Korean Jjapaguri - Ram-don with Beef - Instant Pot + Stove-top

This spicy Korean Jjapaguri noodle meal was the Ram-don with Beef featured in "Parasite", the award-winning film. If you're a fan of instant noodles this will be your new fiery favorite. The dish combines two kinds of Korean instant noodles: Chapagetti and Neoguri. This is a popular common man's meal in South Korea. Chapagetti are Chinese-inspired ramen and Neoguri are Japanese-style udon. I added tender beef cubes and it was a hearty meal. Put them together and enjoy both beef and seafood flavors in a spicy gravy made from the instant packets.

*I share two alternative ways to cook this: In the Instant Pot or stove-top.

This recipe was inspired by Korean Bapsang and Food 52.

Prep Time17

Cook Time15

Total Time32

Course: Dinner, Lunch

Cuisine: Asian, Filipino, Korean

Keyword: Korean Jjapaguri Ram-don Beef

Servings: people

Calories: 242kcal

Author: Asian in America

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