One of my favorite "korean" dishes really isn't all that korean when you consider its Western influences and relative novelty. Budae jjigae, loosely translated to mean army stew, is basically a dish that was concocted after the Korean War when a surplus of Western canned meat products (Spam, hot dogs, and the like) entered the country. Add some of the requisite hot chili paste (gochujang), and you have yourself the foundation for a really homey meal that is also great for using up whatever is left in your fridge. As I have already mentioned, while budae jjigae is a pretty popular dish in more populous cities of South Korea such as Seoul and Busan, it is common for many living in outlying cities to have never even heard of this dish. Yet, I still crave it, especially during those times at school when I miss home, and most of all, my mom's cooking.
You can basically add almost anything to the stew besides sausages and spam, and it is common in our household to include bacon, kimchi, mushrooms, tofu, rice cakes, instant ramen noodles, zucchini, and bean sprouts.
Serve alongside your choice of banchan (korean side dishes) and a steaming bowl of rice, and dinner is served.
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