Refreshing and Flavorful Fish Cake and Bean Sprout Soup
How to Make Delicious Fish Cake and Bean Sprout Soup that Tastes Like Dried Pollack Soup
Hello everyone, it’s Nugu! I tried making fish cake and bean sprout soup using a method recommended by a junior colleague at work, and I was absolutely hooked! It’s simple yet incredibly delicious, and I’ve made it several times since. It’s perfect for a comforting warm soup on a chilly day or for a simple hangover cure!
Ingredients- 1 handful of bean sprouts (approx. 100g)
- 2 sheets of square fish cakes
- 2 Korean green chili peppers
- 1/4 stalk of green onion
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 2 Tbsp tuna extract or fish sauce (anchovy or sand lance fish sauce are also fine)
- 1/2 Tbsp coarse sea salt or soup soy sauce (for seasoning)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, wash the bean sprouts thoroughly. Drain them lightly. You can set aside the portion you’ll use immediately and soak the rest in cold water in the refrigerator to keep them crisp. (This step is optional.)
Step 2
In a pot, add the washed bean sprouts (1 handful), and the fish cakes (2 sheets) cut into bite-sized pieces. Also, add the Korean green chili peppers (2), thinly sliced diagonally, for a bit of heat. Add minced garlic (1 Tbsp) as well; this will make the broth much richer.
Step 3
Now, pour about 1 liter of cold water into the pot and bring it to a boil over high heat. Once the water is rapidly boiling, add the tuna extract (2 Tbsp) to deepen the broth’s flavor. Adjust the seasoning with coarse sea salt (1/2 Tbsp) or soup soy sauce if needed. (If you don’t have tuna extract, using anchovy or sand lance fish sauce will also be very delicious!) After seasoning, reduce the heat to medium and simmer for about 5 more minutes to allow the flavors of the bean sprouts and fish cakes to meld.
Step 4
Once the seasoning is just right, add the chopped green onion (1/4 stalk) and simmer for another minute until the soup is ready. Before turning off the heat, taste the soup and add a tiny pinch more salt if it’s too bland.
Step 5
Surprisingly, the broth becomes deeper and more refreshing the longer it simmers, thanks to the flavors from the fish cakes. The finished broth will be milky white and have a rich, savory taste that is truly excellent. It’s wonderful for mixing with rice or just enjoying on its own to warm you up from the inside out!
