Kimchi Stew (Kimchi-jjigae 김치찌개)
Recipe from Mangchi
Kimchi-jjigae is one of the most-loved stews in Korean cuisine. It’s a warm, hearty, spicy, and delicious dish that almost everyone enjoys, as long as they can handle spicy food. I learned this recipe from a restaurant in Korea famous for its kimchi-jjigae. The restaurant was always packed with people eating steaming bowls of kimchi stew. There was only one item on the menu, so everyone came for the same thing: a hot pot of spicy kimchi-jjigae, a few side dishes, and a bowl of warm rice.
What really impressed me was that they brought the stew to the table uncooked, then fired it up right at the table. We would chat and watch the stew cook. I could clearly see the ingredients: kimchi, onion, green onion, thinly sliced pork on top, and seasonings. From this experience, I developed my own recipe to make at home, which turned out delicious.
My kimchi-jjigae recipe served me well for many years, and I even made a video of it back in 2007. But since then, I’ve developed this new version, which is even more delicious. The secret is in the savory anchovy stock. I hope you make it and enjoy it for many years to come!
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