Korean Jjapaguri – Ram-Don with Beef – Instant Pot + Stove-top
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Last November, we watched the first run of Parasite, the award-winning film. After the scene where the spicy Korean noodle dish Jjapaguri -Ram-don with Beef was featured, we craved for it. I searched all over Korean and Asian cookbooks plus googled the recipe. I recently found the inspiration from Korean Bapsang on Instagram. So, I ordered the ingredients on Amazon. I’m sharing how to cook this in two alternative ways: Instant Pot or on the stove-top.
The spicy Korean Jjapaguri is a combination of two kinds of instant noodles – Chapagetti and Neoguri plus its packet seasonings. This is considered common man’s meal in Korean circles. In the film, it looked like sheer comfort food as it was devoured by one of the main characters.
If you are a purist and instant packs of ramen noodles are not your cup of tea, then this is not for you. But if you’re like my sons and the mainstream working class, this is the instant meal you’ll put together after a long day at work. Also, this noodle meal will appeal to Filipinos who relish the maanghang (spicy) combination of beef and seafood flavors.
In my version of Ram-don (a coined word for Ramen and Udon noodles), I added beef cubes leftovers from the short ribs I had. I tried this recipe several times since. I cooked this stove-top. And another time I made it in the Instant Pot. Both ways, they cooked fast. The beef cubes cooked in the Instant Pot were more succulent and tender.
I am dedicating this post and this fiery instant noodle meal to my son, whose birthday it is this week. We traditionally celebrate birthdays with noodle dishes for long life and prosperity. But I am sure he’s coming home to his apartment after a hectic work day and won’t feel like cooking. I shall remind him, this Ram-don is a quick, easy way to celebrate in an instant and will surely add a sizzle to any day.
Korean Jjapaguri - Ram-don with Beef - Instant Pot + Stove-top
Equipment
- Instant Pot: 3 quarts or 6 quarts
- Medium-sized Stock pot: 4 or 6 quarts (for stove-top cooking)
Ingredients
- 250 gm. beef cubes cut in 1/4-inch squares
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
- 4 cups water to boil ramen noodles
- 1 pack Nongshim's Chapagetti Instant Ramen Noodles from Asian markets or online sources
- 1 pack Nongshim's Neoguri Instant Udon Noodles from Asian markets or online.
- 1/2 packet seasoning for Nongshim's Chapagetti
- 1/2 packet seasoning Nongshim's Neoguri
- 2 stalks scallion greens chopped for garnish
Instructions
To prepare the beef and noodles stove top:
- Season the beef cubes with salt and black pepper.In a medium-sized skillet, add the oil over medium-high heat. When oil is hot enough after 1 to 2 minutes, add the beef cubes. Cook for 5 minutes till the beef is brown on all sides and cooked. Remove from skillet, keep warm and set aside.
- In a separate medium-sized stockpot, pour the water. Cover and let it boil. When water is boiling, add both types of noodles. Cook for 3 minutes till noodles are soft.Strain the noodles. Reserve 1/4 to 1/2 cup of the starchy water and set aside.Discard the rest of the water.Return the noodles to the stock pot. Over low heat, add 1/2 of the Chapagetti packet seasoning and 1/2 of the contents of the Neoguri seasoning. Pour the reserved noodle water.Stir till the ingredients are well incorporated and seasoning flavors coat the noodles.*Note: Taste to test the level of spice. I added only 1/2 of each seasoning packet because this is the spice level that was fine for us. Add more if preferred.Slice the beef to thinner slices. Serve atop the noodles. Garnish with scallion greens. Serve warm.
To cook in the Instant Pot:
- Click Saute function on keypad.To the inner pot, add the oil. When oil is hot enough in 1 to 2 minutes, add the beef cubes. Saute for 5 minutes till beef is brown on all sides and is cooked. Click Cancel to turn off Saute function.Add the 2 kinds of instant noodles. Pour the water.Close and lock the lid. Set valve to Sealing.Click Manual + Meats + cook on High Pressure for 5 minutes.When buzzer sounds to announce cooking is done, do a Quick Release.Unlock the lid and open carefully. Set the lid on a dry, safe surface of the counter.Add the contents - 1/2 of the Chapagetti seasoning packet + 1/2 of the Neoguri seasoning packet. Stir to combine.Close and lock the lid. Press Keep Warm to continue cooking on low heat for 5 minutes.Open the lid carefully. Click Cancel to turn off the Instant Pot.Serve the noodles warm without the liquid. Place the beef cubes on top. Garnish with scallion greens.
Notes on the Instant Pot:
- It takes about 17 minutes for the Instant Pot to preheat before the High Pressure cooking time begins. For other multicookers, please consult the product manual.Safety: Use metal or silicone accessories for the Instant Pot. Do NOT use glassware. Read the manual for complete safety information.
Cook's comments:
- In the write up by Food 52, a professor of Korean history is quoted as explaining the differences between the two popular instant noodles. Chapagetti is a Chinese-inspired jajang ramen noodles, and Neoguri, are Japanese-style udon noodles in a spicy Korean broth (thus only 1/2 of the seasoning packet is added). I purchased my Korean noodles from Amazon.*Note: I only used 1/2 of each seasoning packet from the Chapagetti and the Neoguri. These are extremely spicy. When I make spicy dishes, I go easy on the fiery notes at first and see how my family likes it.
Disclosure:
- As a member of the Amazon affiliate program, some products mentioned link to Amazon. If you purchase through these links, the retail price stays the same. I earn a small commission from Amazon which supports this blog's technical maintenance. Thanks in advance for the support.
Nutrition
Notes on Nutrition: The nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and specific brands of ingredients used.
Did you like this recipe? I have more Filipino Instant Pot recipes in my newest cookbook Instant Filipino Recipes: My Mother’s Traditional Philippine Cooking in A Multicooker Pot by Elizabeth Ann Besa-Quirino. Buy my cookbooks and books on Amazon.com sold worldwide in paperback and Kindle format.
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Disclosure: Instant Pot is the brand name of a multi-cooker that cooks in high and low pressure. I was not paid by the Instant Pot company to mention the product or brand nor endorse it. This is not an ad. My views and opinions are my own.
