Simple and Flavorful Korean Fish Cake Soup (Eomuk-tang)
Simple and Flavorful Korean Fish Cake Soup (Eomuk-tang)
How to Make Delicious Eomuk-tang (Fish Cake Soup) – The Easy Way!
Tonight, let’s warm up with a simple yet deeply flavorful Korean fish cake soup (Eomuk-tang). It’s perfect for a cozy dinner shared with your loved one. This recipe makes it easy to achieve a refreshingly savory broth that rivals restaurant quality, even for beginners.
Broth Ingredients- 1 pack (20g) dried anchovy and kelp broth sachet
- 2 disc-shaped soup stock boosters (85g)
- 1.3 liters water
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
To start making our delicious fish cake soup, prepare the broth ingredients: one sachet of dried anchovy and kelp broth, and two disc-shaped soup stock boosters. Also, prepare the larger vegetables. Slice the Korean radish (mu) into bite-sized pieces, about 5-7mm thick. Cut the green onion for the broth into roughly 5cm lengths; this will add a wonderful depth of flavor.
Step 2
Thinly slice the onion to add a pleasant sweetness and refreshing quality to the soup. Finely chop the remaining green onion for garnish and flavor. Measure out 1 tablespoon of minced garlic. These ingredients will meld together to create a rich taste.
Step 3
Prepare the Korean fish cakes (eomuk) by cutting them lengthwise in half, then slicing them into pieces about 1.2 to 1.5cm thick. This way of cutting ensures the fish cakes absorb the savory broth beautifully, making them even more delicious.
Step 4
Now, let’s make the foundation of our soup’s flavor. Pour 1.3 liters of fresh water into a pot and add the prepared broth sachet and the two disc-shaped soup stock boosters. Bring this to a boil over high heat on your stove. Once the water starts to boil, reduce the heat to medium-low and let it simmer for about 8 minutes. This allows the broth sachet and boosters to release their delicious essence. (Tip: For an even richer and deeper broth flavor, feel free to add a little more broth ingredients.)
Step 5
Precisely after 8 minutes, while the timer is still running, add the generously cut green onion pieces (for broth) and the sliced radish to the pot. Adding them at this stage allows them to cook to a perfect tenderness without becoming mushy, retaining a pleasant bite.
Step 6
After the 8 minutes are up and the broth has steeped, carefully remove and discard the broth sachet. This step helps keep the broth clear and prevents any bitterness from developing.
Step 7
With the broth sachet removed, adjust the heat to medium. Now it’s time to add all the prepared fish cakes to the pot. Adding the fish cakes will further enhance the soup’s savory profile.
Step 8
Immediately after adding the fish cakes, pour in 1.5 tablespoons of soup soy sauce (guk-ganjang). This type of soy sauce adds a unique umami depth and savory notes to the broth.
Step 9
Next, add 1.5 tablespoons of regular soy sauce (jin-ganjang). This combination of soy sauces provides a balanced flavor and a beautiful color to the soup. Gently stir everything with a ladle or spoon to ensure the seasonings are evenly distributed.
Step 10
Once the fish cake soup begins to gently simmer again, maintain the medium heat and set a timer for 5 minutes. This simmering period allows the fish cakes to soak up the delicious seasoning and deepens the overall flavor of the broth.
Step 11
When the 5-minute timer goes off, add the thinly sliced onions to the pot and stir them in. The onions will add a subtle sweetness and enhance the soup’s refreshing quality.
Step 12
Finally, add the 1 tablespoon of minced garlic and the finely chopped green onion. The pungent aroma of garlic and the fresh scent of green onion will elevate the soup’s overall fragrance and taste. Stir once more to combine all the ingredients.
Step 13
Now it’s time to taste and adjust! Take a sip of the broth. If it tastes a little bland, add a tiny pinch of salt to enhance the flavor. If you notice the broth has reduced significantly due to evaporation while cooking, you can add a little extra hot water to reach your desired consistency and re-adjust the seasoning if needed.
Step 14
Once all seasonings are perfect, let the soup simmer for another brief moment to allow all the flavors to meld beautifully. Once it comes back to a gentle boil, turn off the heat, and your delicious Korean fish cake soup is ready! Enjoy a warm piece of fish cake with its wonderfully savory broth.
