18 Recipes For Easy Korean Soup

If you are looking for inspiration for some healthy, hearty soups then check out this list of easy Korean soups.

Soup is a very popular dish in Korea, and there are lots of different types of broth and fillings to choose from. 

1. Ox Bone Soup (Seolleongtang) 

To make this recipe, beef or Ox bones are boiled for several hours to create a broth that is milky in colour and full of rich flavours. It’s perfect for cold, winter days to warm you up and make you feel nourished.

Make sure you use bones with plenty of marrow in them, like knuckles or feet.

The bones to water you use the richer your broth will be. Serve with beef or Ox meat, noodles and chopped green onions. 

2. Hand Pulled Noodle Soup (Sujebi) 

This noodle soup has an umami flavour and is very simple to make. The noodles are soft yet a little bit chewy, and the dough is hand torn which gives them an irregular shape.

The ingredients for this soup are very cheap which is why this dish was so popular after the Korean war when many people were living in poverty. 

3. Knife Cut Noodle Soup With Perilla Seeds (Deulkkae Kalguksu) 

Knife cut noodle soup is similar to hand cut noodle soup, except the dough is sliced with a knife so the noodles have a more even shape and size.

The broth is made from anchovy kelp stock, and ground up perilla seeds are added to create a thicker, milkier consistency.

They also introduce a wonderful nutty yet herby flavour.

If you want to make a vegetarian version of this soup, simply swap the anchovy kelp stock for vegetable stock. 

4. Korean Ginseng Chicken Soup (Samgyetang) 

This soup is used in Korea to give people stamina and energy. A whole chicken is stuffed with sticky rice, ginseng, garlic, jujube, ginkgo nuts, and chestnuts.

You then boil the chicken until it is fully cooked, also creating a deliciously fragrant chicken broth in the process.

Season with salt and pepper and garnish with chopped green onions. 

5. Chicken Soup (Dak Gomtang) 

If you are looking for a more basic recipe for chicken soup, try this Dak Gomtang.

It’s simple to make and you can use whatever chicken pieces you already have in your refrigerator or freezer.

You can add the rice into the soup, or serve it on the side. 

6. Kimchi Soup With Tuna (Chamchi Kimchi Guk) 

Kimchi is a type of Korean fermented cabbage. It has a unique flavour and it is very good for your digestive system.

Kimchi soup, or kimchi guk, is very popular in Korea, and you can add in whatever ingredients you like.

This recipe uses canned tuna which is nutritious and easy to get hold of from any grocery store.

Make sure you simmer the soup for at least 20 minutes to ensure that all of the flavours are released into the broth. 

7. Cold Kimchi Noodle Soup (Kimchimari Guksu)

This is a different version of noodle soup that is served cold rather than hot.

Kimchi broth is combined with anchovy kelp stock to make a deep and flavoursome base for the soup with a slightly salty flavour.

The soup is served with fresh noodles with a lovely chewy texture, and crispy kimchi radish.

You can also add some raw cucumber and bell pepper, and even a boiled egg if you want to. 

8. Red Bean Soup (Danpatjuk) 

Red bean soup is traditionally enjoyed on the winter solstice to bring good luck to the new year.

It has a similar consistency to porridge, but smoother. It is thick and satisfying with a slightly sweet flavour.

Make sure the beans are cooked down until they are nice and soft, then use a blender to puree them. You can serve the soup with rice balls and a garnish of boiled chestnuts. 

9. Spicy Beef And Vegetable Soup (Yukgaejang)

This spicy soup is warming and hearty – perfect for a cold day. It is made with shredded beef, but you could also use shredded chicken, pork or turkey if you prefer.

It is packed with healthy vegetables like green onions, mushrooms, bean sprouts, and gosari to keep you nourished and healthy.

You can eat it on its own or serve it over some boiled rice for a more filling meal. 

10. Beef Short Rib Soup (Galbitang)

The beef short rib is boiled for an hour which releases plenty of goodness into the stock. It also makes the meat beautifully tender so it melts in your mouth.

Garlic, green onions and radishes are also added to the stock to create an aromatic flavour which complements the meat.

This soup is very nutritious so it is ideal to eat if you are feeling run down. 

11. Soya Bean Paste Soup With Spinach And Clams (Sigeumchi Jjigae Doenjang)

This soup is made with fermented soy bean paste which is very good for you. It also has plenty of spinach which is high in iron, and tasty clams.

These ingredients are added to a comforting, spicy beef stock which is packed with flavour. Make sure your clams are nice and fresh as this will help with flavour and texture. 

12. Korean Spinach Soup (Jinchang Sigeumchi Guk)

A lot of Korean soups take a long time to cook because the broth needs to be simmered for at least an hour.

This is not the case with this spinach soup – it can be on the table in less than half an hour.

Ground beef is browned in sesame oil with green onions, soy sauce and garlic.

You then add the water, spinach and some salt and pepper and leave it to simmer for about 10 minutes.

You can serve it with rice if you want to. You could use beef stock instead of water if you want to create a stronger, richer flavour.

However, you may want to reduce the amount of salt you add to the soup. 

13. Rice Cake Soup (Tteokguk)

Tteokguk is a soup made with rice cakes and beef broth. It is usually eaten during New Year celebrations, but it can be enjoyed at any time of year as a warming comfort dish.

The best rice cakes to use are garaetteok, which are cylindrical in shape and are unsweetened. The long cylinders are sliced into little oval shapes which represent a prosperous New Year. 

14. Korean Seaweed Soup (Miyeok Guk)

This soup is a Korean staple food. It is a light meal that is nutritious and delicious.

This soup is versatile and easy to customise-  you can choose whatever stock and protein you want to use.

Beef stock and beef is very popular, as is seafood stock and oysters.

This soup is often served to a woman as her first meal after giving birth as the high levels of nutrients in the seaweed will help her to recover and heal.

This has led to a tradition of the soup being served at birthday celebrations. 

15. Oxtail Soup (Sokkoritang)

Oxtail is a very popular cut of meat in Korea. Make sure that the bones are cleaned and blanched before making the soup so that you can achieve a clear broth.

You should be careful not to overcook the oxtail or the meat will fall off the bone too soon. Oxtail is very flavoursome, with soft meat and lots of nutrients. 

16. Mushroom Hot Pot (Beoseot Jeongol)

This recipe really makes the most of the deep, earthy flavours that mushrooms have. It is traditional to prepare the raw ingredients and place them in the bottom of the pot.

You then bring the pot and a jug of stock to the table and cook the soup in front of your guests.

However, you can cook it in the kitchen over the stove if you prefer.

You can use beef broth, anchovy broth or vegetable broth depending on your preference.

Try to use several different varieties of mushrooms to create a complex flavour. 

17. Soybean Sprout Soup (Kongnamul Guk) 

This is a simple soup made with soybean sprouts which are a common ingredient in Korean cooking.

You can use whatever kind of broth you like depending on what you have in the freezer or what you fancy.

Anchovy broth really complements the flavour of the bean sprouts. You can add some red pepper chilli flakes into the soup if you want to give it a spicy kick, or leave them out if you prefer it mild. 

18. Spicy Seafood Noodle Soup (Jjamppong)

Spicy seafood noodle soup is a very popular dish in Korea. It is comforting yet refreshing with lots of different textures to tuck into.

The broth is fiery (but you can make it milder if you want to) and you can use whatever variety and quantity of seafood that you like.

There are different variations of this recipe including black bean noodles or even rice. 

19. Potato Dumpling Soup (Gamja Ongsimi Guk) 

Potatoes are grown in the North East of Korea, and this soup is very popular there as it makes the most of the local produce.

Korean style potato dumplings are very simple – they are made with potato and salt only.

The texture is a little bit chewy and you get a wonderful savoury flavour. The trick to these dumplings is to grate the potatoes rather than blend them, as this releases more starch. 

20. Radish Soup (Muguk)

The radishes give this soup an aromatic flavour. Simple slices of boiled beef are used to add protein and texture along with the chunky radish.

The beef is seasoned and salted before being boiled in the soup which helps to create a rich, deep taste. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Is Soup So Popular In Korea? 

Different types of soup make up a large portion of Korean cuisine. It is thought that this is because Korea has been poverty stricken many times throughout history and the ingredients for Korean soups are very affordable.

The recipes make a little bit of meat go a long way. 

Can You Customise These Recipes? 

A lot of these recipes are very easy to customise. You can switch out different types of broths, swap rice for noodles and vice versa, and add more or less spice, 

Are These Recipes Easy To Make? 

These recipes are simple and easy to follow. Some of them take several hours as the stock needs to be simmered, but the process itself is simple. 

Summary 

Whether you love meat, seafood, or you are looking for a vegetarian recipe, this list has got something for everyone. You will love these easy recipes for Korean soup.