Kimchi Soondubu Jjigae - Kimchi Tofu Soup

This warming and comforting soondubu jjigae is made with extra soft tofu, soondubu, thinly sliced meat, kimchi and anchovy broth. It takes less than 30 minutes to prepare this bubbling pot of stew packed with robust flavors!

Ingredients

• 1 package 12 ounces sundubu (extra soft/silken tofu)
• 1/3 cup thinly sliced kimchi
• 3 ounces pork or beef
• 1 to 3 teaspoons red chili pepper flakes gochugaru- add more for a spicier stew
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil use a little more if using more gochugaru
• 1 cup water or anchovy broth See note
• 2 to 3 tablespoons juice from kimchi
• 1/2 teaspoon saewujeot (salted shrimp) or salt to taste
• pinch black pepper
• 1 scallion, finely chopped
• 1 egg - optional

For the best results, always use fully fermented kimchi to cook with. If you have some salted shrimp (saewujeot, 새우젓) leftover from making kimchi, use a little to season the stew instead of using salt. It adds a nice layer to the flavor of the soft tofu stew.

I like to use anchovy broth as a stew base, which is typical, but you can use any other broth or water.

This recipe combines kimchi and pork, a classic match. Feel free to use beef, chicken, or seafood and switch out the pork. Mushrooms are a good substitute if you don’t like meat. If you start with vegan kimchi, you can even make the stew vegan. 

Soondubu jjigae is often served with a raw egg to be cracked in to the boiling hot stew at the table. The egg adds richness to the stew, but you don’t need to add an egg if you don’t want to. It’s a matter of preference.  

Instructions

• Cut the meat and kimchi into small thin strips. Add the kimchi, meat, red chili pepper flakes, garlic and sesame oil to a small pot, and place it over medium heat.
  
• Stir-fry until the meat is almost cooked, 3 - 4 minutes.
  
• Pour in water (or broth) and the juice from the kimchi. Bring it to a boil, and continue to boil for 3 - 4 minutes. Skim off the scum.
  
• Add the soft tofu in big chunks. Stir in the salted shrimp or salt to taste (start with 1/4 teaspoon) and black pepper. Cook for 4 -5 minutes. Add the chopped scallion just before removing the pot from the heat. If desired, crack an egg into the stew to serve while it’s still boiling hot.
  

  Notes

  Water is fine for this stew, but use anchovy broth for an extra layer of flavor.