Chueotang: Nourishing Korean Mudfish Soup with Deep Earthy Warmth 🍲

Chueotang is Korea’s soulful mudfish soup: silky, peppery, and deeply comforting. Its distinctive earthy flavor comes from tender mudfish, nutty perilla seed powder, and fragrant greens simmered in a savory broth.

Long associated with Namwon, South Korea, where rice-field mudfish were plentiful, chueotang became a beloved late-summer restorative meal. Today, it remains a warming Korean classic for cool days and hearty appetites.

Ingredients 🥬

• 1 pound cleaned mudfish, or prepared ground mudfish
• 6 cups water or anchovy-kelp broth
• 2 cups chopped napa cabbage or mustard greens
• 2 tablespoons soybean paste (doenjang)
• 2 tablespoons roasted perilla seed powder
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 tablespoon gochugaru, plus salt and black pepper
• 2 sliced green onions and cooked rice, to serve

How to Make Korean Chueotang 🍲

1. Prepare the fish 🐟

   Rinse cleaned mudfish well. Simmer in water or broth for 20 minutes, until very tender.

2. Blend for a silky broth

   Transfer the cooked fish with some broth to a blender. Blend until smooth, then strain if you prefer a refined texture.

3. Build the savory base 🥄

   Return the blended broth to the pot. Whisk in doenjang, garlic, and roasted perilla seed powder.

4. Add the greens 🌿

   Stir in napa cabbage or mustard greens. Simmer for 10 to 12 minutes until soft and flavorful.

5. Season and serve ✨

   Add gochugaru, salt, pepper, and green onions. Serve piping hot with rice and extra perilla powder.

Health Benefits & Smart Tips 💚

• Mudfish provides protein, while perilla adds satisfying plant-based fats and nutty flavor.
• Use prepared ground mudfish for an easier, more accessible home version.
• Add more broth if the soup thickens after resting.

Chueotang FAQ ❓

What does Korean chueotang taste like?

It tastes rich, earthy, nutty, and gently spicy, with a velvety broth from blended mudfish and perilla.

Can I make chueotang without whole mudfish?

Yes. Use frozen cleaned mudfish or prepared ground mudfish for a simpler authentic-style soup.

TAGS: #Namwon, #Chueotang, #MudfishSoup, #PerillaSeed, #KoreanWellness