''Miyeok-guk''
[
*] () (also rendered as miyuk guk) or seaweed soup
is a non-spicy Korean soup whose main ingredient is
miyeok
Wakame ''(Undaria pinnatifida)'' is a species of kelp native to cold, temperate coasts of the northwest Pacific Ocean. As an edible seaweed, it has a subtly sweet, but distinctive and strong flavour and texture. It is most often served in soups ...
, or seaweed. It is traditionally eaten as a birthday breakfast in honor of one's mother and by women who have given birth for several months postpartum.
Preparation
Miyeok-guk is rare among Korean soups in that it has no spicy ingredients.
The main ingredient is
miyeok
Wakame ''(Undaria pinnatifida)'' is a species of kelp native to cold, temperate coasts of the northwest Pacific Ocean. As an edible seaweed, it has a subtly sweet, but distinctive and strong flavour and texture. It is most often served in soups ...
, also known as sea mustard.
It is typically prepared from dried product, and is in appearance brown tangled strands.
To prepare, the seaweed is rehydrated, drained, chopped, sauteed with garlic and sesame oil, then simmered in beef or fish stock.
History and culture
Women traditionally eat the soup for several months after giving birth. The practice of eating seaweed soup after giving birth is believed to date to the
Goryeo Dynasty and started because people noticed whales eating seaweed after giving birth.
Traditionally the soup symbolizes and honors
Samsin Halmoni
Samsin halmeoni ( Korean: 三神 할머니), the ''Grandmother Samsin'', is the triple goddess of childbirth and fate in Korean mythology.
Name
''Samsin'' or ''Samshin'' means "Three Goddesses" in Korean, (literally, three spirits) and they ap ...
, a goddess who helps women through pregnancy and childbirth.
People consuming the soup on their birthdays are honoring their mothers for giving birth to them.
[Miyeokguk]
at Doosan Encyclopedia
People also eat the soup for
breakfast on their
birthdays
A birthday is the anniversary of the birth of a person, or figuratively of an institution. Birthdays of people are celebrated in numerous cultures, often with birthday gifts, birthday cards, a birthday party, or a rite of passage.
Many rel ...
in honor of their mother. As part of birthday celebrations, guests are served ''miyeok-guk'' along with
rice cake
A rice cake may be any kind of food item made from rice that has been shaped, condensed, or otherwise combined into a single object. A wide variety of rice cakes exist in many different cultures in which rice is eaten and are particularly preval ...
s and other traditional foods. ''Miyeok-guk'' is also eaten outside of special occasions during the rest of the year. It is a very common side dish served with rice.
Health benefits
Seaweed is a good source of
vitamin K
Vitamin K refers to structurally similar, fat-soluble vitamers found in foods and marketed as dietary supplements. The human body requires vitamin K for post-synthesis modification of certain proteins that are required for blood coagulation ...
, an essential vitamin, which is an important factor in blood-clotting. Eating miyeok-guk that contains a cup of seaweed enables one to absorb around 22% of the recommended daily vitamin K requirement for women and 29% of the recommended daily vitamin K requirement for men.
Popular belief
A dictionary published by the Hangeul Society in 1957 notes that "Eating ''Miyeok-guk''" was defined as "a word that means an organization dissolves or falls apart." This is believed to have originated from the fact that when the
Joseon Army
The Joseon Army (Korean: 조선군대; Hanja: 朝鮮軍隊) was the army of the Korean dynasty of Joseon. The army defended the northern borders but seldom defended the southern regions. The army was best known for fending off the Jurchen raids and ...
was disbanded, it could not express it directly, instead stating "I ate ''Miyeok-guk''."
See also
*
List of soups
This is a list of notable soups. Soups have been made since Ancient history, ancient times.
Some soups are served with large chunks of meat or vegetables left in the liquid, while others are served as a broth. A broth is a flavored liquid usua ...
References
External links
*
Miyeok guk recipe from Maangchi.net*
Miyeok Guk recipe from Naver*
Miyeok guk recipe from Korean.net* {{in lang, en}
Korean soups and stews
Anchovy dishes