Miyeok-guk facts for kids
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| Alternative names | Seaweed soup |
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| Type | Guk |
| Place of origin | Korea |
| Main ingredients | Brown seaweed or Wakame |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul |
미역국
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|---|---|
| Revised Romanization | miyeok-guk |
| McCune–Reischauer | miyŏk-kuk |
| IPA | [mi.jʌk̚.k͈uk̚] |
Miyeok-guk (pronounced "mee-yuk-gook") is a special Korean soup. It's also known as seaweed soup. This soup is not spicy, and its main ingredient is a type of seaweed called miyeok. People in Korea often eat Miyeok-guk for breakfast on their birthdays. It's a way to honor their mothers. New mothers also eat this soup for a few months after their babies are born.
Contents
How to Make Miyeok-guk
Miyeok-guk is different from many other Korean soups because it doesn't have any spicy ingredients. The main ingredient is miyeok, which is also called sea mustard.
Ingredients
This seaweed usually comes dried. It looks like brown tangled strands.
Cooking Steps
To make the soup, first you need to soak the dried seaweed in water. This makes it soft again. After it's soft, you drain the water and chop the seaweed into smaller pieces.
Next, you cook the seaweed with garlic and sesame oil in a pot. This step is called sauteing. Finally, you add beef or fish broth and let it simmer. Simmering means cooking it slowly over low heat.
History and Meaning of Miyeok-guk
Miyeok-guk has a long history and holds special meaning in Korean culture.
For New Mothers
Women traditionally eat this soup for several months after giving birth. This practice is very old. It is believed to have started during the Goryeo Dynasty, a long time ago in Korean history. People noticed that whales would eat seaweed after giving birth, and they thought it might be helpful for humans too.
The soup also honors Samsin Halmoni. She is a goddess in Korean tradition who helps women during pregnancy and childbirth.
For Birthdays
People also eat Miyeok-guk for breakfast on their birthdays. This is a way to thank their mothers for giving birth to them. It's a special tradition to show appreciation.
When there are birthday celebrations, guests are often served Miyeok-guk. It comes with rice cakes and other traditional Korean foods. Even outside of special occasions, Miyeok-guk is a very common side dish. It's often eaten with rice throughout the year.
See also
In Spanish: Miyeok guk para niños
