I don’t remember when this obsession with korean food began. I certainly never had it until I came to NYU, and even then I lived off my meal plan freshman year and ramen/spaghetti my sophomore year. Somehow kimchi and bulgogi and I just clicked instantly though when we met, and the rest is history…
Budae Jjigae (“army stew”) is one of my favorite korean dishes ever, perfect on a cold winter’s day. Of course, the first time I made it happened to be on a hot summer’s evening, so the stew left my two friends and I dripping with beads of sweat as we ate the piping hot stew. It is extremely easy to make and often leaves you with leftovers for the next day. It gets quite spicy though with the chili paste, so I highly recommend eating the stew over rice to neutralize some of the spiciness.
Ingredients:
SPAM? VIENNA SAUSAGES? That might sound weird in korean food, but actually this stew was popular after the Korean War when meat was scarce in Seoul and people used surplus foods from the U.S. Army bases. Hence the canned meats.
I would actually substitute hot dogs for the vienna sausages in the future. We used vienna sausages the first time but they were a little too soft for my taste. No springiness when you bite down =(. The amount of ingredients listed is just a guideline. The beauty of this dish is that you can always adjust according to personal preference and it will still be delicious.
I’ve also made another variation of this where I added in squid, shrimp, and mussels. YUM seafood!
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I've been told that a certain smile breaks across my face whenever the subject of food is brought up, a smile that radiates the purest forms of delight and happiness. Food transcends beyond the smell and taste of what's presented in front of me; it's an experience to be enjoyed, indulged, shared with those I love. Working and living in NYC continually opens culinary doors, from hole-in-the-walls to upscale (even stuffy) dining. I never take any morsel of food for granted, and I'm often THAT girl at the table found licking her plate at the end of the meal.
