Nothing says comfort like a bubbling pot of Kimchi Jjigae AKA Korean Kimchi Stew. Spicy, pungent, and oh so delicious! The best recipe to get rid of old kimchi!

Kimchi Jjigae aka Kimchi Stew is the Korean answer to the problem of what to do with old kimchi.

Kimchi is a fermented food. As with all fermented foods, there comes a time when fermentation has done its work and then some. Ever forgotten about a jar of kimchi stashed in the back of your fridge? Abandoned and forlorn, that jar of overly fermented kimchi no longer tastes good.

What’s a person to do? Throw it out? NEVER!! Old kimchi means it’s time to cook Kimchi Jjigae!

Growing up, Kimchi Jjigae was such a standard meal that we never ordered it in Korean restaurants. Koreans always have kimchi (multiple jars, multiple kinds) and that kimchi eventually always gets old.

You can make basic Kimchi Jjigae with old kimchi and water. Or you can jazz it up with homemade anchovy stock, kombu, and pork shoulder or pork belly.

Make it once and you’ll see why Koreans turn to this simple dish again and again!

My Kimchi Jjigae recipe is somewhere in between. The pork belly feels decadent and rich. But without anchovy stock to prep, this soup is a breeze to make.

Kimchi Jjigae was one of the standard meals we ate, on a regular basis, growing up in our Korean American house. We ate kimchi jjigae when there was nothing in the fridge. We ate kimchi jjigae when we were too tired to cook. We ate it in the dead of winter and in the profane heat of the summer, too.

Make this favorite, throw-everything-in-the-pot-and-walk-away meal a staple in your home, too!

Secret ingredient:

The secret to a good Kimchi Jjigae recipe is old, stinky kimchi. You CANNOT make good Kimchi Jjigae with fresh kimchi! Don’t even try!! And of course, the better the kimchi, the better the Kimchi Jjigae.

What does old kimchi look like? Old kimchi is well fermented so it’s dark red, almost orange in color. The leaves are soft and there’s lots of juice. When you take a bite, it fizzes in your mouth. That sour, overly acidic taste tells you it’s time for Kimchi Jjigae.

Of course, Kimchi Jjigae also tastes amazing with a bit of pork. I’ve thrown in Spam, hot dogs, leftover sausage, and even chopped up bits of pork chop. Anything porky is so good!

How to Make Kimchi Jjigae:

The recipe for Kimchi Jjigae couldn’t be easier. Honestly, most of the time, I don’t even use a recipe.

Saute some old kimchi in a pot, with a little bit of oil, until golden orange in color.

Throw in some pork belly, gochujang, and sugar. Add enough water to (almost) cover.

Cover and bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer for 25-30 minutes.

Add tofu and simmer for additional 2-3 minutes. This is just enough time to warm it through.

Add sesame seed oil and butter. Garnish and serve! Enjoy with rice.

Looking for more Kimchi Inspiration?

Kimchi Anthropology: Origins

Budae Jjigae

Easy Kimchi Fried Rice