Spicy Potato & Spam Stew (Gamja-jjaglee)
Gamja-jjaglee is a hearty Korean stew where potatoes and canned Spam simmer down in a spicy gochujang-gochugaru broth until thick and deeply flavorful. Cooked low and slow in one pot, the potatoes turn tender while the sauce reduces into a rich, savory glaze. Serve it hot straight from the pot with a bowl of steamed rice for a satisfying, no-fuss meal.
Ingredients
Main
- Spam (canned ham)1 can (small)
- Potatoes3 (small)
- Onion1/2
- Cheongyang chili2
- Green onion1/3 stalk
- Water2 cups
- Red pepper flakes (gochugaru)2 tbsp
- Gochujang (red chili paste)1 tbsp
- Minced garlic1 tbsp
- Cooking wine1 tbsp
- Soy sauce3 tbsp
- Sugar1 tbsp
- Doenjang (soybean paste)0.3 tbsp
Directions
- 1
Peel the potatoes and cut into thick matchsticks. Thinly slice the 2 Cheongyang chilies and 1/3 stalk of green onion, and cut the onion in half into thin strips.
- 2
Put the Spam in a plastic bag and mash it by hand — don't crush it too finely, leave it in chunky pieces.
- 3
Add the potatoes, Spam, and onion to a pot, then pour in 2 tbsp gochugaru (red pepper flakes), 1 tbsp gochujang, 3 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp minced garlic, 1 tbsp cooking wine, 0.3 tbsp doenjang (soybean paste), 1 tbsp sugar, and 2 cups of water.
- 4
Bring to a boil over high heat, then lower the heat and simmer for 10-15 minutes.
- 5
Once the potatoes are cooked through and the broth has thickened, add the green onion and Cheongyang chili, then let it simmer for one more boil to finish.
- 6
Your gamja-jjaglee is ready — thick, hot, and packed with flavor. Serve it straight from the pot with a bowl of rice!