Savory and Refreshing Oyster Soup Recipe (with Oyster Cleaning Tips)
How to Make Baek Jong-won’s Oyster Soup: From Fresh Oyster Cleaning to Delicious Completion
Savor the freshness of the sea with this clear and refreshing oyster soup, cooked to perfection using Baek Jong-won’s recipe. This detailed guide includes tips on how to clean oysters and utilize vegetables, making it easy for anyone to follow.
Main Ingredients
- 400g fresh oysters
- 1/2 kohlrabi
- 1 king oyster mushroom
- 5 leaves of crown daisy (bomdong)
- 3 cloves of garlic
- 1/2 block of tofu
- 1 red chili pepper
Seasoning
- 1.5 Tbsp fish sauce
- 1 Tbsp vinegar
- 1.5 Tbsp fish sauce
- 1 Tbsp vinegar
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, let’s clean the fresh oysters thoroughly. It’s important to remove any unpleasant smell for a delicious taste. When cleaning oysters, you don’t need complicated methods like using radish juice. Simply add a handful of coarse salt and gently swirl with your hands. This will help loosen and remove all impurities from the oyster surface. Rinse them under running water a couple of times, and your oysters will be perfectly cleaned and ready to use.
Step 2
Now, let’s prepare the vegetables that will add depth to the soup. While radish is commonly used in oyster soup, we’ll be using kohlrabi here for a delightful crunch. Peel the kohlrabi thinly and then julienne it, similar to sharpening a pencil. If you have zucchini, it adds a lovely softness to the soup, but if not, using crown daisy (bomdong) as a substitute works wonderfully. Focus on using the leaves of the crown daisy.
Step 3
In a pot, add the prepared kohlrabi and water. Bring it to a boil. The kohlrabi will start to soften and infuse the broth with its subtle flavor.
Step 4
Once the broth is boiling vigorously, add the crown daisy and king oyster mushrooms. We recommend adding the crown daisy towards the end, as it can lose its vibrant color and become too soft if overcooked. Slice the king oyster mushrooms into bite-sized pieces and add them to the pot as well.
Step 5
Now, add the cleaned oysters and the soft tofu. Be careful not to overcook the oysters and tofu, as their texture can change. Let the soup simmer briefly after adding them until everything is just heated through and the oysters are cooked. The ingredients will meld together beautifully to create a delicious oyster soup.
Step 6
Finally, add the minced garlic for enhanced flavor and the red chili pepper for a touch of color. Season the soup with fish sauce to taste. The secret ingredient that elevates oyster soup is vinegar! A tablespoon of vinegar added at the very end not only eliminates any potential fishiness from the oysters but also boosts the overall umami, resulting in an incredibly refreshing and flavorful soup.
