Simple Fish Cake Soup (Eomuk Tang) – Baek Jong Won Style
Baek Jong Won’s Incredibly Simple Fish Cake Soup Recipe
This is an easy-to-make fish cake soup. Try making these simple fish cake skewers, which are also great as a drinking snack. Enjoy a warm, comforting bowl of Korean comfort food!
Ingredients- 3 sheets of square fish cakes (eomuk)
- 1 stalk of green onion
- 1/4 onion
- 2 pieces of dried kelp (dashima)
- About 5 dried anchovies (for broth)
- 3 Tbsp soy sauce
- 0.5 Tbsp sugar
- 0.67 Tbsp minced garlic
- 3 cups water
- 0.33 Tbsp salt (or to taste)
- 4 Tbsp cooking wine (mirin or similar)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare all the ingredients for the dish. Wash and chop the vegetables, and get the fish cakes ready.
Step 2
Now, let’s make the fish cake skewers! Unfold the square fish cakes and fold them into three equal sections lengthwise. Then, use skewers to thread through the folded fish cakes, going back and forth to secure them. Make these three skewers first, and then we’ll start preparing the soup base.
Step 3
To create a deep and refreshing broth, remove the heads and intestines from the dried anchovies. Lightly toast the anchovies in a dry pan until any fishy smell dissipates. Once the anchovies smell fragrant, add the chopped green onion and onion, then pour in 3 cups of water and bring it to a boil. Finally, add the 2 pieces of dried kelp and simmer for about 10 more minutes to extract a rich broth.
Step 4
Now it’s time to season the broth for a savory flavor. Add 3 Tbsp soy sauce, 0.5 Tbsp sugar, 0.67 Tbsp minced garlic, and 4 Tbsp cooking wine. Stir well to combine and adjust the seasoning. Baek Jong Won’s recipe includes sugar for a touch of sweetness. If you’re making this for the first time, it’s a good idea to adjust the amount of sugar to your preference. If it tastes too sweet, try reducing the sugar.
Step 5
Once the broth is boiling, remove the kelp. Taste the broth and add salt if needed for final seasoning. Carefully place the prepared fish cake skewers into the pot. Let them simmer for about 5-10 minutes, or until the fish cakes are tender and have absorbed the broth’s flavor, depending on your preference. The longer they simmer, the softer the fish cakes will become.
Step 6
We’ve successfully made delicious fish cake soup using Baek Jong Won’s ‘Baekpader Eomuk Tang’ recipe! This recipe is designed to be simple and enjoyable at home. The addition of sugar brings back a nostalgic, sweet flavor reminiscent of traditional fish cake soup. It offers a slightly different yet delightful taste compared to what you might be used to. While there are many fish cake soup recipes, this one stands out for its simplicity and unique flavor. Using thinner fish cakes makes them easier to eat and provides a better texture. This fish cake soup is perfect as a late-night snack with drinks or as a hearty meal. Be sure to give this easy-to-follow recipe a try!
