• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Recipes
  • Travel
  • About
  • Shop
  • Contact

Cook With Dana

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Travel
  • About
  • Shop
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Travel
    • About
    • Shop
    • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Cook With Dana » Recipes » Main Dishes

    Published: Oct 1, 2021 · Modified: Sep 13, 2023 by Dana · This post may contain affiliate links · 4 Comments

    Tuna Kimchi Jjigae (Kimchi Stew)

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

    This Tuna Kimchi Jjigae (Kimchi Stew) is an easy and quick soup recipe to use your leftover kimchi you have in the fridge! The soup broth is made from super fermented kimchi which adds a nice sweet and acidic flavor. The tofu soaks up all the delicious flavor and the best part is this takes less than 20 minutes to make!

    Tofu and kimchi stew with tuna and sliced green onions.
    Jump to:
    • Why You Will Love This Korean Kimchi Stew with Tuna and Tofu
    • What is Kimchi Jjigae?
    • Ingredients:
    • Steps to make tuna kimchi jjigae:
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Expert Tips
    • Looking for more delicious Korean stews and soups?
    • Tuna Kimchi Jjigae

    Why You Will Love This Korean Kimchi Stew with Tuna and Tofu

    • Easy and quick – add all your ingredients in the pot and wait for the soup to cook! The longer it’s cooked, the kimchi gets soft and the flavors become sweet.
    • SO flavorful! – when cooked down, the extra fermented kimchi is less sour and gives a spicy and umami flavor to the soup. With the tuna, it has so much seafood flavor.
    • Uses a lot of pantry ingredients. I usually have all the sauces and canned tuna in my pantry. I love making recipes that doesn’t have an extensive grocery list!

    What is Kimchi Jjigae?

    Kimchi Jjigae is a Korean stew dish served at most Korean restaurants along with Korean side dishes. It is commonly made with fermented kimchi and pork or seafood, onions, tofu, and green onions. My recipe doesn’t include pork belly, but I highly recommend adding it if you have some in the fridge. It’s a beloved comfort food enjoyed by many Koreans, often shared with friends and family.

    Ingredients:

    Here’s a look at what you need to make this easy Kimchi Jjigae at home. The highlights are here but the full ingredient list and quantities of each are in the recipe card.

    Ingredients layed out with anchovy packet, fish sauce oil, gochugaru, water, kimchi, soy sauce, tofu and onions.
    • kimchi – use extra fermented or sour kimchi for extra tasty broth! The sourness of the kimchi gets cooked down in the broth and will end up making your soup sweet and sour.
    • white onion – adds extra sweetness to your soup.
    • gochugaru – as known as korean red pepper flakes. This adds spice to your soup.
    • anchovy stock or use vegetable or chicken broth. Flavorful base makes this kimchi jjigae extra fragrant and umami!
    • firm tofu – Tofu is also added to the kimchi jjigae which soaks up the delicious sauce.
    • soy sauce – adds saltiness to your soup. I recommend to use low sodium so your soup is not too salty. Adjust this depending on salty your kimchi is.
    • fish sauce – this gives your soup extra umami and savory flavor.
    • kimchi juice, alter based on how sour you like it – Add this last to get sour flavor to your soup.
    • canned korean tuna – Korean tuna is so delicious because it is extra flavorful and soft. I also think it doesn’t have a lot of fishy smell.

    Steps to make tuna kimchi jjigae:

    Boiling anchovy broth with seaweed in a pot.

    Step 1. Make your broth by boiling anchovy packet with water and set aside.

    Adding kimchi to sliced onions in a pot to fry.

    Step 2. Heat pot to medium heat. Once the pot is hot, add ½ tablespoon of oil. Then add ½ cup of kimchi and add sliced white onions. Sauté for 2-3 minutes.

    Adding anchovy broth is kimchi and red pepper flakes.

    Step 3. Add ½ tablespoon gochugaru and 2 cups of anchovy broth in the pot. Cook for 10 minutes (if you have more time, cook for another 10 minutes for more flavor!).

    Adding soy sauce to a pot of boiling tofu, kimchi and broth.

    Step 4. Add sliced tofu in the soup and then add 2 tablespoons of kimchi juice, ½ tablespoon soy sauce, and 1 tablespoon of fish sauce. Cook soup for 3 minutes.

    Step 5. Add ½ can of tuna and sliced green onions and cook for 1 minute and you have delicious tuna kimchi jjigae! Hope you enjoy ◡̈

    Tofu with tuna in front of stew with green onions and rice on the side.

    Recipe FAQs

    What kimchi should I use?

    Using older (or more fermented kimchi) kimchi is perfect for this recipe. I buy my kimchi at Hmart (korean grocery store) and I love the Jongga brand in the foil packaging or plastic tubs! I also think Mother in Law’s (sold at whole foods!) kimchi is super fermented and would work for this recipe. If you want to use up more of your old kimchi, make this Easy Kimchi Fried Rice – 15 minutes.
    kimchi jongga in a plastic jar

    What should I serve this with?

    I love serving the tuna kimchi jjigae with some hot white rice and Korean side dishes like bean sprouts, stir fried fish cakes, and roasted seaweed. If you want to have a Korean feast, serve with some LA Galbi (Korean Marinated Short Ribs), Grilled Pork Belly (Samgyeopsal), or Bossam (Pork Belly Wraps).

    Expert Tips

    • Use extra fermented kimchi which gives your stew some depth (sour, sweet and savory). You will end up with a a sweet and sour flavor.
    • Anchovy broth gives you that authentic Korean flavor. I highly recommend using the packs. This gives that umami flavor that you get at Korean restaurants!
    • Add the Korean canned tuna at the end of cooking so you don’t overcook the tuna. The tuna should be soft and not dry!

    Looking for more delicious Korean stews and soups?

    • Doenjang jjigae (Korean fermented tofu soup) – Doenjang jjigae is a savory stew filled with tofu, vegetables, and seafood! 
    • Soondubu jjigae (Korean tofu soup) – super soft tofu in a spicy seafood broth is perfect with rice and korean bbq
    • Kimchi udon noodles with spicy sauce, green onions, fried egg on top on a plate.
      Kimchi Udon (15 Minutes Meal)
    • tofu kimchi
      Dubu Kimchi (15 Minute Meal!)
    • beef, spinach, bean sprouts, carrots, mushrooms and a fried egg in a stainless steel bowl
      Easy One Pot Bibimbap (Made in Rice Cooker)
    • Easy Seolleongtang (Ox Bone Soup)
    kimchi jjigae tuna with tofu purple rice green onions
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    5 from 4 votes

    Tuna Kimchi Jjigae

    Kimchi Jjigae is cooked with fermented kimchi and tofu. The stew tastes sweet, sour, spicy, savory and umami.
    Prep Time5 minutes mins
    Cook Time15 minutes mins
    Total Time20 minutes mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: korean
    Servings: 2 people
    Calories: 175kcal
    Author: Dana

    Ingredients

    • ½ tablespoon oil
    • ½ cup kimchi fermented
    • ¼ white onion sliced
    • 2 cups anchovy broth or broth of choice
    • ½ tablespoon gochugaru korean red pepper powder
    • 2 tablespoons kimchi juice alter based on how sour you like it
    • ½ tablespoon soy sauce
    • 1 tablespoon fish sauce add to taste
    • ½ box firm tofu sliced
    • ½ can korean tuna
    • 1 green onion sliced

    Instructions

    • Heat pot to medium heat. Once the pot is hot, add ½ tablespoon of oil. Then add ½ cup of kimchi and add sliced white onions. Sauté for 2-3 minutes.
    • Add ½ tablespoon gochugaru and 2 cups of anchovy broth or broth of choice in the pot. Cook for 10 minutes (if you have more time, cook for another 10 minutes for more flavor!).
    • Add sliced tofu in the soup and then add 2 tablespoons of kimchi juice, ½ tablespoon soy sauce, and 1 tablespoon of fish sauce. Cook soup for 3 minutes.
    • Add ½ can of tuna and sliced green onions and cook for 1 minute and you have delicious tuna kimchi jjigae! Hope you enjoy ◡̈

    Video

    @cookwithdana

    Welcome back to part 3 of #mukbang food recipes: 15 minute tuna kimchi jjigae (stew)! full recipe on my ig: cookwithdanaa 🔥 #kimchi #stew #koreanfood

    ♬ オリジナル楽曲 – ゆいほぷ – ゆい🌱

    Notes

    EXPERT TIPS:
    • Use extra fermented kimchi which gives your stew some depth (sour, sweet and savory). You will end up with a a sweet and sour flavor.
    • Anchovy broth gives you that authentic Korean flavor. I highly recommend using the packs. This gives that umami flavor that you get at Korean restaurants!
    • Add the Korean canned tuna at the end of cooking so you don’t overcook the tuna. The tuna should be soft and not dry!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 175kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 1244mg | Potassium: 229mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 705IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 167mg | Iron: 3mg
    Facebook Share Twitter Share
    Did you make this?Please give it a 5-star rating, or leave a comment to share your experience! Tag @cookwithdanaa on Instagram to show me your beautiful creations! 😊

    More Authentic Asian Main Dishes

    • A plate of Korean Japchae noodles with red bell peppers, spinach, shiitake mushrooms, sprinkled with sesame seeds and a small Kimchi dish on the side.
      Easy & Quick Japchae (Korean Glass Noodle Stir Fry)
    • A plate of Japanese Mentaiko Udon garnished with an egg, spicy cod roe, green onions, and seaweed.
      Japanese Mentaiko Udon
    • Salmon bites with mayonaise and sriracha arranged in a bowl with white rice and green beans.
      Air Fryer Salmon Bites (Under 15 Minutes!)
    • Crispy Chinese Chicken garnished with sesame seeds and green onions and served with white rice.
      Crispy Chinese Chicken (20 Minute Meal)

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 4 votes (2 ratings without comment)

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




    1. Annie says

      November 25, 2023 at 7:06 pm

      5 stars
      This tastes amazing and is super fast! I added stew beef/chuck roast and it tasted amazing as well.

      Reply
      • Dana says

        November 30, 2023 at 5:49 pm

        Great idea Annie! So glad it tasted well!

        Reply
    2. Alana says

      January 16, 2023 at 12:40 am

      5 stars
      Dana you are the jjigae queen! Just made this tonight and it’s fantastic!

      Reply
      • Cook With Dana says

        January 18, 2023 at 12:16 am

        Haha! Yay, happy you liked it!

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi there, I'm Dana and I create Asian recipes that are yummy and easy for everyone to make! I hope my food reminds you of a little taste of home.

    More about me →

    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • TikTok

    Popular Recipes

    • chicken and rice with cucumbers, spicy sweet and sour red sauce, green onions ginger
      One Pot Chicken Rice – Hainanese Chicken Rice
    • udon noodles with chicken and pork broth, pork mince, green onions and spinach
      Easy Tan Tan Udon (Tantanmen Recipe)
    • chinese chicken rice with sausage
      Easy One Pot Chinese Chicken and Rice
    • mango dessert with cream, graham cracker, and ripe yellow mangoes
      Filipino Mango Float
    • Chicken and broccoli with white rice and wooden spoon.
      Easy Chinese Chicken and Broccoli
    • Egg drop soup with tofu served in a bowl with spoon.
      Egg Drop Soup with Tofu

    Featured Recipes

    • Kimchi udon noodles with spicy sauce, green onions, fried egg on top on a plate.
      Kimchi Udon (15 Minutes Meal)
    • chinese hot pot - bok choy beef tofu mushrooms
      Easy Chinese Hot Pot At Home
    • salmon nigiri with spicy crab avocado slices, green onions and spicy red sauce
      Spicy Salmon Sushi with Crab
    • Crispy fried chicken with lemon and sriracha mayo.
      Chicken Karaage (Japanese Fried Chicken)
    • white long noodles with sliced cucumber, minced pork and peanuts on top. mix with sesame and chili sauce for fragrant noodles
      Easy Dan Dan Noodles
    • pork mince sunny side egg with white rice
      Braised Minced Pork Sauce

    Latest ‘Grams

    Featured

    A plate of Korean Japchae noodles with red bell peppers, spinach, shiitake mushrooms, sprinkled with sesame seeds and a small Kimchi dish on the side.

    Easy & Quick Japchae (Korean Glass Noodle Stir Fry)

    A plate of Japanese Mentaiko Udon garnished with an egg, spicy cod roe, green onions, and seaweed.

    Japanese Mentaiko Udon

    Footer

    Sign up to receive
    the latest recipes from
    Cook With Dana!

    ↑ back to top

    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • TikTok

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 Cook With Dana

    Privacy Policy

    Accessibility

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.