Crafting a delectable, non-fishy homemade seaweed soup with minced meat

Seaweed soup with minced meat stands as one of the traditional dishes in Korean cuisine. Although the process is simple, overcoming the inherent fishy taste of seaweed is key. Join us in exploring the steps below!

Seaweed soup is the initial meal that Korean mothers indulge in after childbirth to nourish their bodies and enhance milk production. In remembrance of this early flavor, Koreans often consume seaweed soup on their birthdays, symbolizing respect and gratitude towards their mothers. While lacking vibrant colors, seaweed soup encapsulates profound meanings, representing wishes for peace and prosperity in life.

Flavorful and nutritious seaweed soup

How to prepare non-fishy seaweed and minced meat soup at home

Ingredients for making seaweed and minced meat soup

• Dried seaweed: 150g
• Korean rice wine: 50ml
• Korean soy sauce: 50ml 
• Beef: 100g 
• Garlic: 4 cloves 
• Seasonings: salt, cooking oil, black pepper, sesame oil, vinegar 
• Ginger: 1 sprig, spring onion.

Ingredients for seaweed soup

Note: Dried seaweed, Korean rice wine, and Korean soy sauce can be purchased at supermarkets to ensure their origin and quality. The steps to cook delicious seaweed and minced meat soup without a fishy taste

Step 1: Prepare the beef

• Clean the beef thoroughly, finely mince it. 
• Place the beef in a bowl + Korean soy sauce + black pepper + prepared Korean rice wine. Mix well. Marinate for 30 minutes for the meat to absorb the flavors.

Finely minced beef

Step 2: Prepare the seaweed

• Soak the dried seaweed in cold water for 20 minutes to soften it.
• Remove the seaweed and add 3 tablespoons of vinegar, squeezing it several times to eliminate any fishy smell.
• Once the seaweed is free of fishy odor, rinse it with water and drain.
• Cut the seaweed into small pieces for easy consumption.

Prepare the seaweed

Step 3: Stir-fry seaweed and meat

• Place the pan on the stove, pour cooking oil into the pan, wait for the oil to heat up and then add the beef, stirring it evenly.
• Cook the beef until it's medium rare, then add the seaweed and stir-fry together, simmering on low heat until the meat and seaweed are well-cooked and infused with flavorful spices.
• After about 5-7 more minutes of stir-frying, turn off the stove.

Stir-fry seaweed and beef

Step 4: Cook seaweed soup

• Pour 150ml of water into a pot, place it on the stove and bring it to a boil, then add the beef and previously stir-fried seaweed.
• Peel and clean the garlic, crush it, and finely chop it before adding it to the pot and stirring well.
• When the soup is boiling, season it with a pinch of salt to taste, add a few slices of ginger and sesame oil to eliminate the seaweed's fishy smell, then turn off the stove.
• Finally, add some chopped spring onions, approximately half the size of your fingertip, into the soup pot. There you have it, the minced beef seaweed soup is now complete.

Note: You can adjust the water quantity according to your taste preferences. However, avoid adding too much as it may dilute the rich flavor. Overcooking may result in tough and less appetizing seaweed.

The final dish after completion

After finishing cooking, ladle the soup into a bowl and enjoy it while it's still hot to preserve the freshness. When you eat, you'll experience the refreshing taste of seaweed and the delicious, rich flavor of minced beef.

Delicious and fragrant minced beef seaweed soup

Apart from beef, seaweed can be cooked with various other ingredients such as clams, dried shrimp, young tofu, baby ribs, pork, or fish... all equally enticing, exotic, and nutritionally complete.

Benefits of seaweed soup

With this delicious and nutritious seaweed soup, you can enjoy it in any season, especially during winter. A bowl of seaweed soup will instantly warm you up.

- Seaweed soup provides abundant nutrients like protein, vitamins, iron, and minerals, while being low in calories and fat, making it a healthy choice for those on a diet.

- Seaweed absorbs 90 types of minerals from seawater, with low salt content and high calcium, helping reduce blood pressure. It is a top priority food for those with hypertension.

- For mothers recovering after childbirth looking to quickly restore their health, consuming seaweed soup is recommended. This dish also promotes milk production, detoxifies the blood, limits postpartum hair loss, and is beneficial for the baby's brain development.

Here is a delightful recipe for delicious, non-fishy minced beef seaweed soup that PasGo – Booking & Deals wants to share with you. If you have a better recipe or method, feel free to share it in the comments below.

Additionally, you can explore more daily dishes and recipes on PasGo's Blog. Or visit Korean restaurants on PasGo to enjoy minced beef seaweed soup if you don't have time to cook at home.

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