Crazy Korean Cooking

Miyeokguk, Korean Seaweed Soup
미역국

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healthy
soup
prep time: 
10 min
inactive time: 
30 min
cooking time: 
30 min
total time: 
70 min

Koreans eat miyeokguk on birthdays as well as for regular meals. Miyeokguk is also the #1 postpartum food in Korea because of its amazing health benefits. Miyeokguk is also very soothing for your stomach.

Miyeok is considered to be one of the super foods even in North America even though it's not in the normal American diet. It is a great source of calcium, iodine, fibre, omega acids, vitamin B1 & B3, while low in calorie. People believe that its health benefits are infinite: metabolism regulation, blood purification, constipation relief, detoxification, anti-carcinogen, anti-aging etc. For this reason, Korean women eat Miyeokguk (seaweed soup) after giving birth. They say this tradition started in the Goryeo Dynasty when people observed whales eating miyeok after giving birth (believe it or not).

Koreans eat miyeokguk on birthdays to remember mothers' hard work in giving birth and raising their children.

In southern parts of Korea, people make miyeokguk with seafoods like oyster, clam, sea urchin, rock fish, abalone, etc instead of beef. You can also use chicken if you don't eat red meat.

You can buy Miyeokguk ingredient online here.

Koreans eat miyeokguk on birthdays as well as for regular meals. Miyeokguk is also the #1 postpartum food in Korea because of its amazing health benefits. Miyeokguk is also very soothing for your stomach.

Miyeok is considered to be one of the super foods even in North America even though it's not in the normal American diet. It is a great source of calcium, iodine, fibre, omega acids, vitamin B1 & B3, while low in calorie. People believe that its health benefits are infinite: metabolism regulation, blood purification, constipation relief, detoxification, anti-carcinogen, anti-aging etc. For this reason, Korean women eat Miyeokguk (seaweed soup) after giving birth. They say this tradition started in the Goryeo Dynasty when people observed whales eating miyeok after giving birth (believe it or not).

Koreans eat miyeokguk on birthdays to remember mothers' hard work in giving birth and raising their children.

In southern parts of Korea, people make miyeokguk with seafoods like oyster, clam, sea urchin, rock fish, abalone, etc instead of beef. You can also use chicken if you don't eat red meat.

You can buy Miyeokguk ingredient online here.

INGREDIENTS

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Change serving size to: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Change to: Metric US
1 ozSea Mustard (Miyeok or Brown Seaweed) 미역 (dried)Buy
9 ozBeef (cubed for stew) 국거리소고기 Buy
1 tspSalt 소금 (may need less or more)Buy
1 tbsSoy Sauce for Soup (Gukganjang) 국간장 Buy
1 tspGarlic (minced) 다진 마늘 Buy
2 tspSesame Oil 참기름 Buy

for rice-rinsed water (optional)

9 cupsWater 물 Buy
2 cups  Rice, white short grain 쌀 Buy
           
tips: 

Optional Ingredients and Substitutions
Dried miyeok: Depending on how dry the miyeok is, the amount of dried miyeok needed may vary. For dried "pre-cut" miyeok, you may need less because it increases more in volume than regular dried miyeok when soaked. After soaking for 30 minutes, it should be about 2 cups for 4 servings. However, you can add more miyeok if you love it.
Soy Sauce for Soup (Gook Gan Jan): You can use regular soy sauce or just salt.
Rice-rinsed-water: If you don't want to use rice-rinsed water, use regular water. Then, you can mix 1 tsp of four with ¼ cup of cold water until there is no lump. Add this to the soup in the last 5 min while stirring.
Beef: Instead of beef you can use chicken or seafoods like mussel, clam, oyster, clam, sea urchin, rock fish, and abalone. If you are using seafood, make broth with anchovies and rice-rinsed-water. Sauté miyeok in sesame oil then add this broth, salt and soy sauce and boil for a while. Then, add seafood in the last 5 minutes.

More questions? Please leave your questions below in the comment section. We will do our best to answer as soon as we can.

instructions
photos
summary
Ingredient amounts in the recipe instructions are for the default serving size.
Click to enlarge photos.
Ingredient amounts in the recipe summary are for the default serving size.

1. Soak dried miyeok

Soak 10 to 20g of dried miyeok in water for at least 30 min. More than an hour is ideal. Depending on how dry the miyeok is, the amount of dried miyeok needed may vary. For dried “pre-cut” miyeok, you may need less because it increases more in volume than regular dried miyeok when soaked. In general, you need about a handful of dried seaweed or 2 cups after soaking for 4 servings. However, you can add more miyeok if you love it.

 SMYBAA01.JPG
1

Soak image: clock.png 30 min

  • 10-20g miyeok

2. Rinse and drain

Rinse miyeok thoroughly twice and drain. Cut into about 5 inches length. (You can cut into whatever length you prefer.)

 SMYBAA02.JPG
2

Rinse miyeok twice

Drain

Cut

3. Prepare rice-rinsed-water

In a large bowl, wash 2 cups of rice and drain. Pour more than 9 cups of water and rub rice grains to get milky colored water. Save this milky water for the soup base. You can use the rice to make rice. If you don’t want to use rice-rinsed water, use regular water. Then, you can mix 1 tsp of flour (or sweet rice flour) with ¼ cup of cold water until there is no lump. Add this to the soup in the last 5 min while stirring.

 SMYBAA03.JPG
3

Wash 2 cups rice

Drain

Add 9+ cups water

Rub grains

Save milky water

4. Sauté beef and miyeok

Cut beef into bite sized pieces if it’s not pre-cut. In a large pot, sauté beef in 1 tbs of sesame oil while stirring on high heat for 3 min. Add miyeok and sauté for another 5 min. Add a bit more sesame oil if it starts to stick to the bottom.

 SMYBAA04.JPG
4

Sauté beef in 1 tbs of sesame oil

High Heat image: highheat.png image: clock.png 3 min

Add miyeok

Sauté High Heat image: highheat.png image: clock.png 5 min

5. Boil

Add 9 cups of rice-rinsed-water, 1 tsp of minced garlic, ½ tsp of salt and 1 tablespoon of soy sauce for soup to the pot with beef and miyeok. Boil without lid on high heat for about 30 minutes. Skim off any foam or oil on top.

 SMYBAA05.JPG
5

Add

  • 9 cups water
  • 1 tsp minced garlic
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 tbs soy sauce for soup

Boil without lid

High Heat image: highheat.png image: clock.png 30 min

6. Season and serve

Taste to season. If it’s not salty enough, add salt gradually so you don’t make it too salty. If it seems too salty, add a little bit of water and bring it to boil again. Serve with rice, kimchi and other side dishes if you like.

 SMYBAA06.JPG
6

Taste to season

Serve

Comments

boobear27's picture
boobear27 replied on Wed, 05/14/2014 - 19:37 Permalink
What kind of beef can I buy at the supermarket for the soup?
Grace's picture
Grace replied on Wed, 05/14/2014 - 21:45 Permalink
You can use cubed beef for stew. Flank or shank works too. But, if you could afford it, use more tender cut for moist and tender texture.
mclardass's picture
mclardass replied on Sun, 09/07/2014 - 23:03 Permalink
Wanted to send my thanks for a great, authentic miyeokguk recipe. I have been making this traditional soup every year for my wife but have never nailed the steps or ingredients. The first year I used kombu seaweed instead of miyeok which is an embarrassing story she still shares. In later years I would make it with too much beef flavor or I'd add dashida to compensate for a light flavor. This morning (for her birthday) I followed your recipe exactly as described and she and our son each finished two large bowls. She said it was perfect, just like her mom used to make, and it did taste exactly like the miyeok she has made me in the past. I'm a decent cook but Korean cuisine has always been a challenge for me. I think with the aid of your site I will be an expert in no time (but do I tell my wife the source of my new found skills?). Thanks so much, keep up the great work!
Grace's picture
Grace replied on Mon, 09/08/2014 - 10:13 Permalink
Wow, you are such an amazing husband! We are so happy to be a help in anyway in your Korean cooking journey. Thank you so much for your message. We are encouraged to continue our work. Don't hesitate to contact us if you have any question. Happy cooking!
mhalyn0818's picture
mhalyn0818 replied on Mon, 10/06/2014 - 00:59 Permalink
Hi, can I use the dried seaweed used for wrapping gimbap? Thanks
Grace's picture
Grace replied on Mon, 10/06/2014 - 10:02 Permalink

Hi mhalyn0818, No, seaweed for gimbap is different type than seaweed used in this. The seaweed used in this soup is called "miyeok" in Korean and sea mustard in english. You can read about myyeok here: http://crazykoreancooking.com/ingredient/miyeok-sea-mustard And you can buy it online here: http://crazykoreanshopping.com/products/dried-seaweed-sea-mustard-pre-cu...

guamababie's picture
guamababie replied on Thu, 11/06/2014 - 19:39 Permalink
Used this recipe to make miyeokguk for my hubby's birthday earlier this week. Instead of beef, I used organic soft tofu, and it still turned out pretty good. Thank you for your step-by-step recipes and videos that make the creation of any Korean dish seem possible from a humble American home by a not-too-experienced cook. Bravo!
Grace's picture
Grace replied on Fri, 11/07/2014 - 13:39 Permalink
So glad it works out well! Your hubby's so lucky. Thanks for your kind words!
VIPLike2Party's picture
VIPLike2Party replied on Mon, 08/03/2015 - 19:09 Permalink
Hi I've wanted to make this for awhile but seeing everyone eat it on return of superman show makes me want it more but there's one problem I'm newly a vegetarian and I was thinking of things I could use to substitute the beef I'm a cook so of course I know alternatives but I still want a somewhat authentic Korean flavor. As a cook my mind goes to substitution with clam juice or oyster but maybe there's something better. Lol nevermind I watched the video just now so I got the answer thank you for the recipe!
Grace's picture
Grace replied on Mon, 08/03/2015 - 23:45 Permalink
Hello VIPLike2Party, Yes, you can use seafood but I am not sure if you want to use clam JUICE. Instead of beef you can use seafoods like mussel, clam, oyster, clam, sea urchin, rock fish, and abalone. If you are using seafood, make broth with anchovies and rice-rinsed-water. Sauté miyeok in sesame oil then add this broth, salt and soy sauce and boil for a while. Then, add seafood in the last 5 minutes. Happy cooking!
vermontpatti's picture
vermontpatti replied on Fri, 09/04/2015 - 16:40 Permalink
Hi! My daughter-in-law and grand child are visiting us in the U.S. in 3 weeks. I would like to make seaweed soup for them for breakfast (I have all the ingredients thanks to your great recipe). Question, because it takes some time to make, can I make it the night before and reheat? Is that proper? Thank you very much! Love your videos. Kindly, Patti P.
Grace's picture
Grace replied on Sat, 09/05/2015 - 17:41 Permalink
You are a great daughter in law! Yes absolutely. You can make it the day before. But, keep it in the fridge once it's cooled. Otherwise it will go bad. Then just boil again before eating. Happy cooking!
vlcpaleo's picture
vlcpaleo replied on Sun, 01/10/2016 - 18:42 Permalink
This was really delicious. I used sirloin steak which was on sale. It had quite a bit more miyeok than the Korean Miyeok soup we have been accustomed to eating at any Korean restaurant we have visited. I will be making this again.
Grace's picture
Grace replied on Mon, 01/25/2016 - 18:46 Permalink
Great to hear it was good! Yes you can adjust the amount of miyeok to your liking. Hope you enjoy it again! Happy cooking!
ethan k's picture
ethan k replied on Mon, 01/25/2016 - 16:59 Permalink
can you use Japanese kombu as a replacement for miyeok? thanks!
Grace's picture
Grace replied on Mon, 01/25/2016 - 18:44 Permalink
Hi Ethan, Japanese Kombu is quite different from miyeok in texture and taste. Miyeok is much softer and thinner. Kombu is Dashima in Korean and we use it for various broth but not in miyeokguk. You can try it and it maybe good but it definitely wouldn't be the same. Happy cooking!
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