korea – Your Ryeness

Quick and Easy Kimchi Jjigae

P1000271

If you’re looking for a quick and simple Korean soup that you could make right at home, you have come to the right place! I’m sharing here today how I cook Kimchi Jjigae at home.

——-

KOREAN KIMCHI JJIGAE

Serving Size: 2 Persons

——-

Ingredients:

100g Pork

150g Well ripened Kimchi

50ml Kimchi Juice

100g Soft Tofu

30g Onion

20g Green Onion

800ml Water

—–

Seasoning:

1tsp Sugar

1tsp Minced Garlic

2tsp Red Pepper Paste

1tbsp Soybean Paste (opt)

1tbsp Sesame Oil

——-

Instructions:

1. Cut pork into bite size chunks. Rinse it in cold water then set aside.
2. Chop you kimchi about the same width as your pork.
3. Slice the onion.
4. Slice the green onion diagonally.
5. Mince the garlic.
6. Make your seasoning and mix it with the pork and kimchi.
7. Heat up an oiled pot. While waiting, cut your tofu into bit size pieces then set it aside.
8. When pot is hot, put the pork and kimchi mix.
9. Stir ocassionally making sure the pork is cooked evenly.
10. When pork looks to be 90% cooked, add about 600ml of the water.
11. Add in the onion and the green onions. Cover and stir occassionally.
12. When the water starts boiling, add the kimchi juice and the rest of the water. Leave it to boil again.
13. If the pork is all cooked, turn of the heat. Transfer it into your serving bowl.
14. Put in the tofu while soup is still very hot.
15. Garnish it it green onions and serve!

If you want to turn this dish to a vegetarian version, simply substitute the pork with Shiitake Mushrooms. For vegans, find a vegan kimchi before starting this dish. Traditional kimchi is made with a seafood by-product like fish sauce and/or salted shrimp so you may want to check the label first.

This dish is so easy to make! I will put up a video of how I cook it on my YouTube channel so you could see it too. I hope you try this one yourself and let me know how it turns out!

Travel Throwback: A weekend in Jeju Island (Part 2)

I may have left you hanging on the first part of this blog. As promised tho, this is where I tell the most embarrassing thing that happened to me as a tourist!

So I was ready to end a perfectly satisfying first day in Jeju. All I have to do is get to my guesthouse and rest up for the next day. Because I pretty much survived the day through spontaneously searching my way around, I trusted that I will successfully find my way home too. Sadly, my map failed me..

For some odd reason, I just can’t find the bus stop where I’m supposed to take the bus home. I slightly panicked so I ask the first person I could find for directions.
Just who did the universe sent me? Well, a cute grandma who was eating tangerines at her friend’s road side fruit store! I approached, said hello and she handed me tangerines saying they’re good. What did I say? She cute or what!? It was the first time a local received me so warmly!

Anyway, I knew some Korean. I knew how to ask my question, so without second thoughts I asked where I could find the bus stop. She didn’t speak any English and she probably sensed my entry-level Korean speaking skills. So instead of telling me the way, she got up and walked me to the bus stop! Mind you, it was quite a walk!

I was already embarrassed enough to have a grandma walk me to get to my bus stop. You know what else happened on top of that? We found out that it was the wrong stop! All I could do is apologize for wasting her time like that.

This is where you know how good people are. That grandma didn’t give up on me. She said she knew where to go. I just followed her and next thing I know, she was taking me to the nearest police station!! It was so embarrassing!

Also, it was really nice of her to think of my needs and/or safety to that extent. But yeah, I was that tourist who you’ll find at a police station, with a grandma, asking for directions. I. Can’t. Even!

It made sense to ask authorities for help but I felt like I made a total mess of myself more than I should.. In a foreign land.. On my first day. You know what I mean? It was my most embarrassing experience to date!

The officers were kind enough to help me out though. I thanked them dearly. I got the bus I needed and I went my way.

I was unsure about the stop they told me to take. I got off two stops before that and my luck just snapped back! I got the right stop, just a short walk to my guest house. Everything magically showed through the map again.

I booked Santorini Guesthouse via Airbnb, it was my first ‘home.’ I booked a dorm type room because that’s the cheaper option if you’re travelling alone and because I have my luck back, they told me I have the room to myself for the entire night. I loved the place.

I highly recommend this place if you’re planning to catch the sunrise at Seongsan Ilchulbong because it’s just across the street to the way up there.

I struggle getting up in the morning so naturally, I missed the actual sunrise. That didn’t stop me from going up tho.
DSCN3210

It was so refreshing! The peak was beautiful. I love how there’s also a viewing deck so people could all see the sunrise in harmony.

DSCN3171 DSCN3179 DSCN3181 DSCN3184

Above or below was interesting enough. There’s a ‘mermaid’ show here too but the timing is off. I needed to go back, get my stuff and move to my next destination.

I wanted to go to Udo Island next. I was told that another one of the guests was going there too. I practically tagged along because I didn’t want to lose my way again.

I forgot his name tho. Anyway, we just walked to the pier. We bought roundtrip boat tickets and after docking on the island, we separated our ways. He decided to hop on one of those bus tours while I decided to rent a bicycle and go around myself.

The island was something else! It took me 3-4hours to go around and I learned a lot of humble things that it had to offer. I love it!

I was also very proud of myself for having conquered all of that by myself. What an achievement!

I was completely tired after all of that I was ready go something light and fun. It was time to relax, it was time for me to go to the city and meet my friends!

Aren’t you curious about how I spent my night this time? Well you just have to read on the last part of this blog to find out!~

Travel Throwback: A weekend in Jeju Island (Part 3)

I’ve seen some of the beauty of Jeju’s outskirts on part 1 and part 2 of this blog. It’s now time I head to the city and meet my friends. Just how did we spend the night anyway?

After Udo, I had to take the bus back to the city proper. All my friends live near the city hall so I booked Backpackers In Jeju via Airbnb as it was the closest I could find.

Again, I booked a dorm type room and luckily had it all to myself. I highly recommend the place because of the location and the very chill vibe.

I checked in first, washed up, and met my CanFam (Canada Family).

Korean food is life! That dakgalbi was so good. We even had makgeolli on the side. Perfect!! Also, it was seriously the best bingsu I had my entire life! Oh how I miss it now!

After food and dessert, we also went to take some pictures and play bowling. I had so much fun! They are seriously the best hosts. I love them so much it hurts!

They say even good days come to an end. I had one of the longest days in my life and it was time for me to rest up.

Rest of the Fam walked me to my guesthouse and we bid goodbye with a promise that I will be a host to them too if they want to visit PH.

The hospitality of the people I met in Jeju were beyond my expectations. I have never felt more at home in a foreign place.

I called it a night and took my rest in preparation of my last day in Jeju. I didn’t have much time during my last day so I looked up things I could do around the city.

I have read about this place online and being a Filipino myself, I just had to come check it out!

Perfect breakfast or what?! I talked to the owner. He told me he lived in Boracay for a while. He love the island so much that it became his inspiration for the place. Fact: Koreans looove our mangoes!

Ok. I think I won’t forgive myself if I don’t come and taste one of Jeju’s delicacies—black pork!

Food blogger feels! I didn’t mind one bit that I had a feast by myself for lunch. Mind you, I even had soju by myself.

The pork was amazing! It had this light and clean taste. I prefer grilled beef in general but this one is honestly a good match. I mean, Jeju is also known for its seafood but if you feel like having pork, you can try this one.

I felt really full after those eats. I went back to my guesthouse, picked my things up and went to my last stop before my flight.

It is always nice to squeeze in museums during your travels. I went to the Jeju Folklore and Natural Museum.

They say that there are 3 things that Jeju has a lot of: Wind, Women and Rock.

I wanted to go to a local market before I go. I have a thing for markets too! When I checked the time, I only had enough to head to the airport so I guess I had to leave that for next time.

I made it in time for my flight. It was even delayed big time; But even so, it was ok because part of me didn’t want to go. *sad*

I just couldn’t believe all the things I went through, you know?—The places I saw, the people I met, the food I ate and the adventure I took. It is safe to say that Jeju left a mark in me that I will cherish forever. My traveller self has never been more proud!
last

Before I end, I would like to mention that this write-up is all thanks to my CanFam in Jeju: TaeGyun, GwanRyeong, YangBeom, Brian, SungTaek and SoYeon~ This wouldn’t have been possible if it weren’t for you.

You have always gave me unimaginable courage even in my lowest days. I’ll forever be thankful from the bottom of my heart! 감사합니다~ 사랑해요!💕

I really hope I’ll be able to go back to Jeju again. I know there are more sights to see and food to eat! So if you are debating if this place is worth your time, I am telling you that it is! I highly recommend it!

Of course, if you don’t speak any Korean, I suggest you come more prepared than I am. This is not much of a travel guide because after all the fiasco I went through, I don’t think I’m the best person to ask. LOL.

I shared my experience to the best of my ability. If you read all 3 parts of this blog, I am grateful. I hope you enjoyed! Thanks for stopping by~