Porridge You Shouldn't Eat When Sick: Buldak Stew Noodle Porridge
What kind of food do you look for when you’re sick? The first thing that comes to mind is probably ‘porridge’ (juk). Actually, I love porridge so much that I sometimes make it on a normal day. It’s even my go-to hangover cure. But did you know there’s a porridge you shouldn’t eat when you’re sick? It’s ramen porridge. Specifically, porridge made with Buldak Stew Type Noodles, the king of spicy flavors. Buldak Stew Noodle porridge is another recipe that went viral on social media. Following the Shin Ramyun Abura Soba last time, today I’ll introduce you to another unique ramen recipe.
Let’s look at the ingredients
| Ingredient | Amount | Substitute |
|---|---|---|
| Water | 500ml | - |
| Buldak Stew Noodles | 1 pack | - |
| Seasoned seaweed | 1 pack | - |
| Sweet corn | 3 tbsp | - |
| Spam | 1/3 can | Sausage |
| Cold rice | 150g | - |
| Egg | 1 | - |
| Mozzarella cheese | To taste | - |
| Sesame oil | 1 tbsp | - |
If you don't have Spam, you can substitute it with Vienna sausages or bacon.
You can also skip it, but I highly recommend adding it.
Let’s look at the recipe
1. Boil 500ml of water and 150g of cold rice in a pot.
Cold rice or unheated instant rice (like Hetbahn) works too. You need to let it simmer and break down in the water, so cook it on medium-low heat.
2. Crush the Buldak Stew noodles with your fist.
While the rice softens, we’re going to relieve some stress. Just make sure the bag doesn’t pop, and crush the noodles as if you’re delivering a punch to everyone who gave you a hard time today.
3. Cut the Spam into bite-sized pieces.
Now that you’ve relieved your stress, prep the Spam—which will bring you culinary happiness—into bite-sized pieces. I added way too much, but please adjust the amount to your liking.
4. Once the water boils, add the liquid soup, powder soup, Spam, and noodles to the pot.
The powder soup for Buldak Stew Noodles is originally meant to be added at the end, but we’re lazy, so we’re just going to dump it all in at once and boil it. Add all the ingredients except for the egg, sweet corn, cheese, seaweed flakes, and sesame oil.
5. Add an egg to the pot and quickly stir it in with a spoon.
Just like making egg porridge, crack the egg into the pot and stir it rapidly with a spoon before it fully cooks. This will give it a thick, porridge-like texture.
6. Finish by topping it with cheese, sweet corn, seaweed flakes, and sesame oil.
Now just top it with a good amount of cheese, 3 tablespoons of sweet corn, seaweed flakes, and sesame oil, and dig in. All ingredients can be adjusted, so customize it to your taste.
Even if it makes me sicker, I’m going to eat it.
Although the cheese and other ingredients mellow out the heat, it’s still quite spicy. It’s the kind of flavor that makes you want to eat it even if you know it might make your stomach hurt more later. I haven’t tried the recipe with Vienna sausages instead of Spam yet, but as a sausage lover, I feel like Vienna would taste even better than Spam. If you want an even stronger kick while eating, it might be a good idea to add some extra Buldak sauce if you have it at home. It might look a bit like dog food, but the popping texture of the corn and the savory richness of the cheese are super charming, so I highly recommend giving it a try at least once. Oh, and by the way, this recipe makes 2 servings, so if you’re eating alone, save half for later to sort out another meal.
Well then, I’ll be back next time with another trendy recipe. Have a delicious day!