Dish · korean
Budae Jjigae
A spicy stew of spam, instant ramen noodles, kimchi, and tofu simmered together in a shared pot at the table, the ramen added late so it doesn't turn mushy. The name means army base stew.
Where it comes from
The dish traces to the years after the Korean War, when canned meat like spam and hot dogs, sourced from US military bases, got mixed into Korean stews during a period of scarce meat and rationed food.
What cooks argue about
Cooks argue over when the instant ramen goes in: too early and the noodles absorb too much broth and turn soft, too late and they don't pick up enough of the stew's flavor.
Versions
Nobody has published a budae jjigae here yet. When somebody cooks one from a video and publishes it, their version appears in this list, with a link back to the original.
What goes in it
Each one opens everything else made with it.
firm tofu