Hearty Tofu Pouch Hot Pot (Yubu Jeon-gol)
Hearty Tofu Pouch Hot Pot (Yubu Jeon-gol)
Beat the winter chill with this comforting and flavorful Tofu Pouch Hot Pot – a perfect dish for cozy days!
Today, we’re making Yubu Jumeoni Jeon-gol, a delightful hot pot featuring savory tofu pouches filled with a delicious mixture, swimming in a clear and refreshing broth. It’s a dish that’s as beautiful as it is tasty!
Ingredients for a Hearty Meal- 10 sheets of seasoned fried tofu (Yubu)
- 200g pork (ground or thinly sliced)
- 100g chives
- 20g glass noodles (Dangmyeon)
- 100g baby bok choy
- 1 large leek
- 300g bean sprouts
- 100g firm tofu
- 3 pieces of dried kelp (Dashima)
- 3 dried shiitake mushrooms
- 70g onion
- 150g Napa cabbage leaves
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp soup soy sauce (Guk-ganjang)
- Pinch of salt
- Pinch of black pepper
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Let’s start by preparing the flavorful broth. In a bowl, combine the 3 dried shiitake mushrooms and 3 pieces of dried kelp. Pour in 1,200ml (about 5 cups) of water and let it steep for about 30 minutes to extract their deep, umami essence.
Step 2
After steeping, transfer the water to a pot and simmer gently over medium-low heat for about 10 minutes. Once the broth is fragrant, carefully remove and discard the mushrooms and kelp. This clear, rich broth is the foundation of our delicious hot pot.
Step 3
Now, let’s prepare the fresh vegetables. Cut the firm tofu into 0.5cm thick slices. For the baby bok choy, trim the root ends and separate the leaves. Rinse them well.
Step 4
Cut the Napa cabbage leaves into bite-sized pieces, about 2-3cm wide. Slice the leek lengthwise and then cut it into 4-5cm sections. This will add a lovely mild sweetness to the hot pot.
Step 5
Thinly slice the onion into shreds. Finely chop the chives; these will be used both in the filling and for tying the tofu pouches.
Step 6
To prepare the tofu pouches and ties, blanch the chives and the tofu skin (Yubu) separately in boiling water for just a few seconds. Immediately rinse with cold water and gently squeeze out excess moisture. This keeps them pliable and vibrant.
Step 7
Boil the glass noodles for about 7 minutes until tender yet still slightly firm. Blanch the bean sprouts for a very short time, just about 2 minutes, to retain their crispness.
Step 8
After blanching and boiling, drain the bean sprouts and glass noodles very well. Squeeze out any excess water and then chop them into smaller pieces. This will make it easier to mix them into the filling.
Step 9
Take the blanched Yubu skin. Gently roll it with a rolling pin to flatten it slightly. Then, make a small cut along one edge to create an opening for filling, forming it into a pouch shape.
Step 10
Time to make the savory filling! In a dry pan over medium heat, cook the pork. Add 1 tablespoon of minced garlic, 1 teaspoon of salt, and a pinch of pepper. Stir-fry until the pork is fully cooked and fragrant.
Step 11
To the cooked pork, add the chopped chives, bean sprouts, and glass noodles. Drizzle in 1 tablespoon of sesame oil and mix everything thoroughly. This flavorful mixture will be our delicious tofu pouch filling.
Step 12
Now, let’s assemble the Yubu pouches! Carefully fill each Yubu pouch with a generous amount of the prepared filling. Use the blanched chives to tightly tie the opening of each pouch, creating neat, sealed parcels.
Step 13
Let’s assemble the hot pot! In a large pot or deep pan, arrange a layer of the blanched bean sprouts at the bottom. Then, artfully layer the baby bok choy, tofu slices, Napa cabbage, onion, and leek on top.
Step 14
Place the star of our dish, the prepared Yubu pouches, attractively on top of the vegetables. The pot is already looking beautifully abundant!
Step 15
Gently pour the prepared, clear broth over all the ingredients in the pot. Sprinkle the remaining 1 tablespoon of minced garlic evenly over the top for an extra burst of flavor.
Step 16
Finally, season the broth with 1 tablespoon of soup soy sauce and about 1 teaspoon of salt, adjusting to your taste. Cover the pot and simmer for 3-5 minutes, or until all the ingredients are heated through and the flavors have melded. Your delicious Yubu Jeon-gol is ready to be enjoyed!
