World Flavors Cookbook

Chueo-tang (Loach Soup)

A traditional stamina soup made from ground pond loaches and vegetables in a rich, spicy broth.

Cuisine: South Korea

Ingredients

• 500g pond loaches
• Dried radish leaves (siraegi)
• Bean sprouts, leeks
• Paste: doenjang, gochugaru, garlic, perilla powder
• Chopi (Szechuan pepper) powder

Instructions

1. Boil loaches until soft, then grind them (bones included or strained).
2. Simmer the ground fish with vegetables and the spice paste.
3. Cook until the flavors are deep and the consistency is thick.
4. Serve hot with chopi powder for a unique numbing aroma.