Noodles with Deep and Refreshing Broth
Savory Noodles with a Rich Broth Everyone Will Love
A traditional noodle dish featuring a deeply flavorful and refreshing broth, prepared with care. The chewy noodles combined with a variety of toppings make this a nutritious and satisfying meal.
Broth Ingredients- 20 dried anchovies (heads and innards removed)
- 1 piece of dried kelp (10cm x 10cm)
- 20 cups water (4L)
- 1 cup bonito flakes (or 5 Tbsp)
Noodle Topping Ingredients- 1 zucchini
- 1/2 carrot
- 50g lean beef
- 1 egg
- 1 sheet roasted seaweed (gim)
Noodles- 400g somen noodles
- 1 zucchini
- 1/2 carrot
- 50g lean beef
- 1 egg
- 1 sheet roasted seaweed (gim)
Noodles- 400g somen noodles
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, let’s prepare the delicious broth. Carefully remove the heads and innards from about 20 dried anchovies to prevent a fishy taste in the broth. Lightly toast the anchovies in a dry, heated pan to remove any lingering fishiness. Place the toasted anchovies in a pot, add 20 cups of water, and include a 10cm x 10cm piece of dried kelp. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to medium-low and simmer for about 10 minutes to extract the deep flavors of the anchovies and kelp. Be sure to remove the kelp after 10 minutes, as it can release a bitter taste if simmered for too long.
Step 2
After simmering for 10 minutes, remove the anchovies and kelp from the broth and briefly turn off the heat. Add 1 cup of bonito flakes (or 5 Tbsp) and let it steep for 2-3 minutes to add umami. Be careful not to steep the bonito flakes for too long, as it can make the broth taste astringent. Once the flavor is well extracted, strain the broth through a fine-mesh sieve to remove all sediment, yielding a clear broth. To the clear broth, add 2 Tbsp of soy sauce for soup (guk-ganjang) and 2 Tbsp of cooking sake (mirin), then bring it to a simmer once more. This step further enhances the broth’s savory taste and aroma.
Step 3
Now it’s time to season the broth. Taste the prepared broth and if it seems a bit bland, add a pinch of salt to adjust the seasoning to your preference. A delicious broth is key to a great noodle dish, so pay close attention to this seasoning step.
Step 4
Next, we’ll prepare the colorful toppings for the noodles. Thinly slice the zucchini and toss it with a pinch of salt. Let it sit for about 10 minutes to draw out excess moisture; this prevents the zucchini from becoming watery when stir-fried and improves its texture. Lightly oil a pan and quickly stir-fry the zucchini until it’s still slightly crisp. Thinly slice the carrot, add a pinch of salt, and stir-fry similarly. For the beef, use lean cuts and slice them thinly. In a bowl, combine the thinly sliced beef with 1 tsp of soy sauce for soup, 1/2 tsp of sugar, 1/2 tsp of sesame oil, a pinch of black pepper, and 1/2 tsp of minced garlic. Mix well and let it marinate for about 10 minutes. Stir-fry the marinated beef in an oiled pan until it’s crumbly, then set aside to cool. Whisk the egg with a pinch of salt and cook into a thin omelet. Once cooled, julienne the omelet into fine strips. Prepare all toppings.
Step 5
Now, it’s time to cook the chewy somen noodles. Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add 400g of somen noodles and cook them. When the water starts to boil over, add a little cold water and continue to boil. Repeating this process 2-3 times will result in perfectly cooked, chewy yet tender noodles. Immediately drain the cooked noodles in a colander and rinse them quickly under cold running water to remove excess starch. This prevents the noodles from becoming mushy and keeps them delightfully firm. Arrange the noodles attractively in serving bowls. Then, ladle the piping hot broth over the noodles to warm them up again. Repeating this warming process twice will ensure the noodles are hot and ready to be enjoyed with the flavorful broth.
Step 6
Finally, artfully arrange the carefully prepared toppings. Place the stir-fried beef and carrot strips decoratively over the warmed noodles. Next, add the crisp stir-fried zucchini. Top with the julienned egg omelet, creating a beautiful garnish. Finish by crumbling or shredding the roasted seaweed and sprinkling it over everything for an appealing presentation. Ladle the freshly boiling broth over the assembled noodles, and voilà – a delicious noodle soup (Guksu Jang Guk) featuring a rich broth and a vibrant array of toppings is ready to be enjoyed. Enjoy your meal!
