Jjapaguri with steak

Hello everybody! Jjapaguri time!

I didn’t know anything about these super-popular Korean noodles before I watched the movie Parasite recently. In the movie the woman was ordered to make these noodles in 7 minutes. She said: “What is jjapaguri?” and actually that’s exactly what I said!

I searched the internet and asked my children, everyone knew about these noodles except me. They are simple to make, the only ingredients are 2 packages of instant noodles! As you know, I’m not a big fan of instant noodles, only in emergency situations will I have spicy Shin ramyeon, but after watching the movie I was interested in trying them. Plus, some of my readers and viewers asked me: “Maangchi, can you make jjapaguri from the movie?”

Usual jjapaguri is easy to make, but in the movie they make an upgraded version with top-quality Korean hanwoo beef. This is impossible to buy in America, the closest equivalent is top quality ribeye. I made mine even more rich and delicious by adding butter.

I hope you guys who were interested in learning the recipe enjoy this video. It should serve 2 people, but if you are super-hungry it serves 1!

Ingredients

• 1 package of Jjapagetti (짜파게티) instant noodles (labelled “Chapagetti” on the package in English)
• 1 package of Neoguri (너구리) instant noodles

Beef steak, optional

• 8 ounces rib eye steak or sirloin, cut into ½ inch cubes
• a pinch of kosher salt
• a pinch of ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter

Directions

1. If you use beef steak, combine the beef, kosher salt, pepper, and the vegetable oil in a small pan and mix it well with a wooden spoon.
2. Cook over high heat for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring with a wooden spoon until the beef turns light brown. Add the butter, stir and mix well and cook another minute. Remove from the heat.
3. Open both packages and take out the noodles and all the packets from both.
   • • Jjapagetti (labelled “Chapagetti” on the package in English) has noodles with 3 packets: one for black bean paste seasoning powder, one for seasoning oil, and one for vegetable flakes.
     • Neoguri (너구리) has thicker noodles with 2 packets: one for spicy seasoning powder and one for vegetable flakes.
4. Bring 3 cups of water to a boil in a medium-sized pot. Add both kinds of noodles and both packets of vegetable flakes.
5. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring and turning with tongs or long chopsticks to separate the noodles and cook them evenly.
6. Strain the noodles over a medium-sized bowl, and then put the noodles and the cooked flakes back into the pot.
7. Measure 1 cup of the strained hot noodle water and put it back into the pot. Add black bean paste seasoning powder, and ½ of the spicy seasoning powder from the Neoguri package, and the beef (if used). Stir and mix for 1 to 2 minutes until everything is well incorporated.
8. Remove from the heat, add the seasoning oil and stir it in.
9. Transfer the noodles to a large plate and serve right away. You can serve with sliced yellow pickled radish (danmuji) or kimchi.

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