Serves: 4 people
Ingredients:
- Main: 30g dried seaweed, 200g beef (for soup)
- Seasoning: 2-3 tbsp soy sauce for soup, 1 tbsp minced garlic, 2 tbsp sesame oil or perilla oil
- Broth: 1.5 L water (or rice water for a richer flavor)
- Optional: salt (to taste), a pinch of black pepper
Instructions:
- Rehydrate the Seaweed: Soak the dried seaweed in cold water for about 30 minutes until it’s fully rehydrated. The seaweed will expand significantly, so be mindful of the amount. Once soft, rinse it thoroughly in fresh water, squeeze out the excess water, and cut it into bite-sized pieces.
- Prepare the Beef: Use a paper towel to pat down the beef and remove any excess blood. This step helps keep the broth clear and prevents any gamey smell.
- Sauté the Ingredients: Heat a pot over medium heat and add the sesame oil. First, sauté the beef until it’s partially cooked. Then, add the rehydrated seaweed, minced garlic, and soy sauce for soup. Continue to stir-fry everything together until the seaweed turns a vibrant green color and is well-coated with the seasoning. This step is crucial for developing a deep, rich flavor.
- Add the Broth: Pour the prepared broth (water or rice water) into the pot with the sautéed ingredients. Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat.
- Simmer: Once the soup starts boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the pot, and let it simmer for about 20-30 minutes. The longer you simmer the soup, the more milky and flavorful the broth will become.
- Final Seasoning: Taste the soup and adjust the seasoning with more soy sauce or a little salt. You can also add a pinch of black pepper if desired.
Tips:
- For a Deeper Flavor: Using rice water (the cloudy water from rinsing rice) or the water you used to soak the seaweed will make the soup more savory.
- Different Variations: Instead of beef, you can use clams, dried pollack, or abalone for a different kind of seaweed soup.
- Longer Simmer: If you have time, simmering the soup for an hour or more on low heat will make the seaweed incredibly tender and the broth exceptionally rich.
It’s better for everyone to have their own bowl of seaweed soup.😅
