Spicy Korean soup: fantastic for cold-weather walking

DifficultyBeginner

This hearty soup recipe actually works well in all climates. It's filled with intriguing, flavoursome ingredients: dried bean curd, Korean pastes, shiitake mushrooms and more.

Yields2 Servings
Prep Time35 minsCook Time20 minsTotal Time55 mins
Summary
 330 g total weight (excluding water)
 1.20 l total volume (excluding water)
 This recipe uses perishable ingredients. You should use your own judgement as to whether it's suitable for your hike.
Water and fuel
 1 l water
Ingredients
 60 g dried shiitake mushroom slices
 4 stock cubes (vegetarian, chicken or beef)Each stock cube should make 1 cup of stock
 2 tsp Korean chilli bean pasteYou can adjust the proportion of chilli paste to soybean paste, depending on how much you like spicy food. This ingredient is perishable - make sure it has a long use-by date, and use your own judgement as to whether it is right for your walk
 4 green onionsIf you're on a long hike and are worried about the green onions not staying fresh, you could substitute 1tbsp fried shallots for 2 green onions
Packing before your hike
1

If using sticks or sheets of dried bean curd, cut it into 3cm squares (you don't need to do anything if you're using dried bean curd knots). Trim the ends off the green onions. Put the dried bean curd, green onions and shiitake mushrooms in separate bags.
Mix Korean soybean and chilli bean pastes together, then double-bag using freezer bags, trying to remove any air before tying up the first bag.
Ideally, put all the ingredients in a bag to keep them together.

Spicy Korean soup ingredients - green onions, dried shiitake mushrooms, dried bean curd knots, stock cubes and Korean pastes. Photo: A Hutchings

Before cooking
2

Heat water until nearly boiling, then remove from heat. Soak shiitake mushrooms and dried bean curd in the hot water, covered, for 20-25 minutes. Don't discard the water.
While mushrooms and dried bean curd are soaking, finely slice the green onions.

Shiitake mushrooms and dried bean curd knots soaking in pan on camp stove, next to sliced green onions on hiker's cutting mat. Photo: A Hutchings

Cooking
3

Put the pan with the mushrooms, bean curd and water back on the camping stove, and bring to the boil. Add the Korean soybean and chilli bean pastes, and crumble in the stock cubes. Stir to dissolve. Turn down the stove to medium heat, and simmer for 5-10 minutes until mushrooms and bean curd are tender.

Korean soybean paste (Doenjang), chilli bean paste (Gochujang) and stock cubes added to shiitake mushrooms and dried bean curd on camping stove. Photo: A Hutchings

4

Divide soup between bowls. Scatter sliced green onions on top of the soup.

Spicy Korean soup in camping bowl beside hiker's lantern. Photo: A Hutchings

Ingredients

Summary
 330 g total weight (excluding water)
 1.20 l total volume (excluding water)
 This recipe uses perishable ingredients. You should use your own judgement as to whether it's suitable for your hike.
Water and fuel
 1 l water
Ingredients
 60 g dried shiitake mushroom slices
 4 stock cubes (vegetarian, chicken or beef)Each stock cube should make 1 cup of stock
 2 tsp Korean chilli bean pasteYou can adjust the proportion of chilli paste to soybean paste, depending on how much you like spicy food. This ingredient is perishable - make sure it has a long use-by date, and use your own judgement as to whether it is right for your walk
 4 green onionsIf you're on a long hike and are worried about the green onions not staying fresh, you could substitute 1tbsp fried shallots for 2 green onions

Directions

Packing before your hike
1

If using sticks or sheets of dried bean curd, cut it into 3cm squares (you don't need to do anything if you're using dried bean curd knots). Trim the ends off the green onions. Put the dried bean curd, green onions and shiitake mushrooms in separate bags.
Mix Korean soybean and chilli bean pastes together, then double-bag using freezer bags, trying to remove any air before tying up the first bag.
Ideally, put all the ingredients in a bag to keep them together.

Spicy Korean soup ingredients - green onions, dried shiitake mushrooms, dried bean curd knots, stock cubes and Korean pastes. Photo: A Hutchings

Before cooking
2

Heat water until nearly boiling, then remove from heat. Soak shiitake mushrooms and dried bean curd in the hot water, covered, for 20-25 minutes. Don't discard the water.
While mushrooms and dried bean curd are soaking, finely slice the green onions.

Shiitake mushrooms and dried bean curd knots soaking in pan on camp stove, next to sliced green onions on hiker's cutting mat. Photo: A Hutchings

Cooking
3

Put the pan with the mushrooms, bean curd and water back on the camping stove, and bring to the boil. Add the Korean soybean and chilli bean pastes, and crumble in the stock cubes. Stir to dissolve. Turn down the stove to medium heat, and simmer for 5-10 minutes until mushrooms and bean curd are tender.

Korean soybean paste (Doenjang), chilli bean paste (Gochujang) and stock cubes added to shiitake mushrooms and dried bean curd on camping stove. Photo: A Hutchings

4

Divide soup between bowls. Scatter sliced green onions on top of the soup.

Spicy Korean soup in camping bowl beside hiker's lantern. Photo: A Hutchings

Notes

Spicy Korean soup: fantastic for cold-weather walking
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