Kimchi Stew (Kimchi Jigae Recipe) (2024)

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Kimchi Stew (Kimchi Jigae Recipe) (1)

by: Sarah

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Kimchi Stew (Kimchi Jigae Recipe) (2)

Kimchi stew, or kimchi jigae, is one of my favorite things to eat during the winter. When it’s chilly outside, there’s nothing better than a stone pot bubbling with this fiery red stew in front of you.

Adjusting Spiciness To Taste

While it looks incredibly spicy, I usually find this kimchi stew to be relatively mild. Despite their angry red color, Korean chili flakes are somewhat mild when compared to, say the crushed red pepper flakes you sprinkle over your cheese slice at the pizza parlor.

That said, feel free to adjust the recipe according to your spice tolerance. If an innocent buffalo wing sets you running, you might want to take a pass on this one. But if a healthy dash of Tabasco on your scrambled eggs sounds appealing, you can definitely handle the heat in this dish.

Discovering the Ease of Korean Home Cooking

As with any cuisine that’s unfamiliar toahome cook,I was once under the impression that cooking Korean food was hard. I reserved the indulgence for restaurants only, making pilgrimages to Manhattan’s Koreatown for heavy doses of banchan, Dubu Kimchi, and this Kimchi Jigae, my go-to order.

But the Internet changed that! In walks Maangchi, my favorite Korean food blogger, and she’s makin’ it look easy. Much like I hope The Woks of Life does for Chinese cooking (if I’m allowed to say that without sounding braggy). This recipe is based off her Kimchi Stew, with a few of my own tweaks.

It’s super easy to whip up, especially if you use a shortcut—store-bought broth. While many kimchi stew recipes, including Maangchi’s, call for a from-scratch broth made from kelp, dried anchovies, and other ingredients, using a good quality organic chicken, fish, or even beef stock can make kimchi jigae a reality in your kitchen in under an hour. Got it? Let’s begin.

Kimchi Stew (Kimchi Jigae Recipe) (3)

Oh, before we start…one more thing. You’ll notice in the photos here that I’ve made one serving of this Kimchi stew in my nifty single-serve Korean pot. The recipe written below can be cooked in a larger pot, and actually serves 6! But the steps in the photos below are all the same.

Recipe Instructions

In a large pot, heat the oil over medium high heat. Add the onion, garlic, and pork belly, and cook for about 5 minutes, until the pork is lightly browned and the onions start to soften.

Kimchi Stew (Kimchi Jigae Recipe) (4)

Add the kimchi and fry for 2 minutes.

Kimchi Stew (Kimchi Jigae Recipe) (5)

Then add the salt, sugar, Korean chili flakes, gochujang (Korean red pepper paste), and broth. Stir until combined.

Kimchi Stew (Kimchi Jigae Recipe) (6)

Bring to a simmer, cover, and cook for 10 minutes.

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Uncover and lay the firm tofu over the top. Replace the cover and simmer for another 10 minutes. Uncover for the last time and stir in the sesame oil.

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Garnish with the chopped scallion and serve immediately with steamed rice!

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Kimchi Stew (Kimchi Jigae Recipe) (10)

Kimchi Stew (Kimchi Jigae Recipe) (11)

Kimchi Stew (Kimchi Jigae Recipe) (12)

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5 from 40 votes

Kimchi Stew (Kimchi Jigae Recipe)

Kimchi stew, or kimchi jigae, is a fiery red stew served in a served in a stone pot. Use store-bought broth, add tofu and a protein to make this at home!

by: Kaitlin

Course:Soups and Stocks

Cuisine:Korean

Kimchi Stew (Kimchi Jigae Recipe) (13)

serves: 6 servings

Prep: 10 minutes minutes

Cook: 30 minutes minutes

Total: 40 minutes minutes

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Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon oil
  • 1 onion (thinly sliced)
  • 3 cloves garlic (sliced)
  • 8 ounces pork belly or shoulder (225g, thinly sliced)
  • 1 pound kimchi (450g, with juices, chopped)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons sugar
  • 1 tablespoon Korean chili flakes
  • 1 tablespoon gochujang (Korean red pepper paste)
  • 3 cups chicken stock (700 ml, can substitute fish or beef stock)
  • 8 oz. firm tofu (225g, cut into 1/4-inch thick slices)
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1 scallion (chopped)

Instructions

  • In a large pot, heat the oil over medium high heat. Add the onion, garlic, and pork belly, and cook for about 5 minutes, until the pork is lightly browned and the onions start to soften.

  • Add the kimchi and fry for 2 minutes. Then add the salt, sugar, chili flakes, gochujang, and broth. Stir until combined. Bring to a simmer, cover, and cook for 10 minutes.

  • Uncover and lay the tofu over the top. Replace the cover and simmer for another 10 minutes. Uncover for the last time and stir in the sesame oil. Garnish with the chopped scallion and serve immediately with steamed rice!

nutrition facts

Calories: 295kcal (15%) Carbohydrates: 7g (2%) Protein: 10g (20%) Fat: 26g (40%) Saturated Fat: 8g (40%) Cholesterol: 27mg (9%) Sodium: 460mg (19%) Potassium: 240mg (7%) Fiber: 1g (4%) Sugar: 3g (3%) Vitamin A: 415IU (8%) Vitamin C: 2.6mg (3%) Calcium: 65mg (7%) Iron: 1.2mg (7%)

nutritional info disclaimer

TheWoksofLife.com is written and produced for informational purposes only. While we do our best to provide nutritional information as a general guideline to our readers, we are not certified nutritionists, and the values provided should be considered estimates. Factors such as brands purchased, natural variations in fresh ingredients, etc. will change the nutritional information in any recipe. Various online calculators also provide different results, depending on their sources. To obtain accurate nutritional information for a recipe, use your preferred nutrition calculator to determine nutritional information with the actual ingredients and quantities used.

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@thewoksoflife

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Kimchi Stew (Kimchi Jigae Recipe) (18)

About Sarah

Sarah is the older daughter/sister in The Woks of Life family. Creator of quick and easy recipes for harried home cooks and official Woks of Life photographer, she grew up on episodes of Ready Set Cook and Good Eats. She loves the outdoors (and of course, *cooking* outside), and her obsession with food continues to this day.

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Kimchi Stew (Kimchi Jigae Recipe) (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between kimchi and kimchi jjigae? ›

As a result, kimchi-jjigae is often cooked using older, more fermented, and "riper" kimchi, which has a much more pronounced flavor and contains higher amounts of probiotics. (Living bacteria in fresh, uncooked kimchi will not survive the cooking process.)

Is it okay to eat kimchi jjigae everyday? ›

Kimchi can be found in almost every Korean household. It is possible to buy kimchi jars in most supermarkets and online sites. Kimchi offers multiple health benefits and maintains the overall health of the body. It is often recommended to include kimchi in your daily diet.

What is kimchi stew made of? ›

The main ingredients include well-fermented kimchi, tender pork, anchovy stock, and tofu. It's a popular choice for family meals and gatherings, and its preparation can vary from region to region or even from one household to another. The stew is often served piping hot and is enjoyed with a bowl of rice.

Is kimchi stew healthy? ›

Kimchi has an excellent nutritional profile. The dish is low in calories but packed with nutrients like iron, folate, and vitamins B6 and K.

Can you eat kimchi jjigae without rice? ›

I make this dish all the time- it's super simple to prepare and hearty and delicious. You can eat it as is or add white rice to it. For a change of pace try brown or wild rice, or even quinoa! Kimchi-jjigae is a Korean staple and very popular in Japan as well.

When should you not eat kimchi? ›

Kimchi spoilage and over-fermentation

It will continue to ferment at a cool temperature. If kimchi over-ferments, it will have a very vinegary odor and taste. It is not pleasant to eat raw, so it is often used for soups and stews. If any fermentation gets soft and slimy, then it is a sign of spoilage.

Can eating kimchi every day destroy gut bacteria? ›

It can also be added to Western dishes like sandwiches, vegetable dishes, and pasta. Along with fiber, vitamins, and minerals, kimchi contains natural probiotic bacteria. If you eat them regularly, the probiotics in fermented foods can be beneficial to your gut microbiome.

Does kimchi detox your body? ›

Kimchi is a healthy food because it provides beneficial bacteria. It helps balance your gastrointestinal tract by providing probiotics, cleansing digestive routes, and helping with digestion. The high-fibre content in kimchi also helps to detoxify the body.

Can I add vinegar to kimchi jjigae? ›

The vinegar acts as an instant fermenter and will make it taste a LOT better. Don't skip this step, trust me :) Also, the chili flakes and paste should be the true Korean variety; the Chinese, Thai or regular cayenne pepper will not work.

Why is my kimchi stew bitter? ›

Lack of Fermentation

Freshly made Kimchi usually have a slight bitter aftertaste when compared to fermented packed ones sold in Supermarkets. This is because JIN Kimchi is made fresh daily and it's so fresh it has not had enough time to ferment.

How long does kimchi jjigae last in the fridge? ›

Kimchi Jjigae will hold well in the fridge for three to four days. You can also freeze it but do so without the tofu as its texture will change when frozen. You can add fresh tofu when reheating the stew in a pot on the stovetop over medium heat.

Do you put zucchini in kimchi jjigae? ›

Instructions
  1. Heat the sesame oil in a large, heavy pot over medium heat. ...
  2. Add the kimchi brine, vegetable stock, maple syrup, dried shiitake mushrooms, and kombu. ...
  3. 10 minutes before serving, add the zucchini, mushrooms, and tofu.
Nov 10, 2019

Why does kimchi jjigae taste so good? ›

Delicious pork fat is infused into the spicy broth, and kimchi absorbs all the rich flavors from simmering with meat for a while. Since it's kimchi stew, it's less brothy and slightly thick, and the flavors are more concentrated than a typical soup.

Why do I crave kimchi? ›

Below we can see how our organs speak to us through cravings. Heart – The heart craves bitter flavors, such as coffee, cabbage, or cocoa. Liver – Your liver loves all things sour, like pickles, vinegar, and sauerkraut. Lungs – If you crave spicy food like hot peppers or kimchi, your lungs are reaching out.

What does jjigae mean in Korean? ›

Jjigae (Korean: 찌개, Korean pronunciation: [tɕ͈iɡɛ]) are Korean stews.

What is the difference between Japanese kimchi and Korean kimchi? ›

Korean kimchi is made with Chinese cabbage, red pepper, garlic, salted fish and ginger, and then stored in clay containers to ferment for at least four weeks. (Korea Food Research Institute) However, Japanese kimchi is made with Chinese cabbage and artificial flavor, skipping the fermentation process.

Does kimchi jjigae have probiotics? ›

In Korean cooking, kimchi is eaten as a side dish or used as an ingredient in everything from rice and noodle dishes to dumplings and stews. It can also be added to Western dishes like sandwiches, vegetable dishes, and pasta. Along with fiber, vitamins, and minerals, kimchi contains natural probiotic bacteria.

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