Creamy Korean Ssamjang (쌈장) Pasta 

Inspired by Korean BBQ’s beloved pork belly ssam, this pasta brings rich fusion flavors to your plate. Tender chunks of pan-fried pork belly mingle in a silky, umami-packed cream sauce made with ssamjang, butter, garlic, and cheese. Tossed with spaghetti, then topped with an optional soft-boiled egg, green onions, and Parmesan, it’s indulgent, comforting, and effortlessly Korean-Italian. A cozy and crave-worthy dinner you can whip up in just about 25 minutes.

Ingredients (Serves 2)

• 200 g spaghetti
  
  

• 2 slabs pork belly (~150 g)
  
  

• 1 tbsp butter
  
  

• 1 tbsp minced garlic
  
  

• 3 tbsp ssamjang
  
  

• ⅓ cup Parmesan cheese (plus extra for serving)
  
  

• ¾ cup cream (~200 g)
  
  

• Salt, to taste
  
  

• Black pepper, to taste
  
  

• Red pepper flakes, to taste
  
  

• Reserved pasta water (for thinning the sauce)
  
  

• Optional garnish: green onions, soft-boiled egg, extra Parmesan, kimchi
  
  

Directions

1. Cook the pork belly: Pan-fry until fully cooked, then cut into smaller chunks and season lightly with salt.
   
   

2. Boil pasta in salted water until al dente, reserving about 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
   
   

3. Make the sauce: In the same pan, melt butter, sauté garlic and ssamjang, then stir in cream and simmer for ~3 minutes. Add pork belly back to reheat.
   
   

4. Combine: Toss the pasta with the sauce. Mix in Parmesan, pepper flakes, and pepper, then gradually drizzle pasta water to achieve a silky, cohesive sauce. Season to taste.
   
   

5. Serve: Top with green onions, extra Parmesan, a soft-boiled egg, or serve alongside kimchi for an added Korean touch.
   
   

Nutrients (Estimated per serving; recipe yields ~2 servings)

Here’s a calculated estimate based on typical values for each ingredient:

• Calories: ~820 kcal
  
  

• Carbohydrates: ~70 g
  
  

• Protein: ~25 g
  
  

• Fat: ~48 g
  
  

• Saturated Fat: ~24 g
  
  

• Cholesterol: ~110 mg
  
  

• Sodium: ~1600 mg (includes salty ssamjang and pasta water)
  
  

• Fiber: ~3 g
  
  

• Sugar: ~2 g