Hearty and Delicious Mandu Jeongol (Korean Dumpling Hot Pot)
A Heartwarming Pot Full of Flavor: Mandu Jeongol
When the weather turns chilly, there’s nothing better than a steaming hot bowl of soup! Recently, I’ve been seeing Mandu Jeongol everywhere, and it made me wonder if it was the next big trend. So, I decided to make my own! I filled the pot with all my favorite ingredients and let it simmer into a bubbly, hearty Mandu Jeongol. It was the perfect meal for my whole family to gather around, blow on each bite, and enjoy a truly satisfying dinner.
Mandu Jeongol Ingredients
- 8 dumplings (Mandu)
- 200g beef bulgogi (thinly sliced and marinated)
- 2 large napa cabbage leaves
- 1/5 onion
- 1 green onion (scallion)
- A small amount of carrot
- 1/5 zucchini
- A handful of crown daisy (Ssukgat)
- 1/2 pack enoki mushrooms
- A small amount of tteokbokki rice cakes (about 15)
Broth Ingredients
- 12 anchovies for broth
- 1 dried pollock (or dried cod)
- 1 sheet dried kelp (dashima, approx. 10cm x 10cm)
- 1 dried shiitake mushroom
- 1.5 liters rice water (water used to rinse rice)
- 1 tbsp cheongju (rice wine, for clarity and to remove fishiness)
Seasoning Paste Ingredients
- 2 tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 1 tbsp guk-ganjang (Korean soup soy sauce)
- 1 tbsp mirin (sweet rice wine)
- 1/2 tbsp salted shrimp (saeu-jeot), finely minced
- A pinch of black pepper
- 12 anchovies for broth
- 1 dried pollock (or dried cod)
- 1 sheet dried kelp (dashima, approx. 10cm x 10cm)
- 1 dried shiitake mushroom
- 1.5 liters rice water (water used to rinse rice)
- 1 tbsp cheongju (rice wine, for clarity and to remove fishiness)
Seasoning Paste Ingredients
- 2 tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 1 tbsp guk-ganjang (Korean soup soy sauce)
- 1 tbsp mirin (sweet rice wine)
- 1/2 tbsp salted shrimp (saeu-jeot), finely minced
- A pinch of black pepper
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
★ Make the Broth: First, in a pot, lightly toast the anchovies, dried pollock, kelp, and dried shiitake mushroom in a dry pan to remove any fishy odors. Then, add 1.5 liters of rice water and bring to a boil. Once boiling, remove the kelp and simmer for about 10-15 more minutes to develop a deep flavor. Finally, stir in 1 tablespoon of cheongju to make the broth exceptionally clear and clean.
Step 2
★ Prepare the Seasoning Paste: In a bowl, combine the gochugaru, minced garlic, guk-ganjang, mirin, finely minced salted shrimp, and a pinch of black pepper. Mix well until thoroughly combined.
Step 3
★ Prepare the Vegetables: Wash and prepare all the vegetables for the jeongol. Cut the napa cabbage into bite-sized pieces, and slice the onion into strips. Chop the green onion diagonally, and slice the carrot and zucchini into decorative shapes or thin rounds. (Feel free to add other vegetables based on what you have in your refrigerator! Using plenty of fresh napa cabbage leaves adds a wonderful sweetness.)
Step 4
★ Prepare Additional Ingredients: Have your 8 dumplings, 200g of marinated bulgogi, about 15 tteokbokki rice cakes, and enoki mushrooms (trim the base and separate the strands) ready. Rinse the crown daisy well. (For bulgogi marinade recipe, please refer to: http://son8199.blog.me/220835129310)
Step 5
★ Arrange in the Hot Pot: Nicely arrange the prepared vegetables, dumplings, and rice cakes around the edges of your hot pot. Place the marinated bulgogi in the center.
Step 6
★ Start Cooking: Don’t add all the seasoning paste at once! Once the jeongol begins to boil, gradually add spoonfuls of the prepared seasoning paste around the edges, adjusting the taste as you go. This method prevents the broth from becoming cloudy and keeps it clear and flavorful.
Step 7
★ Pour in the Broth: Carefully pour the hot, prepared broth around the edges of the pot, ensuring the ingredients are submerged. Add enough broth to cover everything generously.
Step 8
★ Serve and Enjoy: Now, cover the pot and let everything simmer until all the ingredients are cooked through and the flavors have melded beautifully. Watching the Mandu Jeongol bubble away is truly mouthwatering! This generous pot of deliciousness makes for an incredibly satisfying meal. Enjoy your meal!
