Beef Tteokguk (Korean Lunar New Year Soup) Recipe
Prep Time:
10 minutes
Cook Time:
1 hour, 20 minutes
Servings:
4 Servings
Ingredients
  • 1 pound beef brisket
  • 4 whole scallions + 2 finely chopped sliced scallion whites, divided
  • 1-inch piece ginger
  • 4 cloves peeled + 2 cloves minced garlic, divided
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons Korean soup soy sauce, divided
  • 1 pound thinly sliced rice cakes
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon neutral oil, divided
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tablespoon sesame seeds, for serving
  • 1 (6-inch) piece nori, sliced into strips, for serving
Directions
  1. To make the soup broth, add the beef, 4 whole scallions, the ginger, 4 peeled garlic cloves, and the salt to a large pot.
  2. Cover with 10 cups of water.
  3. Bring to a boil for 10 minutes, skimming the fat from the top. Lower the heat and simmer for 1 hour, or until the beef is cooked through.
  4. Once the beef is tender, remove it from the pot and slice thinly.
  5. Remove the solids from the pot, leaving the broth simmering.
  6. Add 1 tablespoon Korean soup soy sauce to the broth and stir to combine. Bring to a boil.
  7. Add the rice cakes and stir to avoid sticking. Boil until tender, about 2 to 3 minutes.
  8. In the meantime, season the sliced beef: In a bowl, toss the beef with the remaining 1 tablespoon soy sauce, the sugar, sesame oil, 2 finely chopped scallion whites, and 2 cloves minced garlic.
  9. Heat 1 tablespoon neutral oil in a wok or cast iron skillet over medium heat.
  10. Add the beef and sear, tossing, until browned, about 5 minutes.
  11. To make the egg garnish, first whisk the egg in a bowl until very smooth.
  12. Heat 1 teaspoon neutral oil in a small, nonstick skillet over medium heat.
  13. When just warm, add the egg and gently cook until set, about 1 minute. If any raw egg remains, tilt the pan until cooked.
  14. Flip the egg onto a plate and fold into a log.
  15. Slice into thin strips. Set aside.
  16. To serve, ladle the soup into bowls and top with the seared beef, sesame seeds, nori strips, and sliced egg.