Hearty Napa Cabbage Soybean Paste Soup
Hearty Napa Cabbage Soybean Paste Soup
Rich and Savory Napa Cabbage Soup with Beef Bone Broth
As the weather turns colder, a warm bowl of soup is incredibly comforting. This recipe uses a rich beef bone broth as a base for a deeply flavorful Napa cabbage and soybean paste soup, perfect for a satisfying meal.
Ingredients- Napa cabbage leaves 150g
- Beef bone broth 10 ladles (approx. 1L)
- Vegetable broth 2.5 cups (broth made with anchovies, kelp, dried pollack, etc.)
- Soybean paste (Doenjang) 2 Tbsp
- Red pepper flakes (Gochugaru) 1 Tbsp
- Dried shiitake mushroom powder 1/2 Tbsp
- Salt to taste
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Rinse about 150g of Napa cabbage leaves thoroughly. If you have leftover leaves from making ‘geotjeori’ (fresh kimchi), they work perfectly. Cut the leaves into bite-sized pieces, about 3-4cm in length.
Step 2
Prepare 10 ladles of rich beef bone broth. You can use store-bought beef bone broth or homemade. It’s convenient to freeze pre-portioned amounts, typically 10 ladles per bag.
Step 3
In a pot, combine the 10 ladles of beef bone broth with 2.5 cups of vegetable broth. This vegetable broth can be made by simmering ingredients like onions, radish, anchovies, kelp, and dried pollack. Combining these broths creates a wonderfully complex and deep flavor base.
Step 4
Dissolve 2 tablespoons of soybean paste (Doenjang) into the mixed broth. While you can strain the soybean paste for a clearer soup, this recipe keeps it unstrained to maximize its savory depth and rich flavor.
Step 5
Once the broth comes to a rolling boil, add the prepared Napa cabbage leaves. Cook until the cabbage softens and becomes tender.
Step 6
Add 1 tablespoon of red pepper flakes (Gochugaru) to give the soup a beautiful color and a mild kick.
Step 7
Enhance the umami with 1/2 tablespoon of dried shiitake mushroom powder, a fantastic natural seasoning. If you have dried shrimp powder, adding a pinch will also add another layer of depth to the flavor.
Step 8
Taste the soup and season with salt if needed. Once the flavor is balanced, turn off the heat and serve immediately. This soup is wonderful as part of a hearty dinner.
Step 9
And there you have it! A wonderfully comforting and satisfying Napa Cabbage Soybean Paste Soup made with nourishing beef bone broth. It’s the perfect dish to warm you up from the inside out on a chilly day!
