Hello~ This is Alex
Today I had some errands to run, and by the time I got back home, it was already evening ^^
When it comes to dishes perfect for the whole family to enjoy on a chilly day, one of the first things that comes to mind is Army Stew (Budae Jjigae).
Army Stew is a special delicacy loved by everyone, young and old alike. It’s packed generously with ingredients that everyone loves, so there’s the fun of picking and choosing what to eat. Plus, there’s the joy of gathering around and eating together, which makes it such a popular and beloved dish.
Today, I’ll show you how to make Army Stew in a really simple and easy way. I’ll explain everything in detail, including the seasoning sauce recipe, the order to add ingredients, and cooking tips. Please refer to this and make this delicious hot stew that will warm both body and soul during the winter weather.
Measurement Standards
- Rice spoon (tablespoon), 180ml cup
Ingredients
- Spam: 1 can (200g)
- Hot dog sausages (short): 3 packages
- Green onions: 2 stalks
- Onion: 1/2
- Tofu: 1/2 block
- Kimchi (chopped): 1/2 cup
- Baked beans: 3 tablespoons
- Cheddar cheese: 1 tablespoon
- Water: 500ml
- Beef bone broth: 500ml
- Rice cake (tteokguk or tteokbokki rice cakes): 1 handful
- Ramen noodles: 1 pack
Army Stew Seasoning Sauce
- Gochujang (red chili paste): 1 tablespoon
- Red chili powder: 2 tablespoons
- Soy sauce: 1 tablespoon
- Fish sauce: 1 tablespoon
- Minced garlic (generous): 1 tablespoon
- Mirin: 1 tablespoon
- Black pepper: a pinch
Instructions
1. Preparing the Ingredients
Today’s ingredient preparation is really simple and easy. The special feature of my Army Stew is that I add a very generous amount of green onions – about 2 stalks. Cut them diagonally into long, angled slices.
Try cooking with plenty of green onions. The broth tastes refreshing, and the soft texture and flavor of the green onions that come with each spoonful of soup are really delicious.
Julienne 1/2 onion.
Prepare a hot pot and add the prepared ingredients directly.
Spread the green onions and onions on the bottom of the pot first.
I prepared 2 types of processed meat. You can prepare more varieties if you like.
- Spam: 1 can (200g), cut into bite-sized pieces
- Hot dog sausages (short ones): about 3 packages, cut diagonally into long pieces
You can also add round ham, Vienna sausages, ground pork, or bacon.
Cut 1/2 block of tofu (actually used a bit more) into large chunks.
Add 3 tablespoons of baked beans – an essential ingredient for Army Stew!
Chop up some sour kimchi to add refreshing flavor and depth to the broth – about 1/2 cup.
For add-ins, choose according to preference! I love rice cakes, so I prepared a handful of tteokbokki rice cakes. Originally planned to use tteokguk rice cakes, but I had used up all the ones I stocked in the freezer! When did I eat them all…^^
Tteokbokki rice cakes work wonderfully too. You can prepare various types of add-ins according to your preference. In our house, ramen noodles are absolutely essential for Army Stew!
2. Making the Seasoning Sauce
I’ll make and mix the seasoning sauce in advance.
Army Stew Seasoning Sauce Recipe:
- Gochujang: 1 tablespoon
- Red chili powder: 2 tablespoons
- Soy sauce: 1 tablespoon
- Fish sauce: 1 tablespoon
- Minced garlic (generous): 1 tablespoon
- Mirin: 1 tablespoon
- Black pepper: a pinch
Add the ingredients according to the measurements above and mix well.
The ingredient setup is complete! Pretty simple preparation, right? I had mushrooms at home and meant to add them, but I totally forgot lol. You can really add whatever ingredients you have in your refrigerator.
You can arrange them nicely in a circle if you care about presentation, but since everything will mix together while cooking anyway, I just placed them casually.
3. Adding Water and Beef Bone Broth
Now I’ll pour in the broth. I mixed store-bought beef bone broth and water in equal parts – 500ml each. So the total broth amount is 1L.
4. Cooking
Now all we need to do is cook it. Turn the heat to high.
Once the broth starts boiling, gently stir so the seasoning dissolves well. Don’t mix the ingredients vigorously at this point – just stir gently enough to dissolve the seasoning.
When the broth starts bubbling vigorously, reduce to medium heat and simmer for about 10 minutes to let the flavors infuse. You can cover it partially with a lid while cooking.
After simmering for about 10 minutes, add the rice cakes.
Tip: For tteokbokki rice cakes, if you buy them in bulk, vacuum-seal leftover rice cakes in 150g-200g portions and freeze them. Whenever you need them, take out one pack, soak in cold water to thaw, and use – they’ll have the same texture as freshly bought ones!
Then add the ramen noodles. Cook until the ramen is done – about 3 minutes is enough, so don’t boil for too long!
Once the noodles are cooked, turn off the heat and top with cheddar cheese slices. The cheese will melt from residual heat, so don’t worry!
Taste and adjust seasoning at the end – if it’s bland, add salt or fish sauce to taste.
5. Complete
Army Stew combines various ingredients like ham, sausages, kimchi, and ramen to create a deep, rich flavor. Adding beef bone broth makes it even more flavorful. If you want an even richer taste, don’t mix water and broth half-and-half like I did – use only beef bone broth!
It’s spicy yet familiar in flavor, making it a dish that everyone from children to adults can enjoy. It’s not as difficult as you might think (just prep the ingredients and you’re done), and it’s a dish anyone can easily try. You can add your favorite ingredients according to preference. If you love cheese, adding mozzarella along with cheddar is also delicious!
Warm and hearty Army Stew is a satisfying dish to eat anytime during chilly weather. It may seem complicated, but it’s surprisingly simple and you can complete a delicious meal – that’s the great charm of budae jjigae! On weekends, I try to look for easy and convenient menus, and today was another success!
We enjoyed it very deliciously~
Key Points for Making Delicious Army Stew
- Anchovy-kelp broth is good, but if you want a deeper flavor, using beef bone broth will give you a much deeper and richer taste.
- Make the seasoning sauce well with the golden ratio. You can also add a little doenjang (soybean paste) to the seasoning sauce for extra flavor.
- Rather than mixing ingredients vigorously, arrange them neatly and finish cooking cleanly without stirring too much. This makes it look more visually appealing and appetizing.
- Add noodles, rice cakes, and other add-ins at the end after the broth has simmered sufficiently, so you can enjoy their chewy and delicious texture.