Kimchi Soup

A typical Korean kimchi soup, often known as Korean jjigae, is served in a traditional hot pot called ttukbaegi. The pot can hold the jjigae (soup) hot for a longer period of time and keeps it warm till you're done. Kimchi is a staple food among Koreans, where the ingredients consists of napa cabbage, cucumber, carrots, and tons of mixed pickled vegetables in salt and garlic. The flavor is usually strong and can be overwhelming at times. But with time, I can guarantee you would start to love having this delectable soup. The soup is easy to make and tastes absolutely delicious with its spicy flavors. When the weather is cold or you feel like eating something hot, make the soup in a jiffy.

Different Recipes you Can Make

Although, the traditional recipe is prepared with pork or seafood, the following recipes also include a vegetarian delight. Take a look at how to make this soup with different kinds of ingredients.

Kimchi-Tofu Soup

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon kochujang (Korean chili pepper paste)
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• ½ cup short grain white rice
• 1 ½ cups kimchi, chopped
• 3 tablespoons sesame oil
• 6 scallions, chopped
• 6 cups water or vegetable stock
• 8 oz tofu, chopped into ½ inch pieces
• Couple handfuls of spinach
• Black pepper

Procedure

In a pot, pour sesame oil (2 tablespoons) and scallions. Cook for a minute and add in the kimchi, chopped tofu, and kochujang. Stir the ingredients for about 30 seconds. Now add 6 cups of water or vegetable stock along with vinegar and soy sauce. Bring the ingredients to a boil and reduce to simmer. Add the short grain white rice in and cook for at least 15-20 minutes, or till the rice is tender. Once the rice has been in the pot for approximately 10 minutes, add the spinach. In the end, add the sesame oil and ground black pepper. Kimchi-Tofu soup calories - 186

Kimchi-Pork Soup

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 2 teaspoons of kochujang (Korean chili pepper paste)
• 2 teaspoons of kochukaru (Korean chili pepper powder)
• 2 carrots, chopped
• 2 green onions, sliced diagonally
• 3 cups of water
• 4 tablespoons of kimchi
• ¼ slab of tofu, cubed
• ½ Chinese cabbage
• ½ onion, sliced
• ¼ lb of pork, sliced or cubed
• Soy sauce, for taste

Procedure

Place the sliced pork pieces in boiling water, so that it removes all the impurities. As the surface turns white, remove the pork from the water and get rid of the water. In the same pot, add the 3 cups of water, and bring it to boil. Add all the vegetables excluding the green onions and kimchi. Boil the vegetables for few minutes and simmer the mixture for about half an hour. Then add the chili pepper paste, kochukarau, sliced green onions, cubes of tofu, and minced garlic. Again simmer the mixture for about 20 minutes and add soy sauce in the end according to your preference. Serve the soup hot with boiled rice on the side. Kimchi-Pork soup calories - 289

Kimchi-Seafood Soup

Ingredients

• 2 mushrooms, sliced
• 3 clams
• 6 dry anchovies
• 3 garlic, minced
• 2 dry kelps
• 1 pack tofu
• 1 cup water
• 1 tablespoon red pepper oil
• ½ tablespoon sesame oil
• ½ tablespoon shrimp sauce, salted
• ½ scallion, sliced
• ¼ cup onion, chopped
• ¼ cup kimchi, chopped
• ¼ jalapeno, sliced
• 1 egg, raw

Procedure

In a pan, add water, anchovies, and kelp, and bring it to a boil. In a ttukbaegi, pour red pepper oil, onion, garlic, and chili powder. Stir the onions and add sesame oil, chopped kimchi, and clams in. Make sure you keep stirring continuously. Bring the anchovies and kelp mix into the ttukbaegi and add tofu to the mixture. Now add the rest of the vegetables in and slices of chili (depending on how spicy you want the soup to be). Season the soup with shrimp sauce and boil it. Once this is thick enough to your liking, remove from the stove. Crack the raw egg directly on top of the soup. Bury the egg underneath the tofu so it can cook slowly till you reach it. Kimchi-Seafood soup calories - 450

These soup recipes are sure to bring variety to your dinner table. Call your friends and family to enjoy the spice of Korea, your fabulous and yummy kimchi soup!