Korean Beef Seaweed Soup, known as Miyeok-guk, is more than just a meal in Korea. It is a symbolic dish served on birthdays to honor mothers and is the first meal a woman eats after giving birth due to its high nutritional value.
While many people use expensive cuts like brisket, today I will share a professional secret: how to make a deep, restaurant-quality broth using a budget-friendly cut called Chuck Eye Roll. By following these three golden rules, you can create a bowl of comfort that tastes like it has been simmering for an eternity.
Ingredients: Dry Seaweed (Miyeok) Beef (Chuck Eye Roll, sliced) Soy Sauce for Soup (Guk-ganjang) Beef Stock Coin (or clear beef broth) Salt Water
Step-by-Step Instructions:
1. Prepare the Seaweed Soak the dried seaweed in water. You don’t need to soak it for a long time because it will continue to expand while boiling. Once it’s softened, rinse it thoroughly and drain.
2. Sear the Beef Preheat your pot and sear the Chuck Eye Roll. This cut, which is a mix of chuck and ribeye, provides an excellent balance of fat and lean meat, making the broth incredibly savory.
3. The Secret: Sautéing (Crucial Step!) Once the beef is cooked, add the rinsed seaweed and one tablespoon of soy sauce. Sauté them together thoroughly. Sautéing before adding water is the secret to getting that famously tender and silky texture of authentic Korean seaweed soup.
4. Simmer for Depth Add water and a beef stock coin. Bring it to a vigorous boil. The magic of Miyeok-guk lies in time; the longer you simmer it, the deeper and more complex the flavor becomes.
5. The Final Touch: Seasoning Wait until the very end to do the final seasoning. As the soup reduces, it becomes naturally saltier. Taste your soup at the end and add a pinch of salt if necessary to achieve the perfect balance.
3 Pro-Tips for the Best Miyeok-guk: Sauté the beef and seaweed together before adding any liquid. Allow the soup to simmer on low heat for an extended period. Always adjust the saltiness at the final stage of cooking.
Enjoy the full cooking process in the video below!