How to Make Kimchi-jjigae

 A Korean table set with kimchi-jjigae.


October 1st, 2022



  Kimchi is a Korean traditional food. Kimchi-jjigae(김치찌개) is a soul food to Koreans. Most of Koreans have memories with kimchi-jjigae. As for me, kimchi-jjigae was my regular lunch box menu back in school. My father’s kimchi-jjigae was so so so good. When I opened my lunch box, schoolmates gathered around me and wanted me to share kimchi-jjigae with them, because it was so delicious. Now my kimchi-jjigae is one of most favorite foods of my husband and kids.


  How to cook good kimchi-jjigae? There are thousands of recipes for kimchi-jjigae, but mine is super easy. Actually most of kimchi-jjigae recipes are very easy. One important thing is you need very well fermented kimchi to make kimchi-jjigae. Fermented kimchi tastes sour. The longer it is fermented, the sourer it tastes.


  Now just follow my instructions. It is Pork Kimchi-jjigae, very common basic kind of kimchi-jjigae.



Pork and kimchi, main ingredients of kimchi-jjigae.

- Ingredients(for four people)

  Pork 300g. Any part is okay. Front legs, belly, and so on.

  Well fermented sour Kimchi 1/2 Pogi. Pogi(포기) is a unit to count cabbage(the main ingredient of kimchi) or kimchi. When you buy a pack of kimchi, normally it is soaked in kimchi juice. Don’t waste the juice.

  That’s it!


- How to cook


  (1) Cut kimchi and pork. 


  (2) Put kimchi it in a pot. Pour water around 800ml in the pot. And boil it. 


  (3) When it starts boiling, then put pork in the boiling pot.


  (4) Boil for one or two hours. It’s up to you. If you want more stewy one, boil longer. I love stewy and softened kimchi-jjigae, so I boil it more than one and half hour.


  (5) Basically kimchi is seasoned with many things including salt, powdered red pepper, garlic, stuff like that, so you don’t need to add any seasoning. While boiling, stir and taste it. If it is salty and boiled down, then add water little by little. If it tastes bland, add kimchi juice or boil more.


  (6) Topping is optional. You can top your favorite things on it after finishing cooking. Chili pepper, green onion, tofu, sesame seeds, even cheese, just name it.


  (7) Instead of pork, you can use canned tuna, ham, sausage, bacon, or altogether. 


  Even though the recipe is very easy, to be honest, I prefer to use HMR(Home Meal Replacement) or meal kits. Or a take-out restaurant. Especially HMR is very competitive in South Korea. Most of major Korean food brands supplies a variety of HMR products. They are good as much as home-made ones.


  In anyway, you can enjoy your kimchi-jjigae!