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Budae jjigae with ham and ramen noodles

부대찌개 · Budae jjigae

Budae jjigae

부대찌개

What exactly is it?

A modern Korean stew that combines ham and sausage with kimchi and a gochujang-based broth. It is often cooked in a shared pot at the table, with optional ramen, cheese or rice cakes. It tends to be rich, salty and spicy, so it is usually shared with rice.

Main ingredients

Ham and sausage, kimchi, gochujang, noodles

Ordering and serving

For a shared pot, check the minimum portions and whether rice or ramyeon is included. Noodles absorb broth quickly; add them when ready to eat and ask for more stock as the pot reduces.

Origins and changes

Its background lies in postwar meals around US bases, including Uijeongbu, using available ham and sausages in a Korean-style spicy broth. Noodles, cheese and rice cakes became familiar additions. That history should not be reduced to claiming every version was made from discarded leftovers.

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Budae jjigae

부대찌개

Main ingredients
Ham and sausage, kimchi, gochujang, noodles
Flavor and character
A modern Korean stew that combines ham and sausage with kimchi and a gochujang-based broth. It is often cooked in a shared pot at the table, with optional ramen, cheese or rice cakes. It tends to be rich, salty and spicy, so it is usually shared with rice.
How to eat it
For a shared pot, check the minimum portions and whether rice or ramyeon is included. Noodles absorb broth quickly; add them when ready to eat and ask for more stock as the pot reduces.
Read about this dish →

Kimchi jjigae

김치찌개

Main ingredients
Aged kimchi, pork or tuna, tofu
Flavor and character
Ripe, sour kimchi is simmered with ingredients such as pork and tofu. The cooking draws meat fat and seasoning into the broth and softens the cabbage. Pork, canned tuna and saury versions differ, so the meat or fish named on the menu matters.
How to eat it
Distinguish an individual bowl from a shared pot with a minimum order. A table burner may simply keep a prepared stew hot. If raw meat is added, wait until it is cooked before eating.
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