🥢 Introduction

Craving something spicy but too tired to cook?
That’s exactly when this recipe comes in.

When you’re living abroad, making Korean food can feel like a chore. Some ingredients are hard to find, and many recipes take too much time and effort for a regular day.

This Korean Tuna Tofu Stew solves both problems.

It uses simple, easy-to-find ingredients like canned tuna and tofu. No special grocery run, no complicated prep. You just layer everything in a pot, pour the sauce, and let it cook.

Despite how simple it is, the result is rich and satisfying. The sauce thickens slightly as it cooks, creating a deep, savory flavor that pairs perfectly with rice.

Even better, there’s no frying, no mess, and almost no room for error. If you’ve been looking for an easy way to recreate Korean comfort food anywhere, this is one of the most reliable recipes to start with.

🛒 Ingredients

✔ 1 can tuna (in water or oil), drained
✔ 1 block tofu (300 g), cut into large pieces
✔ 1/2 onion, sliced
✔ 1–2 chili peppers, sliced (optional)
✔ 1 stalk green onion

Sauce
✔ 2 tbsp soy sauce (use regular/light soy sauce, not sweet soy sauce)
✔ 1 tbsp gochujang
✔ 2 tbsp Korean chili flakes (gochugaru)
✔ 1 tbsp minced garlic
✔ 1 tsp sugar
✔ 1 tbsp cooking oil (reduce if using oil-packed tuna)
✔ 100–120 ml water

Finish
✔ 1 tsp sesame oil
✔ a pinch of salt (adjust at the end)

👩‍🍳 Instructions

Step 1 – Layer the vegetables
Add sliced onion, chili peppers, and green onion to the bottom of a pot. This helps create a natural base flavor without frying.

Step 2 – Add tofu and tuna
Place the tofu on top, then add the drained tuna. Keep the tofu pieces large so they don’t break while cooking.

Step 3 – Pour the sauce
Add water (100–120 ml), soy sauce (2 tbsp), gochujang (1 tbsp), gochugaru (2 tbsp), minced garlic (1 tbsp), sugar (1 tsp), and cooking oil (1 tbsp). Pour evenly over the ingredients.

Step 4 – Bring to a boil
Cook over medium heat until it starts boiling. Avoid stirring too much at this stage to keep the layers intact.

Step 5 – Simmer until slightly thick
Reduce to medium-low heat and simmer for 5–7 minutes, until the sauce reduces and becomes slightly thick.

Step 6 – Finish and adjust seasoning
Turn off the heat, add sesame oil, and adjust salt to taste. Taste at the end since the sauce becomes stronger as it reduces.

🍽️ Serving Tips

✔ Serve hot with a bowl of steamed rice. The rich, slightly thick sauce pairs best with plain rice.
✔ If you like it spicier, add fresh chili or a pinch of chili flakes before serving.
✔ This dish tastes even better the next day as the flavors deepen.
✔ Eat with a spoon, not chopsticks only.
✔ Break the tofu gently with your spoon while eating.

💡 Additional Notes

✔ If using tuna in water, keep the oil in the recipe.
✔ If using tuna in oil, reduce added oil to avoid greasiness.
✔ Adjust salt at the end, not at the beginning.
If the flavor feels flat, add a pinch of salt or a little more soy sauce.
✔ Gochugaru level can be adjusted depending on your spice preference.