Budae Jjigae

Korean Army Stew with a Twist – Spam, Ramen, and Umami Magic

To be honest, I didn’t grow up eating Korean Army Stew that much. The only times I had it were in school lunches. But after moving to the U.S., a friend once asked me to make it, and that’s when everything changed.

Since Korean-style sausages are hard to find here, I kept it super simple—just Spam, tofu, and ramen—and let me tell you, I totally fell in love with it! Now, I make it all the time. It’s spicy, savory, packed with umami, and when paired with a bowl of steaming white rice, it’s perfect.

So, let’s make this easy yet incredibly satisfying budae jjigae!

🍽️ Ingredients

• Spam
• Green onion
• Tofu
• Ramyun noodles
• Onion
• A bit of baked beans (trust me, it makes a difference!)

Sauce Mix

• Gochujang (Korean red pepper paste) - 1 tbsp
• Korean red pepper flakes - 2 tbsp
• Soy sauce - 2 tbsp
• Minced garlic - 1 tbsp
• A little Black pepper

How to Make It

1. Cut the Spam & tofu into similar-sized pieces.

2. Slice the green onion & onion into long, thin strips.

3. In a pot of boiling water, add all the ingredients + a small scoop of baked beans (this is the secret to authentic budae jjigae flavor!)

4. Mix all the sauce ingredients in a bowl, then add it to the pot. Adjust the amount to your taste.

5. Add ramen noodles and let them cook.

6. Rice cake is optional, but it makes more variety of texture!

Before making it for the first time, I thought budae jjigae would be complicated. But honestly? It’s super easy—it only takes 10 minutes!

Just throw everything in, let it simmer, and boom—you’ve got a spicy, rich, umami-packed stew that pairs perfectly with white rice.