Clear and Refreshing Cod Soup (Maeun Daegu Tang)
Clear and Refreshing Cod Soup (Maeun Daegu Tang)
How to make clear cod soup with fresh cod
Let’s make clear cod soup with fresh cod! The incredibly refreshing broth is a masterpiece!!
Ingredients- 3 small fresh cod (about 300-400g each)
- 200g bean sprouts
- 50g Korean radish (thinly sliced)
- 1 stalk green onion (sliced diagonally)
- 2 Korean green chilies (sliced diagonally)
- 1 red chili pepper (sliced diagonally)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 portion of concentrated anchovy broth cube (or anchovy-kelp stock)
Seasoning- 1 ladleful (approx. 2-3 Tbsp) of fish sauce (or soy sauce for soup)
- Vinegar, to taste
- Wasabi, to taste
- 1 Tbsp cooking wine or soju (to remove fishiness)
- 1 ladleful (approx. 2-3 Tbsp) of fish sauce (or soy sauce for soup)
- Vinegar, to taste
- Wasabi, to taste
- 1 Tbsp cooking wine or soju (to remove fishiness)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
In a deep pot, add the cleaned bean sprouts and thinly sliced Korean radish. Add the concentrated broth cube (or your preferred stock) and pour in enough water to cover the sprouts and radish. Cover the pot with a lid and bring to a boil over high heat.
Step 2
Once the water begins to boil, dissolve 1/3 Tbsp of doenjang (fermented soybean paste) into the broth. This adds a deeper, savory flavor and helps to neutralize any potential gaminess from the bean sprouts.
Step 3
Prepare the 3 fresh cod. Clean them by removing the innards and fins, then wash thoroughly under running water. To help eliminate any fishy odor, you can rub the cleaned cod with 1 Tbsp of cooking wine or soju and let it sit for about 5 minutes. (This step is optional but recommended if you are sensitive to fishy smells.)
Step 4
When the broth is vigorously boiling and the bean sprouts are cooked through and no longer have a raw smell, remove the lid. Briefly rinse the marinated cod under running water to remove excess liquid, then cut it into bite-sized pieces and add it to the pot. Keep the lid off while cooking. Skim off any foam or impurities that rise to the surface with a spoon to ensure a clear and refreshing broth. Cook until the cod flesh turns opaque white.
Step 5
Season the soup. Add 1 ladleful of fish sauce (or soy sauce for soup, fermented shrimp paste broth, salt, or tuna extract, depending on your preference) to taste. Adjust the saltiness according to your personal preference. If you desire a spicier kick, you can add a pinch of red pepper flakes at this stage.
Step 6
Add a generous amount of diagonally sliced green onions and 1 Tbsp of minced garlic. The refreshing taste of the green onions combined with the aroma of garlic will enhance the overall flavor of the cod soup.
Step 7
Finally, add the diagonally sliced red chili pepper and Korean green chilies, and simmer for another moment to finish. The chilies add a nice spicy and refreshing note, making the soup even more delicious. If you have fresh water parsley (minari) on hand, adding it now will provide a fragrant herbal note. Serve the hot, clear cod soup immediately. For an extra touch of flavor, you can add a little vinegar or wasabi to your bowl.
