Baek Jong-won's Kongnamul-guk (Bean Sprout Soup)

Chef Baek Jong-won's super simple basic kongnamul-guk recipe that maximizes the crisp and refreshing taste by bringing out the best in the bean sprouts.

Ingredients needed 3 servings

Recipe

Cooking tips

  • Kongnamul-guk is not like gomtang, where longer simmering deepens the flavor. Overcooking makes the sprouts tough and leaches flavor, so it must be cooked quickly and briefly.
  • Use soup soy sauce only as a secondary ingredient for depth of flavor and color. The main seasoning should be salt (or seasoned salt) for a clean, clear broth.
  • When preparing large batches in advance, like in restaurants, keep the bean sprouts separate or maintain the broth at a warm, not boiling, temperature to preserve crispness.
  • Optionally, you can add salted shrimp, use broth from a stock pack, or add squid to transform it into a hearty kongnamul-haejangguk (hangover soup) style.

Recommended for

  • Those who find it difficult to achieve the deep, refreshing flavor of restaurant kongnamul-guk at home.
  • Those who enjoy clear soup dishes with a crisp, chewy texture.
  • Those who want a clean hangover cure with minimal ingredients and time after a night of heavy drinking.

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