Budae Jjigae is Korean army stew with a fusion twist. Made with Spam, kimchi, and ramen, this iconic dish is perfect for communal dining. Learn the rich history and flavors of this Korean-American fusion dish, and follow this step-by-step recipe for a hearty meal.
To prepare Budae jigae sauce, mix together Korean chili flakes (gochugaru), gochujang, soy sauces, garlic, and pepper in a small mixing bowl; set aside.
To arrange ingredients in a pan, put slices of onion on the bottom of a shallow pan. Arrange the jjigae fillings (Spam slices, hot dogs, sausage, tofu, mushroom, kimchi, and etc) as you please.
Add instant ramen noodles, cheese and the seasoning paste. Pour in enough stock to barely cover everything.
Place the pan on the stove (I recommend using a portable burner right on the table) and bring the stew to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer. Stir the seasoning paste to distribute it throughout the stew. Stir ramen noodles to cook evenly in the simmering stock.
Serving Tip: When the ramen noodle is soft and chewy, enjoy the noodles first on individual plates or bowls before they get soggy. Then you can serve the stew hot right at the table, dishing out a portion.