A traditional Korean Kimchi soup, known as
Kimchi-guk, is served in a traditional hot pot called
ttukbaegi. The pot can keep the soup hot for a longer period of time, giving you enough time to finish it. Kimchi is a staple food among Koreans, where the ingredients consist of napa cabbage, cucumber, carrots, and tons of mixed pickled vegetables in salt and garlic. The flavor is usually strong and overwhelming, for some, at times. The soup is easy to make and tastes absolutely delicious due to its spicy flavors. When the weather is cold or you feel like eating something hot, make this soup in a jiffy.
Kimchi-Tofu Soup
Calories - 186
Ingredients
- Sesame oil, 3 tablespoons
- Kochujang (Korean chili pepper paste), 1 tablespoon
- Rice vinegar, 1 tablespoon
- Soy sauce, 1 tablespoon
- Vegetable stock, 6 cups
- Spinach, 2 cups
- Kimchi, chopped, 1½ cups
- Short-grain white rice, ½ cup
- Scallions, chopped, 6
- Tofu, chopped into ½" pieces, 8 oz.
- Black pepper
Procedure
In a pot, pour 2 tablespoons of sesame oil and sauté the scallions for a minute. Add the Kimchi, tofu, and
kochujang, and stir the mixture for about 30 seconds or so. Now add the vegetable stock along with vinegar and soy sauce. Bring the mixture to a boil, and reduce the heat to simmer. Add the short-grain white rice in, and cook for at least 15―20 minutes, or till the rice is tender. Once the rice has been in the pot for approximately 10 minutes, add the spinach. In the end, add the sesame oil and ground black pepper on top, and serve.
Kimchi-Pork Soup
Calories - 289
Ingredients
- Pork, sliced, ¼ lb.
- Tofu, cubed, ¼ slab
- Water, 3 cups
- Kimchi, 4 tablespoons
- Kochujang (Korean chili pepper paste), 2 teaspoons
- Kochukaru (Korean chili pepper powder), 2 teaspoons
- Garlic, minced, 1 teaspoon
- Carrots, chopped, 2
- Green onions, sliced diagonally, 2
- Chinese cabbage, julienne, ½
- Onion, julienne, ½
- Soy sauce, for taste
Procedure
Place the sliced pork pieces in boiling water so that it removes all the impurities. As the surface turns white, remove the pork from water, and get rid of the water. In the same pot, boil some water and add all the vegetables, except for green onions and Kimchi. Boil the vegetables for a few minutes, reduce the heat, and simmer the mixture for about half an hour. Then add the chili pepper paste,
kochukarau, sliced green onions, cubes of tofu, and minced garlic. Again simmer the mixture for about 20 minutes, and add soy sauce in the end according to your preference. Serve the soup hot with some steamed rice.
Kimchi-Seafood Soup
Calories - 450
Ingredients
- Clams, 3
- Anchovies, dry, 3
- Garlic, minced, 3
- Mushrooms, sliced, 2
- Kelps, dry, 2
- Semi-soft tofu, 1 pack
- Water, 1 cup
- Onion, chopped, ¼ cup
- Jalapeno, sliced, ¼ cup
- Kimchi, chopped, ¼ cup
- Red pepper oil, 1 tablespoon
- Sesame oil, ½ tablespoon
- Shrimp sauce, salted, ½ tablespoon
- Scallion, sliced, ½
- Egg, raw, 1
Procedure
In a pan, boil anchovies and kelp in some water. In a
ttukbaegi, pour red pepper oil, onion, garlic, and chili powder. Stir the onions and add sesame oil, chopped Kimchi, and clams in. Make sure you are stirring the mixture continuously. Drain the anchovies and kelp, and mix it into the
ttukbaegi; add tofu to the mixture. Now add the rest of the vegetables in and slices of chili (depending on how spicy you want the soup to be). Season the soup with shrimp sauce and boil for some time. Once this is thick enough to your liking, remove it off the stove. Crack the raw egg directly on top of the soup. Bury the egg underneath the tofu so it can cook slowly till you eat it.
These soups are sure to bring variety to your dinner table. Call your friends and family over and enjoy the spice of Korea―your fabulous and yummy Kimchi soup!