🩵 A giant instant ramen with an aluminum tray, reinvented as a full-size budae-jjigae — spicy, meaty and big enough to feed five.
Horim picked it up on his way home from school. It looked like a joke at first, but turned out to be one of the most unexpectedly satisfying meals we’ve had recently.
🏪 Intro
It all started with my youngest son bringing home Daewangttukkeong (대왕뚜껑) — a huge cup noodle with an actual aluminum tray instead of a plastic bowl.
We stared at it for a minute. Then the thought came: “We could actually cook something real in this.”
So we did.
From the fridge came Spam, Vienna sausages, a can of baked beans, and some good old kimchi.
We poured in 1.8L of water — plus a little extra, just to be safe. Then we set it on our highlight stove and let it simmer into a bubbling stew.
We dropped in the noodles at just the right time, covered it briefly, and gathered around.
Not one person walked away hungry.
🍛 What’s in the Bowl?
✅ Paldo Daewangttukkeong (대왕뚜껑) Instant Ramen
✅ Spam
✅ Vienna Sausages
✅ Baked Beans
✅ Kimchi (used as-is, not chopped)
✅ Water – 2.1L total (1.8L + 300ml)
✅ Seasoning packets (powder + flakes)
✅ Aluminum tray (included and stove-safe)
⏱️ Ready in Minutes
1️⃣ Place the aluminum tray directly on a stove or highlight (radiant) cooktop.
Add all the ingredients — Spam, sausages, beans, kimchi, and both seasoning packets.
Then pour in 2.1L of water and bring everything to a steady boil.
2️⃣ Once the broth is bubbling, add the noodles quickly and carefully.
Let them cook for just 30 seconds, then turn off the heat immediately.
3️⃣ Cover the tray with the lid and let it rest for 1 minute.
The residual heat finishes the noodles without overcooking them.
📌 Pro tip
The original recipe calls for 1.8L of water, but with all the added ingredients, we used an extra 300ml for better broth balance and depth.
This also helps keep the noodles from soaking up too much liquid too fast.
📝 What It Tastes Like
🔹 Spicy, savory broth with a bold, stew-like kick
🔹 Kimchi adds depth and tang without overpowering
🔹 Spam and sausages bring out that classic budae richness
🔹 Beans melt into the soup and round out the edges
🔹 Noodles stay chewy — perfectly cooked from the resting heat
💭 Overall Thoughts
This wasn’t just a cup ramen experiment.
It became a legit budae-jjigae experience, powered by convenience and a bit of fridge magic.
The aluminum tray made cleanup a breeze.
The size made it fun.
And the flavor? Way beyond what you’d expect from something off the shelf.
Sometimes the best meals happen because you weren’t planning one at all.
📸 Moments Before the First Bite
✔️ Kit Contents
✔️ Added Ingredients
“Spam, sausage, beans, and kimchi — just what we had in the fridge, and just enough to make it feel like a real stew.”
✔️ Cooking Steps
“From boiling a stew to resting the noodles — this is how a giant ramen became dinner for five.”
