Simple & Hearty Korean Fish Cake Soup (Odeng Guk)
Delicious Korean Fish Cake Soup for the Whole Family
In our home, we always need a soup or stew with our meals! We like to switch things up and not make the same soup every day, so we often cook smaller batches. Today, I’ve made a simple and convenient fish cake soup that’s perfect for a cozy meal. Its savory broth and chewy fish cakes are a delight for all ages. Let’s get started on this wonderfully refreshing and flavorful Odeng Guk!
Main Ingredients- 2 sheets of square fish cakes (odeng)
- 200ml water
- A small piece of Korean radish (about 0.5cm thick)
- 1/4 onion
- 1/2 stalk of green onion
- 6 fish-shaped fish cakes (odeng)
Seasoning & Broth Base- 1 tsp soy sauce for soup (guk-ganjang)
- 1/2 tsp minced garlic (optional)
- Salt to taste
- A pinch of black pepper
- 1 handful of bonito flakes (katsuobushi) or 200ml anchovy-kelp broth
- 1 tsp soy sauce for soup (guk-ganjang)
- 1/2 tsp minced garlic (optional)
- Salt to taste
- A pinch of black pepper
- 1 handful of bonito flakes (katsuobushi) or 200ml anchovy-kelp broth
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, let’s prepare the broth base for a deep, satisfying flavor. Pour 200ml of water into a pot and add thinly sliced Korean radish. Adding radish will make the soup refreshing and enhance its umami.
Step 2
Place the pot with the radish over high heat and bring to a boil. For an even richer broth, you can add anchovies and kelp while boiling, then remove the kelp after 5 minutes and the anchovies after 10 minutes. Alternatively, adding a handful of bonito flakes will easily create a savory broth. (Tip: Using only bonito flakes instead of anchovy broth results in a clean and refreshing taste.)
Step 3
Once the radish starts to look translucent, add the thinly sliced onion and continue to simmer. The sweetness of the onion will infuse the broth, creating a smoother flavor.
Step 4
Cut the square fish cakes into bite-sized pieces, about 2cm wide. The fish-shaped fish cakes can be left whole or cut lengthwise.
Step 5
Once the radish and onion have infused the water with flavor, add the sliced square fish cakes. After adding the fish cakes, reduce the heat to medium and let it simmer gently.
Step 6
As the soup starts to boil again, add the fish-shaped fish cakes. Immediately after, add the long-sliced green onion. Adding green onion will add a fragrant aroma, making the soup even more delicious. (Tip: Using both the white and green parts of the green onion is recommended.)
Step 7
Finally, season the soup with 1 tsp of soy sauce for soup, and adjust with salt to your preference. Add a pinch of black pepper to finish. If you like, you can add half a teaspoon of minced garlic for an even deeper flavor. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed. Serve hot and enjoy with a meal!
