Spicy Kimchi Stew (Kimchi Jjigae or Kimchi Chigae)

Written by
Naomi Imatome-Yun
Asian food expert Naomi Imatome-Yun is a freelance writer and the author of four Asian food cookbooks.
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Naomi Imatome-Yun
Tested by
Danielle Centoni Reviewed on 09/21/20 by

Danielle Centoni is a Portland-based, James Beard Journalism Award-winning food writer and cookbook author whose idea of a perfect day always includes butter, sugar, flour, and an oven.

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Danielle Centoni
Updated 03/08/21
Spicy Kimchi Stew (Kimchi Jjigae or Kimchi Chigae)

The Spruce / Qi Ai
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 25 mins
Total: 35 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
317 Calories
19g Fat
9g Carbs
30g Protein
See Full Nutritional Guidelines Hide Full Nutritional Guidelines
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 317
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 19g 24%
Saturated Fat 6g 29%
Cholesterol 78mg 26%
Sodium 877mg 38%
Total Carbohydrate 9g 3%
Dietary Fiber 3g 9%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 30g
Vitamin C 3mg 15%
Calcium 205mg 16%
Iron 5mg 26%
Potassium 539mg 11%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Korea’s national dish, kimchi, is a spicy, pickled cabbage that is served as a condiment with almost every meal. Kimchi stew (kimchi jjigae or kimchi chigae) combines kimchi with other ingredients such as beef, onions, garlic, and tofu. It is meant to be eaten slowly, and it's served bubbling hot.

Fiery, hearty, and full of flavor, kimchi jjigae (pronounced kim-chee JEE-gay) is great for cold winter days, but Koreans can eat it anytime, anywhere. It's one of the most popular stews in Korea and is featured at many meals and in traditional restaurants. There's just one thing to keep in mind when you're planning to make kimchi jjigae—it is spicy. Really, really spicy. That's why it's served with a lot of white rice, to help balance out all that heat.

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Ingredients

  • 3/4 pound beef (such as sirloin), thinly sliced

  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil, divided

  • 2 cups kimchi (preferably with napa cabbage), roughly chopped

  • 1/2 medium onion, chopped

  • 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

  • 1 tablespoon gochujang (Korean hot pepper paste)

  • 1 tablespoon gochugaru (Korean red chile flakes)

  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce

  • 3 cups water

  • 1/2 (14-ounce) block firm tofu, cubed

  • 2 scallions, chopped

  • Steamed rice, for serving, optional

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for kimchi stew

    The Spruce / Qi Ai

  2. Sauté the beef in 1/2 tablespoon of the sesame oil in a soup pot for a few minutes.

    Beef in a pot sautéing in sesame oil

    The Spruce / Qi Ai

  3. Add kimchi to the pot and stir-fry for about 5 minutes.

    Kimchi is added to the pot and mixed with a wooden spoon

    The Spruce / Qi Ai

  4. Add remaining oil, onion, garlic, gochujang, gochugaru, and soy sauce, mixing to combine. Pour the water into the pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer.

    kimchi stew cooking in a pot

    The Spruce / Qi Ai

  5. Cook for 20 to 30 minutes to concentrate the flavors, adding the tofu after the first 10 minutes.

    Tofu is added to the kimchi stew

    The Spruce / Qi Ai

  6. Add the scallions at the very end.

    Scallions are added to the kimchi stew

    The Spruce / Qi Ai

  7. Serve this stew immediately after cooking, accompanied by steamed white rice.

    Serve stew with white rice

    The Spruce / Qi Ai

Tips

  • When choosing beef for this recipe, tenderloin is best, but you also can use tougher cuts like stew beef and simmer the stew longer.
  • Try to use leftover or older kimchi because it will have a more pungent, richer flavor. Younger kimchi may not, although some may prefer it.
  • Expect to sweat a bit—make plenty of extra rice to counteract the heat factor. Spicy kimchi stew is intended to be eaten slowly, with lots of rice as an accompaniment.

Recipe Variations

  • Common vegetable additions include potatoes, zucchini, and mushrooms.
  • You can use bean paste, or doenjang, instead of gochujang.
  • If you want a little extra bulk, consider adding glass noodles.
  • This recipe calls for using beef, but you can also incorporate pork or canned tuna. The types of pork that work best are bacon, pork belly, or Spam—just halve or omit the oil. If you're using canned tuna, add it along with the onion and garlic.

How Should I Store Spicy Kimchi Stew?

  • Kimchi stew keeps well in the fridge, covered, for at least a week.
  • To freeze, transfer to airtight containers or freezer bags and freeze for two to three months.
  • Note: If you intend to freeze leftovers of this stew, omit the tofu altogether or simply remove it before freezing, as it won't reheat well.

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