Sundubu Jjigae
Bubbling soft tofu stew with a spicy chili-oil base.
Ingredients
- 400 g Silken tofu
- 150 g Pork belly
- 2 tbsp Gochugaru
- 3 cloves Garlic
- 1 Kombu (dried kelp)
- 2 tbsp Neutral oil
- 1 tbsp Light soy sauce
- ½ tsp Salt
- 2 Scallions (optional)
- 2 Egg (optional)
Method
- Simmer the kombu in plenty of water over low heat to make a light broth, then discard the kombu.
- While the broth steeps, slice the pork and mince the garlic.
- Fry the pork with the garlic and gochugaru in the oil to make a fragrant red chili base, about 5 minutes.
- Add the kombu broth, soy, and salt and bring to a boil, then spoon in the soft tofu.
- Crack in the eggs and let them set in the bubbling stew, about 3 minutes. (optional)
- Scatter scallions and serve with rice.
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About Sundubu Jjigae
Sundubu jjigae is a Korean stew built around silken soft tofu, served bubbling hot and stained deep red from a chili base. The backbone here is a light kombu broth steeped gently to give the stew savory depth without heaviness, while the color and heat come from frying pork belly with garlic and gochugaru in oil until the fat turns fragrant and crimson. Silken tofu is spooned in whole in soft clouds, and eggs are cracked directly into the boiling stew to set at the very end.
It arrives still furiously bubbling, the tofu almost custardy against the spicy, porky broth, the barely-set egg enriching each spoonful. This is quintessential comfort food in Korea, served in its own scorching stone pot with a bowl of rice and eaten while it is still too hot to be sensible. Frying the gochugaru in oil first is the key step, since it blooms the chili into a fragrant, glossy base rather than a harsh raw heat, and the tofu is added late so it stays silky rather than breaking apart.
Sundubu Jjigae: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Sundubu Jjigae?
A serving has about 349 calories — 12.5g protein, 7g carbs, 31.6g fat, 3.3g fiber. Figures are estimated from the ingredient amounts and will shift with your portions and brands.
Is Sundubu Jjigae gluten-free?
As written, no — it contains Light soy sauce. You'd need a certified gluten-free swap for that ingredient to make it gluten-free.
Do I need every ingredient to make Sundubu Jjigae?
The core ingredients are essential, but you can leave out scallions, egg — they're optional and mainly there for extra flavor or finish.
How many servings does Sundubu Jjigae make?
This recipe makes 4 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.