Spicy Pork Stew W/ Potatoes

GAM-JA-TANG

감자탕

Gamjatang is a spicy pork bone stew that is considered a traditional Korean dish which is hearty and rich in flavors.  In translation, the word gamja normally means potato in Korean but in this particular dish, it is actually referring to the pork bone itself. So unlike its name, the main ingredients are not potatoes but the hearty, complex taste of the rich broth which is made from boiled pork backbone.  In full translation, this dish is called pork bone stew as tangmeans stew in Korean.

This stew is assorted with vegetables such as cabbage, mushrooms, parsley, green onions and bean sprouts. And it is heavily seasoned with garlic, red chili peppers and roasted perilla seeds. The additions of perilla seeds are optional as it gives a more delicate flavor to the dish, taking away the greasy taste of the pork.  All gamjatang dishes may be similar in appearance, but the taste varies from one restaurant to another.

This dish is known to be rich in proteins, calcium and Vitamin B1 (from the pork bones) and is believed to prevent snoring as well as aging.