Rich Pork Kimchi Jjigae (Kimchi Stew)
A kimchi stew made by stir-frying pork and aged sour kimchi for a rich, deeply flavored broth.
Translated from Korean by AI and not yet checked by a native speaker. Amounts and numbers are taken directly from the original recipe. Read the Korean original →
This stew is made by thoroughly stir-frying pork and aged sour kimchi before pouring in anchovy broth to simmer gently. Plenty of onion is added to remove any stale kimchi odor and bring out natural sweetness, while salted fermented shrimp finishes the seasoning with a clean taste.
- Servings
- 3–4 servings
- Cook time
- 10 minprep not included
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Spiciness
- Spicy
Ingredients
Ingredients
- Aged sour kimchi400 g
- Pork200 g
- Tofu200 g
- Onion (or 1 medium)2 (small)
- Large green onion (daepa)1/2 stalk
- Cheongyang chili pepper (hot green chili)2
- Anchovy broth4 cups
- Kimchi brine1/2 cup
Meat marinade
- Salt1/2 tsp
- Minced ginger1 tsp
- Mirin (cooking rice wine)1 tbsp
- Ground black peppera little
Seasoning
- Salted fermented shrimp (saeujeot)1 tbsp
- Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)1 tbsp
- Prepare 1/4 quarter-head of tangy, well-fermented kimchi or aged sour kimchi.
- Using pork front shoulder cut into bite-sized pieces with a bit of fat makes the broth rich and savory.
- You can also use Spam, canned tuna, or mushrooms instead of pork.
Steps
Prepare ingredients
Prepare 1/4 quarter-head of tangy, well-fermented kimchi or aged sour kimchi.
I used 200g of pork front shoulder cut into bite-sized pieces with a little fat, as fat makes the broth rich and flavorful.
Prepare 1/2 block of tofu, 2 small onions, 1/2 stalk of large green onion, and 2 Cheongyang chili peppers.
You can also use mushrooms, Spam, or canned tuna instead of pork.
Cut ingredients
Roughly shake off any seasoning paste inside the kimchi and slice it into bite-sized pieces.
Cut the tofu into thick, bite-sized pieces, slice the onions thickly, and slice the large green onion and Cheongyang chili peppers diagonally.
Stir-fry ingredients
Heat cooking oil in a pot, add half of the sliced large green onion, the pork, 1 tsp minced ginger, 1 tbsp mirin, 1/2 tsp salt, and a little ground black pepper...
Stir-fry thoroughly so the pork absorbs the seasoning and any gamey smell is removed.
Add the kimchi and onion, then stir-fry thoroughly until the kimchi softens.
Pre-frying the kimchi thoroughly like this allows you to enjoy the deep, rich flavor of a kimchi stew that has simmered for a long time...
Adding plenty of onion adds an aromatic sweetness that removes stale kimchi odors and lets you cut back on sugar.
Taste the fried kimchi; if it is overly sour, balance it by adding 1 tsp to 1/2 tbsp of sugar.
Boil
Pour in 4 cups of anchovy broth and 1/2 cup of kimchi brine...
Adjust the amount of broth according to the volume of your ingredients.
Add gochugaru to give it color, then simmer for over 10 minutes until the kimchi becomes soft and translucent, then taste the broth.
I seasoned it with salted fermented shrimp, but you can also use soup soy sauce or salt.
Finally, add the tofu, the remaining large green onion, and the Cheongyang chili peppers, give it a quick boil, and finish.
Finish
The pork kimchi jjigae is complete.
If you add Spam, sausages, or rice cakes to this, it turns into a hearty budae jjigae that even kids will love.
Ppunwife's tips
- Pre-frying the kimchi thoroughly like this allows you to enjoy the deep, rich flavor of a kimchi stew that has simmered for a long time.
- Adding plenty of onion brings an aromatic sweetness that eliminates stale kimchi odors and lets you cut back on sugar.
- Taste the fried kimchi; if the sourness is too strong, balance it with 1 tsp to 1/2 tbsp of sugar.
- When seasoning, you can use soup soy sauce or salt instead of salted fermented shrimp.
FAQ
What should I do if the kimchi is too sour?
After stir-frying the kimchi, taste it, and if it is too sour, balance it by adding 1 tsp to 1/2 tbsp of sugar.
Can I use another seasoning instead of salted fermented shrimp?
You can season it to your taste using soup soy sauce or salt.
Can I use other ingredients instead of pork?
You can use Spam, canned tuna, or mushrooms instead of pork to suit your taste.
