Korean Beef and Radish Soup (Sogogi Muguk)

About This Recipe

Sogogi muguk is a simple, everyday Korean soup pairing thinly sliced beef with daikon radish in a clean, garlicky broth. It's the kind of dish that shows up regularly at Korean family tables, valued for how quickly it comes together and how comforting the mild, savory broth is. Sautéing the beef and radish briefly in sesame oil before adding water builds a deeper base flavor than simply boiling everything together from the start, giving the finished broth more richness despite its light appearance.

Ingredients

Serves 4

• 300 gbeef brisket or chuck(thinly sliced)
• 400 gdaikon radish(cut into thin slices)
• 2 tbspsesame oil
• 4 clovesgarlic(minced)
• 2 tbspsoy sauce
• 1.5 literswater or beef stock
• 1 tspfine sea salt(to taste)
• 2scallions(sliced)
• 1 tsptoasted sesame seeds

Instructions

1. 1

   Sauté the beef

   Heat sesame oil in a pot over medium heat. Add beef and cook 3-4 minutes until no longer pink.

2. 2

   Add radish and garlic

   Add daikon radish and garlic, stirring to combine, and cook 3-4 minutes until the radish softens slightly at the edges.

3. 3

   Season and add liquid

   Stir in soy sauce, then add water or stock.

4. 4

   Simmer

   Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 20-25 minutes until the radish is fully tender and the broth is fragrant.

   Skim any foam that rises to the top in the first few minutes for a cleaner-tasting broth.

5. 5

   Season to taste

   Add salt as needed, tasting and adjusting.

6. 6

   Serve

   Ladle into bowls, garnish with scallions and sesame seeds, and serve hot with rice.

Variations

• •

  Add a beaten egg swirled into the hot broth at the end for extra richness.

• •

  Use dried anchovy stock instead of water for a more traditional, savory base.

• •

  Add a handful of glass noodles in the last 5 minutes for a heartier soup.

Storage

Refrigerate for up to 3 days; the flavor deepens overnight, making it a good make-ahead soup. Reheat gently on the stovetop.

Frequently Asked Questions