Spam and Fish Cake Kimchi Stew: Richer Broth with Canned Ham and Fish Cakes!
Spam and Fish Cake Kimchi Stew: Richer Broth with Canned Ham and Fish Cakes!
Creative Ways to Use Canned Ham! Make Spam and Fish Cake Kimchi Stew
Kimchi stew is always delicious, but adding Spam and fish cakes makes it even better! The savory Spam, chewy fish cakes, and the tangy, well-fermented kimchi blend together to create a deeply flavorful and robust broth. This is a truly satisfying kimchi stew recipe that will become a favorite.
Ingredients- 1/2 head well-fermented napa kimchi (approx. 500g)
- 1 can Spam Classic (200g)
- 3 rectangular fish cakes (approx. 150g)
- 1 stalk green onion (scallion)
- 1 tsp sugar (to balance kimchi’s sourness)
- 1 tsp soup soy sauce (for seasoning)
- 400ml rice water or anchovy-kelp broth
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, briefly rinse the Spam under hot water to remove any impurities. Then, slice it into bite-sized pieces, about 1cm thick. Finely chop the green onion and cut the fish cakes into pieces similar in size to the kimchi.
Step 2
Shake off excess kimchi brine from the fermented kimchi and cut it into appropriate sizes for stew (about 3-4cm). If the kimchi is in large clumps, separate the pieces.
Step 3
Lightly grease a heated pot with cooking oil. Add the chopped kimchi and stir-fry over medium-low heat. At this stage, add 1 teaspoon of sugar to soften the kimchi’s sourness. Adjust the sugar amount based on how sour your kimchi is.
Step 4
To enhance the flavor, stir-fry the kimchi until it becomes translucent and tender, ensuring it doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pot. This stir-frying step significantly deepens the umami of the kimchi stew!
Step 5
Pour 400ml of rice water (or anchovy-kelp broth) into the stir-fried kimchi and bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Rice water adds a wonderful savory and smooth texture to the broth.
Step 6
Once the broth starts boiling, add all the sliced Spam. Reduce the heat to medium and let it simmer until the ingredients are well combined. The fat from the Spam will enrich the broth’s flavor.
Step 7
After simmering the Spam for about 5 minutes, add the prepared fish cakes. It’s best to add fish cakes towards the end, as overcooking can make them mushy. Simmer briefly until they are heated through.
Step 8
Finally, add 1 teaspoon of soup soy sauce to season. Since the saltiness of kimchi and soy sauce varies by household, it’s important to taste and adjust the seasoning gradually rather than adding it all at once. Season to your preference.
Step 9
When all ingredients are well-cooked and flavors have melded, add the chopped green onion and simmer for another minute to infuse a fresh aroma. Avoid boiling for too long after adding the green onions.
Step 10
There you have it – a delicious Spam and Fish Cake Kimchi Stew is ready! Enjoy it with a hot bowl of rice for a hearty and satisfying meal.
