Baek Jong-won's Kimchi Jjigae Recipe: A Deeply Flavorful Stew with Various Ingredients

Kimchi jjigae is a representative Korean home-style dish, a warm and comforting bowl of food combining the deep flavor of kimchi with abundant ingredients. Baek Jong-won's kimchi jjigae recipe is designed for easy preparation by anyone, utilizing key points and a basic seasoning sauce.

Key Points

1. Kimchi Fermentation

• Using moderately fermented kimchi is essential for achieving the deep flavor of the jjigae.

2. Utilizing Basic Seasoning Sauce

• Making the seasoning sauce in advance by stir-frying the kimchi allows for easy preparation of various types of kimchi jjigae.

3. Importance of Broth

• Using broth such as rice water, anchovy dashi, beef dashi instead of plain water results in a richer and more flavorful jjigae.

4. MSG Usage

• Appropriate use of MSG enhances the savory flavor and improves the overall quality of the jjigae.

Necessary Ingredients

Common Ingredients

• Kimchi (moderately fermented)
• Onion
• Green onion
• Korean chili pepper (Cheongyang gochu)
• Minced garlic

Ingredients by Type

• Pork Kimchi Jjigae: Pork, rice water
• Saury Kimchi Jjigae: Canned saury, anchovy dashi
• Budae Jjigae (Army Stew): Ham, sausage, rice cakes, ramen, etc.

Making the Basic Seasoning Sauce

1. Kimchi Preparation

• Cut the kimchi into bite-sized pieces.

2. Stir-frying the Kimchi

• Add cooking oil to a pan and stir-fry the kimchi thoroughly.

3. Adding Seasonings

• Add red pepper flakes, minced garlic, soy sauce, fish sauce, and MSG to the stir-fried kimchi and mix while stir-frying.
• This seasoning sauce can be made in advance and stored in the refrigerator for use in various kimchi jjigae.

Cooking Kimchi Jjigae

1. Stir-frying Basic Ingredients

• Add onion, green onion, Korean chili pepper, and minced garlicto a pot and stir-fry to bring out the aroma.

2. Adding Meat and Ingredients

• Add your desired main ingredients such as pork, saury, or ham and stir-fry.

3. Adding Broth

• Pour in the prepared broth (rice water, anchovy dashi, beef dashi, etc.) and bring to a boil.

4. Adding Seasoning Sauce

• Once boiling, add the basic seasoning sauce and adjust the seasoning.

5. Optional Additions

• Add various ingredients such as rice cakes or ramen and simmer.

Tips for a Delicious Kimchi Jjigae

1. Kimchi Fermentation State

• If the kimchi is not fermented enough, the flavor will be lacking, and if over-fermented, it can be too sour. Use moderately fermented kimchi.

2. Broth Usage

• Using broth enhances the flavor, but excessive use can make it too salty, so adjust the amount accordingly.

3. Utilizing Various Ingredients

• Pork kimchi jjigae offers a rich and savory taste, saury kimchi jjigae provides a deep umami flavor, and budae jjigae delivers a hearty and abundant taste experience.

4. MSG Usage

• MSG enhances the savory flavor, but avoid overuse and use it appropriately.

The Charm of Baek Jong-won's Kimchi Jjigae

Baek Jong-won's kimchi jjigae recipe utilizes a simple basic seasoning sauce to create various combinations and flavors. Its distinctive characteristic lies in its deep and rich flavor achieved through the use of broth and MSG.

Make a delicious and hearty bowl of kimchi jjigae at home today using Baek Jong-won's recipe! 😊