances its flavor. When the kimchi starts to soften and look slightly translucent, add the thinly sliced half onion and sauté for another 2-3 minutes until the onion is slightly tender.
Step 3
Pour in 800ml of water. For an even richer flavor, you can substitute water with anchovy-kelp broth. Bring the stew to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to medium. Let it simmer for about 10 minutes, allowing the kimchi to soften further and the flavors to meld.
Step 4
Now it’s time to season the stew. Stir in 1 tablespoon of gochugaru (Korean chili flakes) and 1 tablespoon of fish sauce. Mix well. If you don’t have fish sauce, soy sauce or another salted seafood sauce can be used, but adjust the amount according to your taste and the saltiness of your kimchi. Taste the broth and add a pinch of salt or more fish sauce if needed.
Step 5
Add the star of the show: Spam! Add the half can of Spam, cut into your preferred bite-sized pieces (cubes or slices), and simmer for about 5 more minutes. This allows the savory flavor of the Spam to infuse into the broth.
Step 6
Finally, add the ingredients for freshness and texture. Add the diagonally sliced leek and the cubed tofu. Gently stir to combine, ensuring the tofu doesn’t break apart, and simmer for another 3-5 minutes until the tofu is heated through and has absorbed some of the stew’s flavor.
Step 7
Once the tofu has absorbed the delicious flavors of the kimchi stew and all the ingredients are well combined, turn off the heat. Serve hot, perhaps over a bowl of steamed rice, for a truly comforting and satisfying meal!
