A taste of home that warms my soul
If someone asked me about my soul food, I would answer without hesitation: “seaweed soup.” It’s a healthy soup — so healthy that in Korea mothers have this meal after they give birth to a child. But more importantly it is delicious, warms me up as the days cool here, and reminds me of home — so what else can I call seaweed soup if not soul food?
Seaweed soup, called Miyeok-guk in Korean, is a symbol of the day one was born. In addition to the custom of mothers having seaweed soup as their first meal after they give birth to a child, people are meant to eat this soup annually on their birthdays. It’s not just a custom that we follow; seaweed soup is full of nutrients and is good for blood circulation and skin health.
So seaweed soup is always good to eat…. Unless it’s the day before a big exam — there’s this superstition not to eat seaweed soup before an important exam day since the slippery texture of seaweed can represent one falling down (slipping down).
Since finals are not any time soon, why not go for a bowl of seaweed soup for tonight’s dinner? You can even invite some friends because this recipe serves three to four people.
Ingredients
- 35 grams of dried brown seaweed (Miyeok)
- 2 tablespoons of soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon of sesame oil
- 5 cups of water
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 300-350 grams of beef (tenderloin)
- Dried anchovies – (optional, to taste)
Ingredient preparation
- Gently wash the dried seaweed in the water and soak it in clear water for at least five minutes.
- When the seaweed absorbs enough water, cut it into bite-sized pieces. Also cut the meat into bite-sized pieces.
Recipe
- Heat up a large pot over medium heat and add sesame oil.
- Add beef pieces and season with salt and pepper.
- After one to two minutes, add the seaweed and stir it for a while.
- When the beef is cooked, add water.
- Add soy sauce.
- Add dried anchovies (optional – this will allow the flavour to deepen)
- Boil the soup over medium heat for more than 20 minutes.
- Add some more soy sauce/salt, to taste.
Enjoy a nice hot bowl of seaweed soup alone or eat with rice!
Photo by Minyoung Kim