Parasite Ram-Don ( Jjapaguri with steak)
Ok food friends. Here’s a new cult classic for your mouths.
Ram-Don is the brainchild of Boon Joon-ho, the director of Parasite. An invented and translated word for Jjapaguri, Ram-Don at its simplest is two different packs of instant noodles stir-fried with the best beef sirloin you can buy. (Ramen+Udon = Ram-Don).
In the film, though, Ram-Don becomes an allegory for the film itself. A commentary on class disparity, what makes Ram-Don so gossip-worthy is that it takes jjapaguri and pairs it with South Korea’s prized Hanwoo beef. Akin to ‘caviar on a big mac’ or gold flakes on your cheap cheese pizza, it combines comfort food with literal piles of cash money. I just made mine with short ribs but you can also sub in Hanwoo for a nice marbled steak. (For the Jjapaguri, make sure you get Chapagetti and Neoguri instant noodles, which you can easily find at TNT supermarket if you live in Vancouver.)
INGREDIENTS
- 1 pack of Chapagetti (or other jajangmyeon noodles in black bean sauce)
- 1 pack of Neoguri (Udon reimagined in a spicy, Korean seafood broth)
- 8 oz of short rib or 1 well-marbled sirloin steak
- salt and pepper to taste
INSTRUCTIONS
- Cut the meat into chunks that are easy to grab with chopsticks.
- Season the meat with salt and pepper on all sides. Set aside.
- Bring 3–4 cups of water to boil.
- As this is happening, heat oil in a pan over medium heat. Chuck in the steak and brown all sides of the meat for 3–5 minutes and then set aside.
- Chuck both packs of noodles into the boiling water and cook until al dente.
- Strain the water out of the noodles, leaving a touch of water in the pot and return the pot to the burner and turn to low heat.
- Sprinkle the seasoning packets onto the noodles. Add the beef. Meld meld meld and mix.
- Once properly combined everything should be covered in a deep dark and aromatic sauce.
- Serve immediately with a Cass lager and pop in that VHS of Parasite. Enjoy.
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