Spicy Bean Sprout Soup (Kongnamul Guk)
A recipe for a spicy and refreshing kongnamul guk (콩나물국), perfect as a hangover remedy.
📝 Editor's Notes
This Hwangtae (황태) broth recipe is the fundamental base responsible for the deep flavors of various Korean dishes, including spicy and refreshing kongnamul guk (콩나물국).
The savory and cool umami flavor from the dried pollock heads is exquisite, and since it only requires boiling ingredients without complex techniques, it's an 'easy' level that even beginners can try.
It's especially perfect as a hangover soup or on chilly days when you crave warm soup, and it will elevate the flavor of any soup dish, such as kimchi jjigae (김치찌개) or doenjang jjigae (된장찌개).
It will be the start of hearty soup dishes that the whole family will love.
🛒 Ingredient Tips
When selecting Hwangtae (황태) heads, which are crucial for the broth's flavor, it's important to choose clean and well-dried ones.
Avoid those that are too yellowish or moldy, and ensure there's no fishy smell.
Good Hwangtae (황태) heads provide a savory and deep flavor.
For onions, choose firm ones with shiny skin and a noticeable weight, indicating freshness.
Select smooth ones without sprouts or soft spots.
For green onions, choose those with vibrant green leaves and firm white stalks that aren't wilted, as they will add a fresh aroma to the broth.
For dried kelp (dashima / 다시마), good quality ones are thick, distinctly black, and have a natural white powdery coating.
🔄 Substitution Guide
If Hwangtae (황태) heads are unavailable, you can use dried shredded pollock (bukeo-chae / 북어채), dried anchovies for broth, or dried shrimp.
Bukeo-chae (북어채) offers a similar savory and refreshing taste to Hwangtae (황태) heads, though the broth's depth might be slightly lighter.
Dried anchovies and dried shrimp are typical Korean broth ingredients, providing a different savory umami flavor than Hwangtae (황태).
In this case, remove the guts from the anchovies and shrimp, then lightly stir-fry them in a dry pan to remove any fishy odor before use, which will result in a cleaner broth.
Dried kelp (dashima / 다시마) is an important ingredient for adding umami to the broth, but if it's hard to find, you can use mushrooms like shiitake or king oyster mushrooms, which have a mild flavor, to supplement the subtle umami.
However, please remember that the taste may differ slightly from the unique refreshing and clean taste of dashima (다시마).
🥘 Ingredients
👨🍳 Cooking Points
The key to this broth lies in 'time' and the 'timing of adding dashima (다시마)'.
The first point is to sufficiently boil the Hwangtae (황태) heads, onion, and green onions over high heat for 1 hour to extract a deep flavor.
If the heat is too low, the flavors of the ingredients won't properly develop, so make sure it's boiling vigorously.
The second point is when to add the dashima (다시마).
If you boil it with other ingredients from the beginning, a bitter taste might develop.
Therefore, it's crucial to steep it in the hot broth for only about 30 minutes after turning off the heat, just to extract its umami.
This small difference determines the broth's cleanliness and depth.
Finally, when straining the broth, don't forget to be careful not to mix in any sand or impurities settled at the bottom.
👨🍳 Directions
Pour the Hwangtae (황태) broth into a pot and mix with 2 cups (500 ml) of purified water to prepare the soup base.
Add all of the bean sprouts (a standard bag, approx. 8 oz / 225g) to the prepared broth.
Season the broth with 1 tbsp of coarse salt and 1 tbsp of soup soy sauce (guk-ganjang / 국간장).
Close the lid and bring to a rolling boil over high heat for 10 minutes.
After 10 minutes, add 1 tbsp of Korean chili powder (gochugaru / 고춧가루) and 2 dashes of MSG (Miwon / 미원).
Add 1 tsp of minced garlic and mix well.
Taste and adjust seasoning with an additional 1 tsp of salt, or to your preference.
Turn off the heat and add the chopped green onions. Your Spicy Bean Sprout Soup is now complete.
💡 Tips
If you add gochugaru (고춧가루) from the start, its aroma and color might fade. It's best to add it after boiling the bean sprouts for 10 minutes.
Season the kongnamul guk (콩나물국) primarily with sea salt and guk-ganjang (국간장). If needed, you can supplement the seasoning with tuna sauce (chamchi-aekjeot / 참치액젓), MSG (Miwon / 미원), or clam-flavored seasoning (jogae dasida / 조개 다시다).
Add the chopped green onions after turning off the heat to preserve their aroma and crisp texture.
📦 Storage & Reuse
Once prepared, cool the Hwangtae (황태) broth and store it in an airtight container or zipper bag in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
If you wish to store it longer, portion it into single-use amounts and freeze.
Freezing it in an ice cube tray is convenient for taking out cubes as needed, and it's very useful when you don't have time to make broth from scratch.
It can be stored frozen for up to 1-2 months.
When reheating the broth, it's best to simmer it gently over medium-low heat rather than strong heat.
Leftover broth can also be used as a base for stir-fries or braised dishes to enhance their flavor.
🥢 Who This Is For
This Hwangtae (황태) broth has a refreshing and clean taste that the whole family can enjoy.
It's especially excellent as a hangover soup when you feel unwell after a night of heavy drinking.
It's also a great choice on chilly days when you crave a warm soup, or when preparing a hearty meal without many side dishes.
Beyond kongnamul guk (콩나물국), kimchi jjigae (김치찌개), or doenjang jjigae (된장찌개), it adds a deep flavor to mild dishes like steamed egg (gyeran-jjim / 계란찜) or braised tofu (dubu-jorim / 두부조림).
We highly recommend it to homemakers as preparing a generous batch in advance allows you to quickly make delicious meals even during busy days.
🔥 Nutrition Info
As this Hwangtae (황태) broth is essentially water infused with ingredients, the estimated calorie count for a single serving (approx.
10 oz / 300ml) is very low, around 10-20 kcal.
Protein content is minimal, approximately 1g, derived from the Hwangtae (황태) heads, and there is almost no fat or carbohydrates.
However, low calories don't mean a lack of nutrients.
Hwangtae (황태) is rich in protein and essential amino acids like methionine and lysine, which can aid in fatigue recovery and liver health.
Additionally, iodine and minerals extracted from dashima (다시마) promote metabolism, and the antioxidant compounds from onions and green onions infuse into the broth, adding a healthy umami flavor.
This nutritious broth can be enjoyed without burden by those on a diet or pursuing a healthy eating plan.
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