I Love You, Stew

I Love You, Stew

Doesn’t it feel good to slurp down some hot goodness when you feel like you have been starving for years? Maybe you need a good remedy to save you from a tough hangover or just feel like filling your stomach with some warmth on one of those unexpected rainy days.

What is this wonderful dish, you ask? Well, it’s stew, of course! Fortunately, there are plenty of options to choose from, as stews and soups are quite popular and are almost always included in a Korean meal.

  • Kimchi Jjigae

Probably the most popular is kimchi stew, and no wonder, it does turn your frown upside down! Stews cooked with kimchi require older, more fermented batch to make the stew more rich in taste. Then, accordingly, you can choose additional ingredients like tofu, beef or pork, spring onions, etc.

  • Budae Jjigae

“Army base stew,” or simply sausage stew, is a filling dish and very satisfying, especially if you like sausages. Ham, spam, sausages, ramen, beans, cheese, and more if you wish; add them all! It’s a mix of everything and if you know what you like, you will surely love it.

  • Maeuntang

Beware, the spicy fish soup is not for those who can’t handle spicy foods... However, if you wish to test your tastebuds, a boiling pot full of seafood treats, swimming in the red ocean of mind-numbing spice is perfect for you! Crack an egg in and enjoy this delicious dish with some rice and other side dishes.  

  • Haejang-guk

Finally, the holy grail, the answer to a painful morning after a fun night of partying—it is literally called the hangover soup, how can you doubt it’s magic? The ingredients are quite ordinary, though. Beef broth, some dried Napa cabbage, vegetables, meat, eaten with rice and some ripe kimchi—the best combination to cure your misery in no time!

  • Galbitang

If you are feeling a little bit luxurious and want to treat yourself with some good quality meat, try galbitang, or beef short rib soup. The meat is quite expensive, but it is definitely worth it. The clear, nourishing, healthy soup is cooked together with Korean radish, garlic, onion and ginger, some starch noodles and chopped green onion to garnish added at the end. Enjoy!

Did you find a dish you would like to try sometime? Some of these stews are quite easy to make at home, so you don’t have to worry about rushing to find a Korean restaurant close by. Maybe you have already tried some of this hearty goodness?

Comment below to share your love for the Korean stew!

Written by Ruta Balzekaite


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