Spicy and Refreshing Pollack and Bean Sprout Soup (Haejangguk)
How to Make a Delicious Bean Sprout and Dried Pollack Soup for Hangover Relief
Let’s make a deeply flavorful and refreshing hangover soup using two key hangover-curing ingredients: dried pollack and bean sprouts. This soup is perfect for soothing a tired stomach.
Ingredients- 100g dried pollack (yellow corvina), shredded
- 100g fresh bean sprouts
- 1 stalk green onion
- 1 Tbsp cooking wine (like mirin)
- 2 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1/2 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1/2 Tbsp soy sauce for soup (guk-ganjang)
- 1/2 Tbsp salt (adjust to taste)
- 8 cups lukewarm water (or anchovy-kelp broth)
- 1 piece dried kelp (about 5x5cm)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare the dried pollack. Soak the shredded dried pollack in lukewarm water for about 15 minutes until softened. Gently squeeze out excess water and cut into bite-sized pieces, about 5-7 cm long.
Step 2
Wash the fresh bean sprouts thoroughly under running water. Remove any husks or spoiled sprouts. Draining them well in a colander helps prevent any unwanted fishy smells in the soup.
Step 3
Heat 2 tablespoons of sesame oil in a deep pot over medium-low heat. Add the soaked and squeezed dried pollack and 1/2 tablespoon of minced garlic. Sauté for about 3 minutes until the pollack becomes slightly golden and fragrant. This step helps to enhance the pollack’s nutty flavor and remove any fishy odors.
Step 4
Add the washed bean sprouts and 1 tablespoon of cooking wine to the pot. Stir and sauté briefly with the pollack for about 1 minute. This helps to further tenderize the sprouts and eliminate any raw smell.
Step 5
Pour in 8 cups of water or your prepared broth, and add the piece of dried kelp. Bring the soup to a rolling boil over high heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the pot, and simmer for another 10 minutes. This allows the flavors of the pollack and bean sprouts to meld beautifully into the broth. Remember to remove the kelp after 10 minutes to avoid a bitter taste.
Step 6
Once the soup has simmered, add the sliced green onion. Season the soup with 1/2 tablespoon of soy sauce for soup and 1/2 tablespoon of salt. Taste and adjust the saltiness as needed. You can also add a pinch of black pepper if you like. Simmer for another minute until everything is well combined. Your delicious and restorative bean sprout and dried pollack soup is ready to enjoy!
