Hearty and Spicy Aged Kimchi Stew with Pork
Hearty and Spicy Aged Kimchi Stew with Pork
Delicious Pork Kimchi Stew Recipe Using Frozen Pork Belly and Aged Kimchi
How about a hearty and spicy aged kimchi stew (mukimchi kimchi jjigae) for dinner tonight? This recipe is especially delicious when using frozen pork belly, adding a rich flavor. The secret to a fantastic kimchi stew is, of course, delicious kimchi itself! If your kimchi is good, you’re already 80% there. The tangy flavor of aged kimchi combined with the savory pork belly creates a dish that will make you devour a bowl of rice in no time.
Main Ingredients- 1/2 head aged kimchi
- Generous amount of frozen pork belly (or any pork suitable for stew)
- 1/2 stalk green onion
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- Soy sauce for soup (Guk-ganjang), to taste
- Red pepper flakes (Gochugaru), to taste
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, place the frozen pork belly in a pan and stir-fry it. If you don’t have frozen pork belly, any pork cut suitable for stew will work perfectly.
Step 2
Pork belly shrinks when cooked, so it’s best to use a generous amount. Add 1 tablespoon of sugar to enhance the savory flavor of the pork and continue stir-frying.
Step 3
Sauté until the moisture from the pork evaporates and the fat is rendered. If you plan to add the kimchi immediately, you can pat away excess oil and moisture with a paper towel after frying the pork for a cleaner taste.
Step 4
Now, prepare your main ingredient: well-fermented aged kimchi. The more sour the kimchi, the deeper the flavor of the stew. If your kimchi is slightly under-fermented, you can add 1 tablespoon of vinegar to achieve a similar tanginess, but aged kimchi is truly the best! Cut it into bite-sized pieces and add it to the pan with the pork to stir-fry together.
Step 5
Stir-fry the kimchi until it becomes translucent and tender, ensuring it doesn’t stick to the pan. This step is crucial for drawing out the deep, rich flavor of the kimchi.
Step 6
Once the kimchi is sufficiently stir-fried, add water. A great tip for making kimchi stew even more delicious is to use broth instead of plain water. Using anchovy-kelp broth or a commercial broth cube dissolved in water will add depth and richness.
Step 7
Season the stew primarily with soy sauce for soup (Guk-ganjang). Start with a small amount and adjust to your taste, as it can be quite salty.
Step 8
If you prefer a spicier stew, add some red pepper flakes. Finally, add the chopped green onions and let the stew simmer until all the ingredients are well combined and the flavors meld beautifully.
Step 9
A stew enriched with pork broth is truly unbeatable! Even using leftover pork belly from grilling makes for an excellent stew. Enjoy this perfectly flavored kimchi stew, a delicious combination of tender aged kimchi and savory pork.
