Miyuk-guk : Attack of the seaweed

::The following recipe is based on actual events::

Dad, mom wants you to make miyuk guk for her. She said she’s going to lie down because she’s not feeling well.

Alpha 6 log: 20171221 Time 1423

Mission received to provide humanitarian aid to local tribe leader. Mysterious illness threatens to delay routine objectives to be accomplished. Supplies provided, however pinpoint instructions are limited. Specifically the use of “dry seaweed” (DS) seems ambiguous.

Sorry dad, I don’t remember how to make it.

Alpha 6 log: 20171221 Time 1425

No response to RFI (request for information). Tribe leader has lost consciousness and all precedence suggests bringing tribe leader out of consciousness may result in jeopardizing the safety of the crew. Junior officers assert adding moisture to DS will achieve satisfactory results.

Dad, wait, are you bending all of it to fit in the pot?

Alpha 6 log: 20171221 Time 1428

1 gallon of water added to 1 yard of DS. Conferring with junior officers to determine previous training.

Dad, I think you only need like 3-inches of it dry. I’m pretty sure it expands.

Alpha 6 log: 20171221 Time 1445

Situation unstable. Water has reacted to the DS resulting in rapid expansion and has begun taking over infrastructure. Will update when station secure.

Dad, should we call someone? Dad …? Are you alright?

Alpha 6 log: 20171221 Time 1452

Normal weed killer ineffective. Message sent to the one they call “halmoni” (local-national term for “grandmother”). Assistance inquiry placed. Will update promptly.

Dad, you’re loosing it.

Alpha 6 log: 20171221 Time 1505

Junior officer Ryan succumbed to the little beasty seaweed. Yelled, “eat or be eaten!”

He was eaten.

Hope is looking grim.

Where are you Obi-Wan-Halmoni? You’re our only hope.

Signing off for now. Battery low.

-Meateater4lyfe

Dad, you’re a newb. I’m gonna call halmoni.

Alpha 6 log: 20171221 Time 1511

Salt! Salt saved us all. Was able to push back the ever-expanding killer seaweed with salt. Finished it off with the garbage disposal. Seems beast-plant seaweed got the last laugh.

Need new garbage disposal.

Godspeed to all reading.

Here dad, I’ve got halmoni on the line.

::No junior officers were harmed in the making of this dish::

This story is loosely based off the text messages sent back and forth between myself and my Korean wife as I attempted to make a dish for her.

When my wife is sick, she wants miyuk guk (미역국). She calls it the chicken-noodle soup for Koreans. The soup is traditionally given to mothers after giving birth because it is easy to eat and is full of nutrients like iron, calcium and potassium. Because mothers may eat this and nothing else for days (even weeks) following childbirth, Koreans will eat miyuk guk on their birthdays to remember their mothers who ate so much of it.

Miyuk (미역) is Korean for seaweed, whereas guk (국) is soup. Miyuk guk is made with sea mustard also known as brown seaweed (undaria pinnatifida) or Japanese wakame. The flavor is not overly “seafood-ish” and is great any time of the year. My recipe is pretty simple but you can substitute water for beef broth and you can add cooked beef or mussels to it if you’d like. My wife and kids like it as is but really it’s just the base, feel free to add things to make it your own.

WARNING: Do not use too much miyuk. It will grow to consume your home.

Ingredients (serves four)

- 2 oz dry seaweed/sea mustard (to me, it’s about 3 inches of the seaweed - or grab a handful and just break it off, that’s what I usually do)

- 1 Tbsp minced/mashed garlic (halved)

- 2 Tbsps sesame oil (halved)

- 5 cups of hot water

- Salt/pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Put seaweed in a large bowl or pot and cover with water. Let soak for at least an hour to rehydrate.

2. Remove seaweed and squeeze excess water out (there will be some water remaining and that’s fine).

3. Cut seaweed into bite-sized pieces with knife.

4. Warm medium-sized pot and add 1 tbsp of sesame oil then add 1/2 tbsp of minced or mashed garlic. Cook for 1 minute.

5. Add seaweed and stir-fry for 3 minutes (the texture of the seaweed will change and soften).

6. Add another 1 tbsp of sesame oil and remainder of garlic and cook for 1 minute.

7. Add 5 cups hot water and bring to boil.

8. Reduce heat and add salt/pepper to taste. Serve.

Note: You can add other ingredients such as pre-cooked beef, long green onions, or tofu - include these items in step 6. Goodluck and godspeed to anyone who attempt this dish.

Nutrition Facts per serving

Calories: 145

Total Fat: 11.3g

Total Carbs: 5.7g

Protein: 5.7g