Korean Soups and Stews
Because Koreans eat stew or soup at almost every meal of the day, Korean cuisine has an amazing variety of them. Many Korean stews are extremely spicy and hearty and Korean soups range from miso-based to clear broth preparations.
Dried Pollack Soup (Bugo Gook) Recipe
The light but sweet flavor of this soup comes from dried pollack, which is sold in Korean and Asian markets. It is healthy, very easy to make, and costs almost nothing. You can make a big pot of this soup for less than $5.
The light but sweet flavor of this soup comes from dried pollack, which is sold in Korean and Asian markets. It is healthy, very easy to make, and costs almost nothing. You can make a big pot of this soup for less than $5.
Recipe for Budaechigae (Korean Army Base Stew)
Budae Chigae was invented during the famine years of the Korean war and post-war period. Koreans managed to use leftover meat discarded or handed-out from the U.S. army bases to make this dish. It's a recent invention with a thousand variations, but it's mostly a lip-smacking mixture of Western meat, ramen noodles, vegetables, and Korean spices.
Budae Chigae was invented during the famine years of the Korean war and post-war period. Koreans managed to use leftover meat discarded or handed-out from the U.S. army bases to make this dish. It's a recent invention with a thousand variations, but it's mostly a lip-smacking mixture of Western meat, ramen noodles, vegetables, and Korean spices.
Korean Rice Cake Soup (Duk Gook) Recipe
Korean Duk Gook, a soup filled with soft Korean rice cakes (Dduk), is always eaten on New Year's Day. Soothing and simple, it takes less than 30 minutes if you use pre-made or store-bought broth. It's also common to add dumplings and/or sliced beef to the soup for a heartier dish.
Korean Duk Gook, a soup filled with soft Korean rice cakes (Dduk), is always eaten on New Year's Day. Soothing and simple, it takes less than 30 minutes if you use pre-made or store-bought broth. It's also common to add dumplings and/or sliced beef to the soup for a heartier dish.
Korean Cabbage Soup Recipe (Baechu Gook)
This cabbage soup is not often found in restaurants but is a staple in Korean households. Healthy, low-fat, and rich in nutrients and vitamins, Baechu Gook is Korean comfort food and is especially popular in the winter months.
This cabbage soup is not often found in restaurants but is a staple in Korean households. Healthy, low-fat, and rich in nutrients and vitamins, Baechu Gook is Korean comfort food and is especially popular in the winter months.
Spicy Korean Soft Tofu Stew (Soondubuchigae)
Soondubuchigae is a spicy Korean stew that manages to be both hearty and healthy at the same time.
Soondubuchigae is a spicy Korean stew that manages to be both hearty and healthy at the same time.
Spicy Kimchi Stew (Kimchichigae)
This spicy kimchi stew is served bubbling hot and makes good use of leftover or older kimchi. Fiery hot, hearty, and full of flavor, kimchichigae is great for cold winter days but Koreans can eat it anytime, anywhere.
This spicy kimchi stew is served bubbling hot and makes good use of leftover or older kimchi. Fiery hot, hearty, and full of flavor, kimchichigae is great for cold winter days but Koreans can eat it anytime, anywhere.
Korean Spicy Noodle Soup
This spicy soup is a forgiving recipe that I make it when I need a quick soup and only have a few ingredients in the fridge. It can take a variety of different vegetables, noodles, and proteins and will still taste good. This recipe calls for Tofu Shirataki noodles, which are low-carb and low calorie Japanese noodles. But if you are not on a low cal diet or lifestyle, you can use other Asian noodles; I like to use Japanese udon or Korean sweet potato noodles.
This spicy soup is a forgiving recipe that I make it when I need a quick soup and only have a few ingredients in the fridge. It can take a variety of different vegetables, noodles, and proteins and will still taste good. This recipe calls for Tofu Shirataki noodles, which are low-carb and low calorie Japanese noodles. But if you are not on a low cal diet or lifestyle, you can use other Asian noodles; I like to use Japanese udon or Korean sweet potato noodles.
Korean Bean Paste Stew (Daenjang Chigae)
This thick, fragrant stew is a Korean comfort food especially popular in the cold winter months. Korean bean paste (daenjang) is similar to Japanese miso but is much more pungent and powerful. Daenjang chigae is wonderfully hearty and can be made with almost any vegetables you have on hand. Although this is one dish where I actually prefer the more common zucchini, potato, and pepper combination of vegetables, it is delicious with carrots, other squashes, and turnips as well.
This thick, fragrant stew is a Korean comfort food especially popular in the cold winter months. Korean bean paste (daenjang) is similar to Japanese miso but is much more pungent and powerful. Daenjang chigae is wonderfully hearty and can be made with almost any vegetables you have on hand. Although this is one dish where I actually prefer the more common zucchini, potato, and pepper combination of vegetables, it is delicious with carrots, other squashes, and turnips as well.
Bean Sprout Soup (Kongnamul Gook)
Korean bean sprout soup, which is both cheap and easy to make, has a light and refreshing flavor. Healthy, full of vitamin C, and low in calories, it's also supposed to be good for hangovers. Add a splash of red pepper flakes (kochukaru) and it's great for colds as well.
Korean bean sprout soup, which is both cheap and easy to make, has a light and refreshing flavor. Healthy, full of vitamin C, and low in calories, it's also supposed to be good for hangovers. Add a splash of red pepper flakes (kochukaru) and it's great for colds as well.
Korean Beef Broth
This is the simple recipe for basic Korean beef stock that can be used to make Korean stews and soups. Easy to make ahead and freeze, it is a useful base broth for any type of soup, not just Korean.
This is the simple recipe for basic Korean beef stock that can be used to make Korean stews and soups. Easy to make ahead and freeze, it is a useful base broth for any type of soup, not just Korean.
Korean Anchovy Stock
This fish-based broth is the traditional base for Korean soups and stews. Although meat broth has become more popular in recent years, this anchovy soup stock is still a staple in Korean cooking. It doesn't have a strong fish odor, but adds a deep and savory element when used in cooking Korean soups and stews.
This fish-based broth is the traditional base for Korean soups and stews. Although meat broth has become more popular in recent years, this anchovy soup stock is still a staple in Korean cooking. It doesn't have a strong fish odor, but adds a deep and savory element when used in cooking Korean soups and stews.
Korean Seaweed Soup (Miyuk gook)
Known as the “birthday soup” in Korea, seaweed soup is also given to post-partum mothers recovering from childbirth. Naturally low in calories and fat and high in calcium, iron, and protein, it is a light and healthy soup good for any meal of the day.
Known as the “birthday soup” in Korea, seaweed soup is also given to post-partum mothers recovering from childbirth. Naturally low in calories and fat and high in calcium, iron, and protein, it is a light and healthy soup good for any meal of the day.
Korean Braised Short Ribs (Galbi Jim)
Koreans probably wouldn't call this dish a "stew", because traditional stews are a bit more soupy, but these Korean braised short ribs do resemble a Western stew of "meat and potatoes". The beef and vegetables are slow simmered over low heat to a tender and sweet finish.
Koreans probably wouldn't call this dish a "stew", because traditional stews are a bit more soupy, but these Korean braised short ribs do resemble a Western stew of "meat and potatoes". The beef and vegetables are slow simmered over low heat to a tender and sweet finish.