Fragrant Spring Naengi Doenjang Guk (Shepherd's Purse Soybean Paste Soup)
A clear soybean paste soup made with fragrant in-season spring shepherd's purse simmered in clams and anchovy broth.
Translated from Korean by AI and not yet checked by a native speaker. Amounts and numbers are taken directly from the original recipe. Read the Korean original →
A savory soybean paste soup brewed with fragrant spring shepherd's purse and refreshing clams. A balanced mix of commercial and homemade doenjang is dissolved into anchovy broth, then brought to a boil with the shepherd's purse and purged clams. If you like, tossing the shepherd's purse in soybean flour before cooking adds an even richer, nuttier flavor.
- Servings
- 2–3 servings
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Spiciness
- Not spicy
Ingredients
Naengi doenjang guk ingredients
- Shepherd's purse (naengi)2 handfuls, 150 g
- Hard clams (or manila clams)10
- Large green onion (daepa)1/2 stalks
- Red chili pepper1
- Anchovy broth6 cups
Seasoning
- Homemade doenjang (Korean soybean paste)0.5 tbsp
- Commercial doenjang (Korean soybean paste)1 tbsp
- Minced garlic1 tsp
- Salta little
- Shepherd's purse with roots that are too thick is tough and does not taste good. Buy tender shepherd's purse, clean it thoroughly, and rinse it several times until the water runs clear.
- Set aside clams that have been soaked in weak salt water to purge sand, along with half a stalk of large green onion and diagonally sliced red chili pepper.
Steps
Shepherd's purse with roots that are too thick is tough and does not taste good.
Buy tender shepherd's purse, clean it thoroughly, and rinse it several times until the water runs clear.
You will likely need to repeat this 6-7 times. Shepherd's purse side dishes are delicious, but cleaning them is quite a chore.
Cut into bite-sized lengths.
Set aside clams that have been soaked in weak salt water to purge sand, along with half a stalk of large green onion and diagonally sliced red chili pepper.
Add dried anchovies to water infused with dried kelp (dasima) to make the broth.
Dissolve the doenjang into the anchovy broth. Today, I used twice as much commercial doenjang as homemade doenjang.
That is 1 tbsp of commercial doenjang and 0.5 tbsp of homemade doenjang.
Once the water comes to a boil...
Add the clams and all the other ingredients and bring to a boil.
Season with garlic and salt, then bring to a quick boil.
It is very simple. Tossing the shepherd's purse in soybean flour before cooking is also savory and wonderful.
Ppunwife's tips
- Depending on your preference, tossing the shepherd's purse in soybean flour before boiling is also delicious.
FAQ
What should I keep in mind when choosing and prepping shepherd's purse?
Roots that are excessively thick can be tough, so it is best to choose tender shepherd's purse and rinse it multiple times—about 6 to 7 times in clear water—so that no soil remains.
Can I use other clams instead of hard clams?
You can substitute Manila clams or littleneck clams to cook the soup.
Is there a cooking tip to make it even more savory?
To your taste, you can coat the prepped shepherd's purse in soybean flour before adding it to the pot for a much nuttier, richer broth.
