Easy Tuna and Seaweed Soup
Easy Tuna and Seaweed Soup
How to Make a Comforting Tuna and Seaweed Soup
As the weather turns colder, I find myself craving warm, comforting soups that heat me up from the inside. Among them, there’s nothing quite like a bowl of hearty seaweed soup with rice, topped with a side of kimchi. It’s pure happiness! Today, I’m sharing a super simple recipe for a delicious and satisfying Tuna and Seaweed Soup using just a few ingredients. The broth is clean yet deeply flavorful, making it so comforting you’ll want to finish every last drop.
Ingredients- 10g dried seaweed (cut type)
- 1.5L water
- 1 can (approx. 150g) tuna in oil or brine
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce for soup (Guk-ganjang)
- 1 Tbsp tuna extract (optional, for enhanced umami)
- 1/2 tsp salt (or to taste)
- 2 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, soak the dried seaweed in cold water for about 10 minutes until fully rehydrated. The soaking time can vary slightly depending on the type of seaweed. Cut seaweed typically takes 5-10 minutes, while whole, fresh seaweed may require longer. If you’re using cut seaweed, you can proceed directly. If using whole seaweed, it’s helpful to cut it into bite-sized pieces after soaking.
Step 2
Once rehydrated, drain the seaweed thoroughly in a colander. Squeeze out any excess water by hand. Removing excess moisture will help create a cleaner tasting broth.
Step 3
Now, let’s start making the Tuna and Seaweed Soup! Begin by adding 2 tablespoons of sesame oil to a pot over medium heat.
Step 4
Next, add 1 tablespoon of minced garlic and sauté it until fragrant. The aroma of sesame oil and garlic forms the delicious base for our seaweed soup.
Step 5
Add the squeezed seaweed to the pot and stir-fry it with the sesame oil and garlic. Sautéing the seaweed beforehand helps to infuse its flavor more deeply into the broth and also tenderizes it.
Step 6
Continue to stir-fry the seaweed over medium heat for about 2 minutes. As the seaweed absorbs the fragrant sesame oil and garlic, it develops a richer, nuttier flavor.
Step 7
After 2 minutes of stir-frying, increase the heat to high and pour in 1 liter of water. A common issue when making seaweed soup is having too little water relative to the seaweed, which can make the broth taste too concentrated rather than clean. Don’t worry too much; think of adding about twice the volume of water as rehydrated seaweed and simmering it well. A longer simmer is key to delicious seaweed soup, so feel free to add ample water.
Step 8
Now, add 1 tablespoon of soy sauce for soup (Guk-ganjang). Adding it at this stage helps to deepen the umami flavor and give the soup a nice color.
Step 9
Next, add 1 tablespoon of tuna extract. Tuna extract significantly boosts the umami flavor of the soup. If you don’t have it, you can omit it, but it truly elevates the taste. It’s a fantastic addition if available!
Step 10
Finally, add 1/2 teaspoon of salt to season. You can adjust the amount of salt according to your personal preference.
Step 11
Now, bring the soup to a rolling boil over high heat with the lid off. Wait until you see vigorous bubbles before proceeding to the next step.
Step 12
Once the soup is boiling, add the entire can of tuna, including the oil. The oil from the tuna can adds a wonderful richness and depth of flavor to the broth. If you prefer less oil, you can drain some of it off before adding.
Step 13
After adding the tuna, cover the pot with a lid and let it simmer over high heat for about 10 minutes. This allows the tuna flavor to infuse thoroughly into the soup.
Step 14
After 10 minutes, remove the lid and add an additional 500ml of water. Adding water after the initial boil helps to maintain a balanced flavor profile while still allowing for deep flavor development.
Step 15
Once the soup returns to a boil, reduce the heat to medium, cover the pot, and let it simmer gently for about 40 minutes. The longer seaweed soup simmers, the more the flavors meld and deepen, resulting in a more delicious soup. This slow simmer is the secret to this fantastic Tuna and Seaweed Soup.
Step 16
After 40 minutes, taste the soup and adjust the seasoning if necessary. If it needs a little more flavor, add just a tiny bit more salt to suit your taste.
Step 17
Your delicious and hearty Tuna and Seaweed Soup is ready! Enjoy it with a warm bowl of rice.
