Hearty Hamburger Kimchi Soup

A comforting and flavor-packed fusion soup featuring savory ground beef, tangy fermented kimchi, and soft tofu in a rich, spicy Korean-inspired broth. This hearty meal is perfect for a satisfying weeknight dinner.

Prep Time: 15 min
Cook Time: 25 min
Total Time: 40 min
Servings: 4
AmericanKoreanDairy-FreeNut-FreeEgg-FreeHigh-Protein

Ingredients

  • 1 lb Ground beef (80/20 lean)
  • 1 medium Yellow onion (diced)
  • 4 cloves Garlic (minced)
  • 1 tbsp Ginger (grated)
  • 1.5 cup Kimchi (roughly chopped, plus 2-3 tbsp kimchi juice)
  • 2 tbsp Gochujang (Korean chili paste)
  • 1 tbsp Gochugaru (Korean chili powder) (or to taste, optional for extra spice)
  • 6 cup Low-sodium beef broth
  • 14 oz Firm or soft tofu (drained and cubed)
  • 1 tbsp Soy sauce
  • 1 tsp Sesame oil
  • 3 stalks Green onions (sliced for garnish)
  • to taste Salt
  • to taste Black pepper

Instructions

  1. 1.

    In a large pot or Dutch oven, brown the ground beef over medium-high heat, breaking it up with a spoon. Cook until no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes. Drain off any excess fat.

    Time: 7 min
  2. 2.

    Add the diced onion to the pot with the beef and cook until softened, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and grated ginger and cook for another minute until fragrant.

    Time: 5 min
  3. 3.

    Add the chopped kimchi and gochujang to the pot. Cook, stirring frequently, for 3-4 minutes to allow the flavors to meld and the kimchi to soften slightly. If using, stir in the gochugaru now.

    Time: 4 min
  4. 4.

    Pour in the beef broth and kimchi juice. Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes to allow the flavors to deepen.

    Time: 10 min
  5. 5.

    Gently stir in the cubed tofu and soy sauce. Simmer for another 5 minutes, or until the tofu is heated through. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.

    Time: 5 min
  6. 6.

    Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the sesame oil. Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish generously with sliced green onions before serving.

    Time: 2 min

Tips

  • 💡For an even richer flavor, use aged kimchi. The older the kimchi, the more sour and fermented it will be, adding depth to the soup.
  • 💡Feel free to add other vegetables like sliced mushrooms (shiitake or cremini), zucchini, or spinach during step 5 for extra nutrition and texture.
  • 💡Serve this soup with a side of steamed white rice to soak up all the delicious broth.

Recipe from TheCookbook.ai

Created by Shannon Williams