Rich and Deep Flavor! Beef Seaweed Soup Golden Recipe
How to Make Delicious Beef Seaweed Soup: Ingredients for a Hearty Meal
A quintessential celebratory dish, beef seaweed soup! But it doesn’t have to be a special occasion to enjoy this comforting and flavorful soup. While tender cuts like sirloin or tenderloin are excellent, using beef for stew, such as chuck or round, and simmering it for a long time will yield a rich, deep, and satisfying broth. This soup is packed with nutrients: iodine, crucial for children’s growth and development, and calcium, a primary component of bones, from the seaweed, combined with protein and iron from the beef. It’s truly a powerhouse main dish. Even children who are typically picky eaters will finish a bowl of this delicious beef seaweed soup in no time! Let’s make a hearty bowl that will warm your heart and stomach.
Ingredients- 30g dried seaweed (expands significantly when rehydrated, enough for 4 servings)
- 300g beef for stew
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 2 Tbsp perilla oil (or sesame oil)
- 1.5L rice water (or plain water)
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce for soup
- 2 Tbsp fish sauce (for added umami)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
The beef for stew is likely pre-cut into bite-sized pieces. You don’t need to cut it further, but before cooking, gently pat the beef with paper towels to absorb any excess blood. This step helps remove any gamey odors, resulting in a cleaner-tasting soup.
Step 2
Soak the dried seaweed in lukewarm water for about 30 minutes until fully rehydrated. Seaweed expands considerably, so 30g of dried seaweed will yield a generous portion, enough for about four people. Once rehydrated, rinse the seaweed thoroughly in cold running water two to three times to remove any sand or debris. Nowadays, pre-cut and pre-washed seaweed are readily available, making preparation even easier. Adjust your soaking and rinsing time based on the type of seaweed you are using.
Step 3
Now, let’s begin sautéing. Heat a pot or pan over medium-low heat and add 2 tablespoons of perilla oil. Add the beef and stir-fry until lightly browned. Perilla oil, like sesame oil, has a low smoke point, so cooking over medium-low heat prevents it from burning and preserves its nutty aroma.
Step 4
Add 1 tablespoon of minced garlic along with the perilla oil and continue to stir-fry. The garlic will help neutralize any remaining gamey flavors in the beef.
Step 5
The beef is now beautifully browned, infused with the nutty fragrance of the perilla oil and the aroma of garlic. This sautéing step deepens the beef’s flavor, adding richness to the final soup.
Step 6
Add the rehydrated and rinsed seaweed to the pot and stir-fry with the beef for about 3 minutes. Sautéing the seaweed helps to ‘toast’ it slightly, enhancing its flavor and aroma, and coating it with the delicious oils from the beef.
Step 7
For an even richer and more satisfying broth, use rice water instead of plain water. Rice water, obtained from rinsing rice before cooking, adds a subtle sweetness and depth of flavor to soups and stews. It’s a wonderful way to add both nutrition and depth.
Step 8
Pour the prepared rice water into the pot with the sautéed beef and seaweed. Cover the pot with a lid and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat slightly and let it simmer vigorously for about 30 minutes. This simmering time allows the flavors to meld beautifully, creating a rich and complex broth base.
Step 9
During the simmering process, skim off any foam or scum that rises to the surface. This will result in a clearer, cleaner-tasting broth that is visually more appealing.
Step 10
Season the soup with 2 tablespoons of soy sauce for soup and 2 tablespoons of fish sauce for an extra layer of umami. Taste the broth and adjust the seasoning if necessary, adding a small pinch of salt if needed. Be mindful that soy sauce and fish sauce are already salty.
Step 11
Simmer for another 15 minutes, and your perfectly opaque and inviting beef seaweed soup is ready! The rich broth, brimming with the flavors of beef and seaweed, looks incredibly nourishing. This soup is delicious on its own, especially when paired with a side of kimchi (e.g., well-fermented radish kimchi!). Especially on a cool day, this warm and hearty soup is the perfect comforting meal for the whole family.
