Savory and Refreshing Dried Pollack Soup (Hwangtae Haejangguk)
How to Make a Deeply Flavorful Dried Pollack Soup
Stock up with dried pollack strips in your freezer! This is a super simple Hwangtae Haejangguk recipe you can whip up when you’re worried about what soup to make. It’s incredibly satisfying and perfect for a comforting meal.
Ingredients
- 1 large handful of dried pollack strips (approx. 50g)
- 800ml broth (anchovy and kelp broth seasoned with a little soybean paste)
- 1/4 zucchini, thinly sliced
- 1/2 block firm tofu, cubed
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1/3 stalk green onion, diagonally sliced
- 1 Tbsp salted shrimp (mostly solids, not the liquid)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, briefly soak the dried pollack strips in cold water to soften them. Squeeze out excess water by hand. Heat 1-2 tablespoons of perilla oil in a pan over medium-low heat and stir-fry the dried pollack. You can also add the soaking water to the pan as you stir-fry to deepen the flavor of the broth.
Step 2
Continue to stir-fry until the dried pollack strips turn slightly golden and start to change in shape. Be careful not to burn them; stir-fry until you can smell their nutty aroma.
Step 3
Pour the prepared 800ml of broth into a pot, add the stir-fried dried pollack, and bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Using an anchovy and kelp broth base seasoned with a bit of soybean paste will add a wonderful savory depth.
Step 4
Once the broth is boiling, add the prepared zucchini and tofu. Cook together, stirring gently to prevent the tofu from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
Step 5
When the tofu is cooked and starts to float to the surface, add the diagonally sliced green onions and minced garlic. Let it simmer for a little longer. Reduce the heat to low to allow the ingredients to meld together beautifully.
Step 6
Finally, season the soup with salted shrimp. Add about 1 tablespoon of salted shrimp solids, tasting and adjusting as needed. I found the flavor perfect with just the salted shrimp, so I didn’t add extra salt. You can add a pinch of salt or soy sauce if you prefer. Enjoy your delicious soup!
