
When Koreans find their kimchi has aged past the point of enjoying it on its own, they often turn to kimchi jjigae — a beloved, comforting stew that‘s both simple to make and bursting with flavor. In fact, many Korean households keep aged kimchi on hand specifically for this purpose.
This go-to dish requires just a handful of ingredients yet delivers a bold, satisfying taste. The classic version stars fatty pork, which brings richness and heartiness, but creative spins with beef, Spam, canned tuna, or saury are equally popular.
For a lighter, cleaner flavor, kimchi jjigae can be made with an anchovy-based broth and no meat at all.
So, if you’ve got some extra-sour kimchi lurking in your fridge, don’t let it go to waste -- transform it into a pot of warm, savory goodness with kimchi jjigae!
(kimchi stew, spicy kimchi soup, Korean-style fermented cabbage stew, hearty kimchi jjigae)