A traditional Korean meal is not a simple affair; the table is jam-packed with a main (often meat or fish), rice, several (sides) and a soup or a stew.
There’s a long list of Korean stews, or jjigae, and as many ways to make each of them. “It’s one of the things that Koreans never get sick of,” says Kenny Yong Soo Son from Sydney’s . Some jjigae are named after their main ingredient, like or sundubu (soft tofu) jjigae, and others by their broth or main seasoning, like (fermented chilli paste) jjigae and doenjang (fermented soybean paste) jjigae.
Four jjigae to get started
Kimchi jjigae
You’ll find in several Korean restaurants here, like family-run in Surry Hills. “It’s good to use that is a bit over-fermented because it adds more flavour to the jjigae,” explains Son.
The restaurant’s kimchi jjigae is served for lunch only and made with a kelp and anchovy broth, vegetables and tofu. Other jjigae sometimes appear on the lunch menu as specials.
Sundubu jjigae
Sundubu jjigae is one of the most popular stews in Korea. In Melbourne, it’s the speciality at (CBD and Box Hill). “We use about 20 ingredients to create the soup, including crab, gochujang, chilli powder, squid and prawn,” says founder Insu Kim.
“We boil the soup together with the soft tofu. The soft tofu is almost like jelly. The broth is quite strong but the taste of tofu is very subtle, so it works well together.” This spicy dish is served with freshly cooked rice and several banchan. Other ingredients like kimchi, (dumplings) or ham sausage can be added to the stew.
“It’s very common in Korea, sundubu is a food you can eat every day,” says Kim.
For those who can’t handle the heat, Dooboo has created a milder version of the stew.
Budae jjigae
At the CBD location, Dooboo has featured ) on its menu and may bring it back when the weather gets colder. Its version has beef broth, kimchi, Spam, sausage, pork and ramen noodles.
“Army stew was invented after the Korean War in the 1950s. There were a lot of American bases around. It’s a very traditional Korean soup, but it’s using some of the ingredients left by the troops, like ham and cheese,” explains Kim.
Army stew was invented after the Korean War in the 1950s … It’s a very traditional Korean soup, but it’s using some of the ingredients left by the troops, like ham and cheese.
Born from scarcity, the dish is still very popular today, especially among Korean students. At Sáng by Mabasa, the budae jjigae special is made with a gochugaru (ground red chilli) broth, baked beans, Spam, cabbage, instant noodles, corned beef and cheese.
Doenjang jjigae
If you prefer a milder stew, with less chilli, doenjang jjigae is a good option with its soybean paste and anchovy base. It’s often loaded with vegetables like radish, mushroom and potato. Cheonggukjang is another type of fermented soybean paste that can be used for stews, but it is considered more pungent than doenjang.
Making jjigae at home
Jjigae can be eaten throughout the day, and most types are relatively easy to prepare. “Because it’s inexpensive, everyone can make it," Son says. Historically, tofu and vegetables were used in soondubu jjigae, for instance, because it was cheaper than cooking with seafood or meat. So you could keep it traditional or adjust it as you like.
“It’s all about the base,” he adds. “So you’ll need good quality gochujang, doenjang or kimchi.” A Korean supermarket will have all the ingredients you need.
And while you’re at it, make a big batch. You’ll often see jjigae served in individual clay pots in Australian restaurants, but it’s usually meant to be shared from a communal pot.
