Refreshing and Spicy Bean Sprout Soup (Kongnamul Gukbap)
Refreshing and Spicy Bean Sprout Soup (Kongnamul Gukbap)
The Ultimate Hangover Cure! Making Refreshing and Spicy Bean Sprout Soup
The secret to its refreshing taste? Radish! Here’s a recipe for bean sprout soup where the cool flavors of radish deeply infuse the broth.
Basic Ingredients- Fresh bean sprouts: 150-200g
- Refreshing broth: 1L (anchovy-kelp broth or rice water)
- Radish: about 1/4 medium (approx. 150g)
- Green onion: 1 stalk
- Red chili pepper: 1
- Green chili pepper: 1
- Salted shrimp (Saeu-jeot): 1 Tbsp
- Soup soy sauce (Guk-ganjang): 1 Tbsp
- Pepper: a pinch (to taste)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Start by preparing the broth, which is the foundation of delicious bean sprout soup. Using anchovy and kelp, or even rice water, will yield a cleaner and more refreshing taste.
Step 2
Rinse the bean sprouts thoroughly under running water a couple of times. (If making for a hangover, you can leave the tails on to enhance the natural refreshing flavor of the sprouts.)
Step 3
Slice the radish into thin strips, ensuring they are not too thick, to complement the bean sprout soup. Slice the red and green chili peppers diagonally for color and a hint of spice.
Step 4
Once the broth is boiling, add the sliced radish first. Bring it to a rolling boil and let it cook to allow the radish’s refreshing essence to fully infuse the broth.
Step 5
When the radish has cooked and the broth comes to a refreshing boil again, add 1 Tbsp of salted shrimp (saeu-jeot) to season. Using salted shrimp adds a deeper flavor to the broth.
Step 6
Now, add the rinsed bean sprouts to the broth.
Step 7
For a clean taste, add 1 Tbsp of soup soy sauce (guk-ganjang) for seasoning. (Adjust the overall seasoning with both salted shrimp and soup soy sauce.)
Step 8
Finally, add a pinch of pepper. The slight peppery aroma will further enhance the soup’s overall flavor. (Adjust the amount of pepper according to your preference.)
Step 9
Bean sprouts cook quickly and can become mushy if overcooked, so don’t boil them for too long. Add the prepared green onions, red chili peppers, and green chili peppers, and simmer briefly to finish. This creates a refreshing and spicy bean sprout soup. Serve with rice for a hearty and satisfying meal.
