Soondubu Jjigae Korean Soft Tofu Stew Food

KIMCHI SOONDUBU JJIGAE

Steps:

• 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.

SUNDUBU JJIGAE (KOREAN SPICY SOFT TOFU STEW)

Steps:

• Start heating the pot on the stove over medium low heat and add the chili oil, chili powder, and garlic. Stir them well for about 1 min. Make sure not to burn the chili powder.
• Add the clams and shrimps and stir quickly to coat them with the chili sauce. Add the fish sauce and soy sauce then stir.
• Add the dried kelp and anchovy stock and boil it on medium-high heat until it starts to boil rapidly (2 to 3 mins).
• Add the tofu, mushrooms, and egg and cook them for another 2 to 3 mins. Season with salt, if required.
• Top up with the green onion, black pepper and sesame oil. Serve hot with Korean rice and side dishes (banchan).

WHITE SOONDUBU JJIGAE (MILD TOFU STEW)

Steps:

• In a large Dutch oven, combine kelp, radish, dried shiitakes and 5 cups of water, and bring to a simmer over high heat. Cover, reduce heat to medium and simmer for 5 minutes. Transfer kelp and mushrooms to a cutting board, and transfer broth with radish pieces to a bowl and reserve. Chop kelp into 1-inch pieces, very thinly slice the mushrooms and add both to reserved broth.
• In the empty Dutch oven, heat oil over medium-high. Add all but ¼ cup of the scallions, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 2 minutes. Add garlic, sesame seeds and ginger, and stir until well combined and fragrant, about 30 seconds. Then add the reserved broth and vegetables, the zucchini and soy sauce, and bring to a boil over high. Reduce heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, until zucchini and radish are tender, about 15 minutes.
• Stir in tofu and sesame oil, and cook until tofu is warmed through, 2 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Divide jjigae in 4 bowls and garnish each with some of the reserved scallions. Serve hot with rice on the side.

KOREAN SOFT TOFU STEW (SOON DU BU JIGAE)

Steps:

• Heat the vegetable oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the Korean chile powder and ground beef. Cook and stir until the beef is crumbly, evenly browned, and no longer pink. Stir in the soy bean paste, coating the beef. Pour in the water and bring to a boil. Season with salt and pepper. Gently drop tofu into the soup and continue cooking until the tofu is heated through, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat and quickly add the egg into the soup, stirring gently to break it up. Garnish with sesame seeds and green onion.