Rich and Refreshing Pork Soup (Dwaeji Gukbap) Recipe
A Hearty Home-Cooked Meal! Enjoy Pork Soup with a Rich, Odor-Free Broth and Generous Meat. Plus, My Secret Sauce Recipe!
I’ve been recovering from tennis elbow for almost two months and have been diligently boiling bone broth! While many know of beef bone broth, pork bone broth, when simmered without gamey odors, is incredibly savory and rich. I got some fresh pork bones from my butcher friend and made this amazing pork soup. It naturally made me crave sundae-guk (blood sausage soup) and dwaeji gukbap (pork soup). So, I decided to make dwaeji gukbap! I thought it would be perfect for my kids who love hearty meals with plenty of meat. I’m so glad I made dwaeji gukbap! It’s incomparable to store-bought versions. The broth is savory, completely free of any off-putting smells, and incredibly delicious. Plus, you can add as much meat as you like – truly the best! This rich and savory broth makes for a nourishing meal. Enjoy this easy-to-make pork soup at home! Have a fantastic week ahead! ♡
Pork Soup Ingredients- Pork bones (e.g., leg bones) 1.5kg
- 1 cup Soju (for soaking bones)
- 2 cups Spring onion roots (for odor removal)
- 13 cloves Garlic
- 5 Bay leaves
- 2 Tbsp Whole peppercorns
- 500g Pork shoulder or leg meat (or your preferred cut)
- 4 Tbsp Cooking wine (e.g., Mirin or Sake)
- 200g Korean blood sausage (Sundae, optional)
- 2L Rice water (for broth)
Special Seasoning Sauce (Dadaegi)- 2 Tbsp Fermented shrimp paste (Saeujeot, with liquid)
- 1 Tbsp Fish sauce (e.g., Anchovy extract)
- 3 Tbsp Fine chili powder
- 2 Tbsp Fermented shrimp paste (Saeujeot, with liquid)
- 1 Tbsp Fish sauce (e.g., Anchovy extract)
- 3 Tbsp Fine chili powder
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
It’s crucial to thoroughly remove the blood from the pork bones. Place the pork bones in a bowl, pour in 1 cup of soju, and let them soak for 30 minutes to an hour. Rinsing the bones and changing the water periodically will help even more.
Step 2
In a large pot, add the pork bones and cover them with just enough water to submerge. Bring to a boil over high heat for about 10 minutes. This step helps remove impurities and any gamey smell. Discard the water and rinse the bones thoroughly under cold running water.
Step 3
Now, let’s start making the broth. Add the cleaned pork bones and 2L of rice water to the pot. Bring it to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low and let it simmer gently.
Step 4
While the broth is simmering, prepare the aromatics. Wash the spring onion roots, garlic cloves, bay leaves, and whole peppercorns. Tie them securely in a piece of cheesecloth or a fine-mesh bag to create a ‘bouillon bag’. This makes it easy to remove the aromatics later.
Step 5
Once the rice water is boiling, add the prepared bouillon bag. Cover the pot and let it simmer over low heat for at least 2 to 3 hours, or even longer. The longer you simmer, the richer and deeper the flavor of the broth will become. Add more hot water if the liquid level gets too low during simmering.
Step 6
For the pork meat, boil it in water with 4 tablespoons of cooking wine. This step removes any gamey odor from the pork and tenderizes it. Boil for about 15-20 minutes, then cut into bite-sized pieces. Prepare your sundae by steaming or boiling it beforehand.
Step 7
Don’t discard the water used to boil the pork! You can use this flavorful water to cook your sundae for an extra kick of flavor. (Optional: Cook the sundae in this water.)
Step 8
Let’s make the essential seasoning sauce (dadaegi) for the pork soup! In a bowl, combine 2 tablespoons of fermented shrimp paste (including the brine), 1 tablespoon of fish sauce, and 3 tablespoons of fine chili powder. Mix well. You can add minced garlic or a pinch of sugar to your liking.
Step 9
In a warm earthenware pot (ttukbaegi), arrange the cooked pork and sundae. Pour the hot, rich broth over them and bring it to a boil over medium heat. Your soup is almost ready!
Step 10
Finally, garnish generously with freshly chopped green onions. Serve with the prepared seasoning sauce on the side, and you’ll have a delicious pork soup that rivals any restaurant’s! Feel free to add noodles or rice to your soup. Enjoy your meal!