Spicy Gochujang Stew: The Original Comfort Food
The quintessential spicy Korean stew, Gochujang Jjigae, made simple and delicious at home!
Master the art of making a perfectly balanced, spicy, and deeply flavorful Gochujang Jjigae with this easy-to-follow recipe. It’s the ultimate side dish that will have you reaching for more rice!
Stew Ingredients
- Beef (stewing cut or thinly sliced brisket) 150g
- King Oyster Mushrooms 2
- Zucchini 1/2
- Onion 1/2
- Radish 200g
- Dried Anchovies for broth 1 handful
Seasoning Ingredients
- Gochujang (Korean chili paste) 2 Tbsp
- Doenjang (Korean soybean paste) 1 Tbsp
- Minced Garlic 1/2 Tbsp
- Cooking Wine or Mirin 1 Tbsp
- Sugar 1/2 Tbsp (optional)
- Gochujang (Korean chili paste) 2 Tbsp
- Doenjang (Korean soybean paste) 1 Tbsp
- Minced Garlic 1/2 Tbsp
- Cooking Wine or Mirin 1 Tbsp
- Sugar 1/2 Tbsp (optional)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
In a 2-liter pot, add water and half a handful of dried anchovies (split in half) along with 150g of beef. Bring to a rolling boil over high heat. You can use any cut of beef suitable for stewing or thinly sliced brisket. (I used leftover bulgogi meat.)
Step 2
Slice the radish into bite-sized pieces. Cut the king oyster mushrooms, zucchini, and onion into similarly sized pieces. If you prefer extra spice, you can add 1-2 chopped Cheongyang peppers at this stage.
Step 3
Once the broth begins to boil, skim off any impurities or foam that rises to the surface. Then, stir in 2 Tbsp of gochujang and 1 Tbsp of doenjang, dissolving them completely into the broth.
Step 4
Add the sliced radish first and simmer for 2-3 minutes until slightly tender. Then, add the rest of the prepared vegetables (mushrooms, zucchini, onion). If you like a touch of sweetness, add 1/2 Tbsp of sugar; otherwise, you can omit it for a purely savory flavor. Stir in 1/2 Tbsp of minced garlic.
Step 5
Add 1 Tbsp of cooking wine or mirin to help eliminate any gamey odors from the meat and add depth of flavor. (Using rice wine infused with ginger would be even better.)
Step 6
Let the stew simmer vigorously over high heat for 5 minutes, allowing all the flavors to meld together. Taste and adjust the seasoning with soy sauce or salt if needed.
Step 7
Your delicious and comforting Gochujang Jjigae, the authentic spicy stew, is now ready! Enjoy it piping hot with a bowl of rice.
