Fun Homemade Kalguksu with Kids
Easy Homemade Kalguksu using Fridge Ingredients: A Fun Cooking Playtime with Children
Let’s make homemade Kalguksu with your children! Even though it’s a simple dish made with leftover ingredients and the shapes might be imperfect, it was a fun cooking activity and a delicious meal. ^^
Noodle Dough Ingredients- 1 paper cup flour (approx. 120-130g)
- 1/3 paper cup tapioca starch (or potato starch)
- 2/3 paper cup boiling water (approx. 120-130ml)
- 1 tsp salt
Savory Broth Ingredients- 1.5 liters anchovy and kelp broth
- 2 tbsp tuna extract (or soy sauce for soup)
- 1/2 potato (small size)
- 1/4 carrot
- 1/4 zucchini
- 2 stalks green onion
- 1 paper cup ground pork (approx. 100-120g)
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
Ground Pork Seasoning- 1 pinch salt
- 1 pinch black pepper
- 1 tbsp soju (or cooking wine)
- 1.5 liters anchovy and kelp broth
- 2 tbsp tuna extract (or soy sauce for soup)
- 1/2 potato (small size)
- 1/4 carrot
- 1/4 zucchini
- 2 stalks green onion
- 1 paper cup ground pork (approx. 100-120g)
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
Ground Pork Seasoning- 1 pinch salt
- 1 pinch black pepper
- 1 tbsp soju (or cooking wine)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, we’ll make the noodle dough. In a bowl, combine 1 paper cup of flour, 1/3 cup of tapioca starch, and 1 tsp of salt. Mix them lightly with a whisk or spoon. Then, gradually pour in 2/3 cup of boiling water while mixing roughly until no dry flour remains. Be careful, it’s hot!
Step 2
Now it’s time for the kids to have fun! Let your child knead the dough with their hands until it becomes elastic. Encourage them to enjoy the process of kneading and even stepping on the dough. (For safety, it’s recommended to have the child wear an apron and a hair net.)
Step 3
Once the dough comes together into a cohesive ball, wrap it in plastic wrap or a plastic bag and let it rest in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. While the dough is resting, you can prepare the broth ingredients to save time.
Step 4
Let your child julienne the zucchini into shapes they like. Whether they are thick or thin, their imperfect shapes will be a special experience for them. For safety, always supervise your child when they are using a knife.
Step 5
I’ll thinly julienne the potato and carrot myself. It’s best for an adult to handle the slicing process as it can be dangerous for children. Keep the julienned vegetables separate.
Step 6
Season the ground pork with 1 pinch of salt, 1 pinch of black pepper, and 1 tbsp of soju (or cooking wine), mixing well. Let it marinate for a bit. Then, heat a little oil in a pan and stir-fry the ground pork, breaking it up as it cooks until it’s no longer pink.
Step 7
Make the anchovy and kelp broth. Add 1.5 liters of water to a pot along with dried anchovies and kelp for broth. Simmer for about 15 minutes, then remove the anchovy and kelp pack to get a clear broth.
Step 8
Take out the dough that has rested in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Lightly sprinkle some flour on your work surface and roll out the dough thinly with a rolling pin. It would be even more fun if you and your child take turns using the rolling pin!
Step 9
Fold the thinly rolled dough in half 2-3 times to make it easier to cut into Kalguksu noodles. Then, cut the dough into your desired noodle width, or a size that’s easy to handle. For children, slightly wider noodles might be easier to manage.
Step 10
To prevent the cut noodles from sticking together, lightly sprinkle them with extra flour and gently shake off the excess. This will help the noodles stay separate and cook beautifully.
Step 11
Now it’s time to cook everything! Add the julienned potatoes, carrots, zucchini, and the stir-fried ground pork to the prepared anchovy broth and bring it to a boil. Once the broth is boiling, add 1 tbsp of minced garlic and 2 tbsp of tuna extract to season. Finally, add the fresh Kalguksu noodles and boil until the noodles are cooked through. Your delicious Kalguksu is ready!
Step 12
Ta-da! The super simple Kalguksu, made together with your child, is complete. Perhaps because they made it themselves, my daughter ate the whole bowl, even adding rice to the broth! It was a truly rewarding time filled with the joy of cooking together and a warm meal.
