Spicy and Hearty Budae Jjigae with Store-Bought Sauce
Budae Jjigae Made Easy with a Pre-Made Sauce – Recommended Ingredients!
Budae Jjigae (Korean Army Stew) is incredibly delicious! With the right ingredients, you can enjoy a hearty and satisfying meal at home. Today, let’s make a delicious Budae Jjigae using a store-bought sauce. It’s a fantastic way to have a comforting meal without a lot of fuss.
Ingredients- Store-bought Budae Jjigae sauce (check package for recommended amount)
- Water (check package for recommended amount)
- 1 bunch Enoki mushrooms
- 1 block Firm Tofu (approx. 300g)
- 3-4 Sausages (e.g., smoked sausage, Vienna sausages)
- 1 small can Spam or Luncheon Meat
- 3-5 Dumplings (optional, to taste)
- 1/2 stalk Green Onion
- 1 packet Instant Ramen Noodles
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, taste your store-bought Budae Jjigae sauce. (Some sauces can have a strong ‘ssamjang’ or soybean paste flavor.) In a pot, combine the recommended amount of water and the sauce, whisking to dissolve. It’s a good idea to adjust the water quantity beforehand, as you can always add more later if needed.
Step 2
Sausages and Spam are the stars of Budae Jjigae! Slice the sausages into bite-sized pieces, about 1 to 1.5 cm thick, either diagonally or into rounds. Slice the Spam similarly. Using a variety of sausages will add more depth to the flavor.
Step 3
Prepare the enoki mushrooms by trimming the root ends and rinsing them lightly under cold water. Enoki mushrooms add a wonderful chewy texture that complements the broth and enhances the overall flavor of the stew.
Step 4
Cut the tofu into roughly 1.5 to 2 cm cubes. Adding the tofu midway through cooking will help it maintain its shape while becoming tender. Slice the green onion diagonally. If you enjoy a bit of spice, consider adding a chopped Korean chili pepper.
Step 5
Arrange the sliced sausages, Spam, tofu, enoki mushrooms, and dumplings attractively in the pot. Bring to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for about 5-7 minutes, allowing the ingredients to cook through and the flavors to meld. Finally, add the instant ramen noodles and cook until they are tender. Serve immediately to enjoy the noodles at their best!
