Crunchy Napa Cabbage Doenjang Soup: A Winter Comfort Food with Refreshing Flavor
How to Make Napa Cabbage Doenjang Soup
With napa cabbage prices dropping, I couldn’t resist bringing some home to make this wonderfully crunchy doenjang soup. The broth turned out so refreshingly delicious! This cabbage doenjang soup is perfect for a cold winter day. Its simple yet deeply flavorful taste will warm you up.
Ingredients
- About 10 leaves of young napa cabbage
- 3 Tbsp doenjang (Korean soybean paste)
- 500ml rice water
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- Plenty of green onions
- 2 Tbsp perilla oil
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Introducing a delightful winter specialty: Crunchy Young Napa Cabbage Doenjang Soup! The harmony of fresh cabbage and savory doenjang creates a soup that will warm you on chilly days.
Step 2
Prepare about 10 young napa cabbage leaves. Wash them thoroughly under running water, making sure to clean between the leaves to remove any dirt or debris. Shake off the excess water.
Step 3
Chop the washed cabbage into bite-sized, rustic pieces. Avoid chopping them too small; slightly larger pieces will retain a better texture.
Step 4
What makes this recipe special is stir-frying the cabbage in perilla oil first to maintain its crispness. The nutty aroma of the perilla oil adds a deeper flavor to the cabbage.
Step 5
Heat 2 tablespoons of perilla oil in a pot over medium heat and add the chopped cabbage. Stir-fry until the cabbage starts to wilt slightly. Once the cabbage becomes translucent, add 1 tablespoon of minced garlic and 3 tablespoons of doenjang. Stir everything together, mixing the doenjang with the cabbage, for about 1-2 minutes, taking care not to burn the paste. This step allows the savory fragrance of the doenjang to infuse into the cabbage, making it even more delicious.
Step 6
Pour 500ml of rice water into the pot with the stir-fried cabbage and doenjang. Bring it to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for a while longer to allow the flavors to meld together.
Step 7
Skim off any foam that rises to the surface of the soup with a spoon. This will make the broth cleaner and more refreshing. Finally, add a generous amount of chopped green onions and simmer for another moment to finish.
Step 8
Your young napa cabbage doenjang soup is ready! The savory notes of the rice water and doenjang, combined with the refreshing taste of the cabbage, create a delicious soup that will make you want to finish your rice bowl in no time.
Step 9
Enjoy this soup with a warm bowl of rice! The crunchy texture of the cabbage and the deep, flavorful broth will be the perfect comfort on a cold winter day.
