Korean Pork Belly Kimchi Stew (Daeji Dubu Kimchi-jjigae)
A rich, bubbling Korean comfort classic featuring tender pork belly, pungent fermented kimchi, and soft tofu, simmered in a spicy, savory broth.
Kimchi-jjigae is a staple of Korean home cooking, prized for its ability to transform aged, sour kimchi into a deeply comforting, fiery soup. By first rendering the fat from thick-cut pork belly and sautéing it with garlic and onions, the broth develops a glossy, deeply savory base before the chili paste and water are even introduced.
Ingredients
- 300 g pork belly
- 2 cups mature kimchi
- 1 block tofu
- 1/2 red onion
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 tbsp Korean chili paste
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tbsp light soy sauce
- 2 cups water
- 1 tbsp cooking oil
- 1 green chili pepper
Instructions
- 1Pan-fry the pork belly
Place pork belly slices into a black skillet and pan-fry them until they are browned and fragrant, rendering out their natural fat to build a flavorful base for the stew.
Tip: Fry until the edges turn golden brown for the best rich flavor. - 2Sauté aromatics
Heat oil in a white ceramic pot and sauté minced garlic and sliced red onions until fragrant, creating the aromatic foundation of the dish.
Tip: Keep the heat medium to prevent the minced garlic from burning. - 3Stir-fry pork belly and kimchi
Add the cooked pork belly and kimchi into the white ceramic pot containing the sautéed onions and garlic, then stir-fry them together to let the flavors meld.
Tip: Stir-fry the kimchi for a couple of minutes until it softens and absorbs the savory juices. - 4Add water
Pour clean water into the white ceramic pot with the sautéed pork belly and kimchi mixture to form the base of the stew broth.
Tip: Use warm or room temperature water to maintain even cooking temperature. - 5Season the broth
Add a spoonful of chili powder, light soy sauce, and Korean spicy paste into the pot to enrich the stew with color, heat, and savory depth.
Tip: Adjust the amount of Korean spicy paste depending on your preferred level of heat. - 6Mix the stew ingredients
Stir all the soup ingredients together thoroughly in the pot using a wooden spoon to ensure the seasonings and paste are fully dissolved into the broth.
Tip: Stir gently from the bottom to prevent any ingredients from sticking.
