Discover the Joy of Plant-Based Cooking with This Vegan Kimchi Jjigae Recipe

One of the best things about plant-based cooking is the exciting discoveries that happen when solving culinary challenges. Whether it's using leftovers, working with limited ingredients, or focusing on a specific condiment, there's always something new to learn. One such discovery for me was kimchi jjigae, a Korean stew, suggested by a co-worker for a cooking class with specific parameters: spicy, with noodles or rice, and packed with veggies. This class was for a group of newcomers to the U.S., and I wanted to impress them. Despite feeling intimidated, I embraced the challenge.

I cooked this vegan kimchi jjigae recipe four times in one week, and each attempt was better than the last. I perfected the consistency, flavors, the crispness of the cabbage, and the level of spiciness. I also learned how to make perfect rice in an Instant Pot (jasmine rice takes just three minutes on high pressure).

I highly recommend this kimchi jjigae recipe from Veggie Ahn.

The Power of a Great Recipe

A great recipe can open hearts and minds. My goal for this class was to highlight the connection between the American lifestyle, particularly around nutrition, and both human and planetary health. Nearly half of Americans suffer from chronic diseases, often due to lifestyle factors like lack of exercise, the Standard American Diet, excessive stress, insufficient sleep, smoking, and alcohol consumption. Our dietary choices also significantly impact the planet. For example, a one-third-pound hamburger requires 660 gallons of water to produce, and a slightly larger half-pound burger emits as much greenhouse gas as driving a 3,000-pound car nearly ten miles.

Teaching and Learning

My experience teaching these classes underscored the lack of accessible information for non-English speakers in the U.S. Nutrition and climate education should be available to everyone. Unfortunately, it’s often not accessible even to native speakers.

Whether you are new to plant-based cooking or you’ve been vegan for some time, try this delicious vegan kimchi jjigae recipe today. Not only will you enjoy a great, speedy meal with just a few ingredients, you'll also be making a positive impact on your health and the environment.