A year later, a lot has happened. Friends moved, friends get married, new friends made but what ties us all together are still the love for food. Not just any food, but great homemade food.
Summer is over and fall foliage is close to the end. With the drizzling rain in Boston, the one thing you think about is a pot of boiling hot stew. Budae-jjigae also named the Army Base Stew is one of my favorite stew. The flavor of spam and the spicy soup base with some flavorful rice cakes and ramen warms your body and your heart. Of course you will need good company but that pot of stew. THAT POT OF STEW! It makes it much better since it is very easy to prep and make.
Broth:
- 2 Tbsp fish sauce
- Hon dashi ( I ran out of anchovies and kelp but this works just fine)
- 2 Tbsp red pepper powder (gochugaru 고추가루)
- 1 Tbsp red pepper paste (gochujang 고추장)
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp Mirin (sweet cooking wine)
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 1/2 onion cubed
- 2 green onions
- 1/2 pound pork butt (marinate in mirin and gochujang)
- 1/2 cabbage
- 1 can spam
- 4 sausages
- 1/2 pack Soft Tofu
- 1/2 cup of fermented kimchi
- 1 bunch watercress
- 12-16 Korean sliced rice cake (optional) (presoak them in cold water before you put them in the pot)
- 1pack ramen (optional)
- 1 Handful of cheese (optional)
Prepare the broth and turn off the fire when it boils. Mix all the seasoning paste in a bowl and set aside.
Arrange all the ingredients in a shallow pot. Layer the cabbages, onions, green onions and watercress on the bottom. Add the kimchi and pork and also the spam and sausages. Put the tofu and rice cake last since the rice cake tends to stick to the pot and will easily burn the bottom of the pot.
Add the seasoning paste and add 3-4 cups of soup till it barely covers the rice cake.
Use a portable burner so you can enjoy the hot boiling soup while eating with friends and family around the table.
Let it boil for 10 minutes and it is ready to serve! You can lower the fire to prevent it from burning.
I like to add the ramen later because I will have more space after I had some of of delicious food in the pot.
Enjoy this Budae jjigae in this upcoming cold harsh winter!
