Kimchi Jjigae (김치찌개)
Sour-aged kimchi stew, usually with pork — the national comfort food.
- Korean name
- 김치찌개
- Spice level
- Spicy
- Flavor
- spicy · sour · savory
- Typically contains
- pork
- Vegetarian / vegan
- Not vegetarian — meat or seafood is core to the dish
- Also written as
- kimchi jigae, kimchi chigae, kimchi stew, kimchichigae
What is Kimchi Jjigae?
Kimchi jjigae is the stew Koreans abroad say they miss first: sour, aged kimchi simmered with pork and tofu until everything collapses into one loud, bubbling pot. It lands on the table still boiling — waiting a minute before the first spoonful is part of the technique.
It's the standard answer to cold weather, hangovers and homesickness alike, almost always eaten with a bowl of rice as the counterweight. Expect real heat and real sourness — this is a step up in intensity from most starter foods.
Nutrition
| Calories | 61 kcal |
|---|---|
| Carbohydrate | 2.98 g |
| Protein | 3.77 g |
| Fat | 3.75 g |
| Sodium | 491 mg |
Per serving (~400g): ≈244 kcal · sodium ≈1,964 mg (98% of the WHO daily guideline, 2,000 mg)