KCook
Sign in
← All recipes
Soups

Spicy Beef Soup

Cook mode
yukgaejang

Shredded beef and vegetables in a fiery, restorative broth.

Hard1 hr 30 min4 servings🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️★ 68Contains soyContains sesame
Spicy Beef Soup

History & culture

Spicy beef soup with vegetables is often linked to Jeolla and southeastern home cooking, where hearty guk restored strength after illness or labor. Shredded beef, bracken, bean sprouts, and gochugaru make a bold broth distinct from clear guk. Some accounts connect the name to historic beef-ban periods, though scholars treat such stories cautiously. Yukgaejang is now nationwide, served in soup houses and as a popular delivery meal.

Servings
4

KCook

Ingredients & steps

Cook mode

Ingredients

  • Garlic
    4 cloves
  • Thinly sliced beef

    Substitutesirloin or ribeye or sliced thin at home

    300 g
  • Bean sprouts
    100 g
  • Water
    6 cups
  • Fresh green chili

    Substitutejalapeño or serrano

    2 each
  • Green onion

    Substitutescallion or spring onion

    3 stalks
  • Spinach

    Substitutebaby spinach or chard

    100 g

Seasonings

  • Gochujang (Korean chili paste)

    Substitutemiso + chili paste (approximate)

    1 tbsp
  • Korean chili flakes (gochugaru)

    Substitutecoarse red pepper flakes (adjust heat)

    3 tbsp
  • Soy sauce

    SubstituteTsuyu (diluted) 4 tsp (2 tsp per 1 tbsp) or Tamari 2 tbsp

    2 tbsp
  • Toasted sesame oil

    Substitutea small amount of olive oil (flavor differs)

    1 tbsp

Steps

  1. 1Medium heat25 min

    Simmer beef in water 25 minutes until tender. Cool slightly, reserve broth, and shred the meat.

    • Thinly sliced beef
    • Water
  2. 210 min

    Marinate shredded beef with gochugaru, gochujang, soy sauce, and minced garlic.

    • Thinly sliced beef
    • Korean chili flakes (gochugaru)
    • Gochujang (Korean chili paste)
    • Soy sauce
    • Garlic
  3. 3Medium heat10 min

    Return beef to the broth and bring to a boil. Simmer 10 minutes.

    • Water
    • Thinly sliced beef
  4. 4Medium heat5 min

    Add bean sprouts, spinach, and chili; cook 5 minutes and finish with green onion and sesame oil.

    • Bean sprouts
    • Spinach
    • Fresh green chili
    • Green onion
    • Toasted sesame oil

Storage & reheating

Refrigerate up to 3 days; heat improves as flavors meld.

Troubleshooting

  • ⚠️ Soup is not spicy enough

    → Add gochugaru in two stages and include fresh chili at the end.

  • ⚠️ Beef is chewy

    → Shred along the grain and simmer longer on low heat.