Spicy Pork and Kimchi Stew (Kimchi Jjigae) – Easy Recipe
Spicy Pork and Kimchi Stew (Kimchi Jjigae) – Easy Recipe
Hearty and Flavorful Pork Kimchi Stew
Craving a warm, comforting bowl of kimchi jjigae on a rainy day? This recipe makes it incredibly easy and quick to prepare this beloved Korean classic! Perfect for a chilly evening, this stew is sure to become a family favorite. Let’s get cooking!
Main Ingredients- 1 cup well-fermented kimchi (including some juice)
- 400g pork (neck or belly recommended), cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2-3 cups water (or broth for richer flavor)
- 1/2 onion, thinly sliced
- 1/2 zucchini, sliced into half-moons
- 1 block firm tofu (for stew), cut into large cubes
- 1/2 stalk green onion (scallion), diagonally sliced
- 1 packet enoki mushrooms, root end trimmed and separated
- 1-2 tablespoons gochugaru (Korean chili flakes), adjust to taste
Seasoning- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon mirin (rice wine)
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce (or Korean soup soy sauce)
- 1 tablespoon gochujang (Korean chili paste, optional for added heat)
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon mirin (rice wine)
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce (or Korean soup soy sauce)
- 1 tablespoon gochujang (Korean chili paste, optional for added heat)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
In a pot, lightly coat with cooking oil and add the pork. Stir-fry over medium-high heat until the pork is browned on all sides. This helps remove any gamey smell and enhances the flavor.
Step 2
Once the pork is partially cooked, add the chopped kimchi and stir-fry together with the pork. Cooking the kimchi until it becomes translucent will draw out its deep, savory flavor.
Step 3
Pour 2-3 cups of water into the pot with the sautéed pork and kimchi. Using rice water or anchovy-kelp broth will make the stew’s flavor even richer.
Step 4
Once the broth comes to a boil, add the sliced onion and zucchini. Also, add 1 tablespoon of minced garlic. As the vegetables cook, they will soften and add a pleasant sweetness to the stew.
Step 5
If you prefer a spicier and cleaner taste, stir in 1 tablespoon of gochujang and make sure it dissolves well. If you enjoy heat, feel free to increase the amount of gochugaru.
Step 6
Season the stew with 1 tablespoon of soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of mirin, and 1 tablespoon of fish sauce. You can substitute fish sauce with Korean soup soy sauce. Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt if needed.
Step 7
Add the prepared enoki mushrooms and simmer for another moment. The chewy texture of the enoki mushrooms complements the kimchi stew beautifully.
Step 8
Add the cubed firm tofu and cook until it’s heated through and tender. The tofu adds a wonderful soft texture to the stew.
Step 9
Finally, add the diagonally sliced green onions and simmer briefly to infuse their aroma. If desired, sprinkle a little extra gochugaru on top for garnish. Your delicious Pork Kimchi Stew is now ready to be enjoyed! Serve hot.
