Simple Korean Potato Soup (Gamjaguk) – Asian Recipes At Home (2024)

This Korean potato soup (gamjaguk) is mild and full of umami flavor. It has a delicious, clear broth, with bite-sized potato pieces.

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Simple Korean Potato Soup (Gamjaguk) – Asian Recipes At Home (1)

The recipe we are sharing today is very simple and uses the umami flavors from seaweed, dried anchovies, and Dasida beef soup stock powder. This version of Korean potato soup (gamjaguk) does not have any beef in it. Gamja (감자) means potato, and guk (국) means soup. It really has a nice depth of flavor while also being a very light meal or addition to your meal.

This recipe is a great option for children due to its mildness and delicious flavor. Everyone and anyone can enjoy this soup on a cool day or any time of the year. Most Koreans have soup with their meals all year round. Yes, that means even in the middle of summer. Soup is really great to have all year round, it is filling and light. This potato soup, in particular, is a great option for all ages or spice levels!

Key features and tips

We love having this soup with our meals and not as our main meal. However, if you’re wanting it to be more of a well-rounded meal in itself, then feel free to experiment by adding other vegetables and additions to this soup. You could add in onions, tofu, drizzle in lightly beaten eggs at the end of cooking, or even add some sweet potato starch noodles (like the ones used in japchae).

You can easily transform this soup into a gluten-free or Whole30 option as well. Simply ensure that the fish sauce you are using is to your dietary standards. Also, substitute the Dasida beef powder soup stock with a mushroom umami powder (like this one) that offers the umami flavor or a beef bouillon that fits your dietary needs.

Simple Korean Potato Soup (Gamjaguk) – Asian Recipes At Home (2)

Ingredients needed to make our Simple Korean Potato Soup (Gamjaguk)

How to make this delicious potato soup

Step 1: Prep the potatoes

Remove the skins from the potatoes. Cut the potato in half lengthwise, and slice into half-moon shapes (about 1/3-inch thick).

Step 2: Save rice water

When you rinse the rice to go with this meal, drain and discard the first rinse of water. Rinse again with cool fresh water, however, save the strained water (4 cups worth).

Step 3: Soak the Kombu seaweed

Place the kombu seaweed in the rice water for about 30 minutes. Then, remove the seaweed from the rice water (save this rice water!) and slice the seaweed into thin strips.

Step 4: Toast the dried anchovies

Put a pot over medium-high heat, add the olive oil. Add the dried anchovies, and toast them for about 1 minute.

Step 5: Stir-fry the sliced potatoes & add rice water

Next, add the sliced potatoes and salt to the pot. Stir-fry for about 2-3 minutes. Then, add the rice water to the pot and allow it to come to a boil. Boil for 5 minutes. Remove and discard the anchovies and turn the heat down to low heat.

Step 6: Add the rest of the seasonings to the soup

Add the Dasida, fish sauce, garlic, and black pepper to the pot. Mix well. Allow the soup to continue to simmer for about 2-3 minutes.

Step 7: Stir in the green onions and strips of seaweed

Stir in the green onions and the strips of seaweed and allow to cook for 1 more minute. Remove from heat. Serve and enjoy!

Simple Korean Potato Soup (Gamjaguk) – Asian Recipes At Home (3)

Serving suggestions

We like having this soup as an addition to our meal. So we will usually have it with freshly steamed rice and an assortment of side dishes and kimchi. Try this soup recipe along with our Spam and egg (buchim) recipe, and one or two of our vegetable side dishes (see below).

Side dish recipe ideas

  • Spicy Korean Radish Kimchi
  • Stir-Fried Poke Salad (Sallet) Stems
  • Korean Spicy Stir-Fried Eggplant
  • Easy Asian Pan-Fried Zucchini
  • Easy Napa Cabbage Korean Kimchi – Cut-Up Kimchi

We hope you enjoy our simple and delicious Korean potato soup (gamjaguk) recipe!

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Simple Korean Potato Soup (Gamjaguk) – Asian Recipes At Home (4)

Simple Korean Potato Soup (Gamjaguk)

Yield: 4 servings

Prep Time: 35 minutes

Cook Time: 13 minutes

Total Time: 48 minutes

This Korean potato soup (gamjaguk) is mild and full of umami flavor. It has a delicious, clear broth, with bite-sized potato pieces.

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Let’s go ahead and prep the potatoes. Remove the skins from the potatoes. Cut the potato in half lengthwise, and slice into half-moon shapes (about 1/3-inch thick).
  2. When you rinse the rice to go with this meal, drain and discard the first rinse of water. Rinse again with cool fresh water, however, save this drained water (4 cups worth).
  3. Place the kombu seaweed in the rice water for about 30 minutes. Then, remove the seaweed from the rice water (save this rice water!) and slice the seaweed into thin strips.
  4. Put a pot over medium-high heat, add the olive oil. Add the dried anchovies, and toast them for about 1 minute.
  5. Next, add the sliced potatoes and salt to the pot. Stir-fry for about 2-3 minutes.
  6. Add the rice water to the pot and allow it to come to a boil. Boil for 5 minutes. Then, remove and discard the anchovies and turn the heat down to low heat.
  7. Add the Dasida, fish sauce, garlic, and black pepper to the pot. Mix well. Allow the soup to continue to simmer for about 2-3 minutes.
  8. Stir in the green onions and the strips of seaweed and allow to cook for 1 more minute. Remove from heat.
  9. Serve and enjoy!

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Simple Korean Potato Soup (Gamjaguk) – Asian Recipes At Home (2024)

FAQs

Why isn't my potato soup creamy? ›

One trick to make your potato soup a little less grainy is to add some form of dairy –- cream, milk, or even cheese. Because dairy is generally creamy in texture, that characteristic will carry over into your soup. Crisis averted.

How do you thicken potato soup without heavy cream? ›

Add Flour Or Cornstarch

You can thicken soup by adding flour, cornstarch, or another starchy substitute.

Will cream cheese thicken potato soup? ›

Cream cheese can be a delicious and tangy thickener for mashed potatoes so it stands to reason that it can also be used to add body to your favorite silky potato soup recipes — right? The answer is yes. It only works well if you do it carefully, though.

How do you thicken potato soup with flour? ›

To thicken potato soup without creating lumps, you can use a roux made of equal parts butter and flour. Melt the butter in a separate pan, add the flour, and whisk until smooth. Slowly whisk the roux into the soup, and let it simmer until thickened. Be sure to whisk continuously to prevent lumps from forming.

How can I make my soup more creamy? ›

You can thicken soup with flour or cornstarch, which do not add any additional flavor. If you want more flavor, a roux is the best way to thicken up a soup. Starchy add-ins are another great way to create thick and creamy vegan soups.

What is the best thickening agent for potato soup? ›

Cornstarch is a great option as it is a natural thickening agent, but you'll want to be careful about how much you use. Start with 1 tablespoon of cornstarch whisked together with cold water to create a slurry. Then, gradually add the slurry to the soup, letting it boil for one to two minutes before adding more.

What is a substitute for heavy cream in potato soup? ›

To replace 1 cup (237 mL) of heavy cream in your recipe, add 2 tablespoons (19 grams) of cornstarch to 1 cup (237 mL) of milk and stir, allowing the mixture to thicken. You can use whole milk or opt for skim milk to help slash the calories and fat content of your recipe.

What happens if you add heavy cream to soup? ›

Whether you use a few tablespoons or a few cups, cream gives soup a silky mouthfeel and rich flavor. You can definitely add milk or other dairy as well, though it will taste gradually less creamy as you go down in percent.

Does adding heavy cream to soup make it thicker? ›

Heavy cream

Use heavy cream as a keto-friendly thickening option for your soups and broths. Heavy cream has more fat than regular whole milk, so you can add it to your soup recipes without worrying about it curdling.

Why did Panera stop selling potato soup? ›

Although the dish was scrapped due to declining popularity, its biggest fans have not stopped talking about it online. One disappointed fan wrote one on Twitter this week: “I was today years old when I found out Panera discontinued their potato soup.

Why won't my cream cheese melt in my potato soup? ›

Cheese is a particularly tricky addition to soups because if the temperature of the soup is too hot or too cold, the cheese won't melt properly and will start to clump. Temperatures over 150 degrees Fahrenheit will cause the cheese to release liquid too fast as a result of broken protein bonds.

Can you use instant potatoes to thicken potato soup? ›

Honestly, if you just stir in a little instant mash, like Smash, your soup will thicken up in no time at all. Now, you may end up needing more than a spoonful, but it's best to add a little at a time, because remember, you can always add more of it, but you can't take it away.

Why do you add flour to the potato soup? ›

To make this easy potato soup recipe, you will need:
  1. Bacon: I recommend using center-cut bacon here, to keep it a bit more lean. ...
  2. Veggies: Onion and garlic.
  3. Flour: We will use flour to make a roux to thicken the soup. ...
  4. Chicken stock and milk: These will form the broth of our soup.
Oct 15, 2018

How do you fix watery potato soup? ›

Cornstarch. Cornstarch is a very effective thickener, and a little bit can go a long way. Add cornstarch to a small amount of cold water or other liquid (wine or stock) and whisk into a thick slurry. Then the slurry can be stirred into a simmering soup, a bit at a time to set the final consistency.

Why aren't my potatoes getting soft in my potato soup? ›

It's best to use fresh, firm potatoes. Acidic Ingredients: If your soup contained highly acidic ingredients (e.g., tomatoes), it could have affected the texture of the potatoes. Acidic ingredients can slow down the softening process of potatoes.

How do you doctor up bland potato soup? ›

To serve it up, sprinkle on a little extra parsley before adding some of the grated cheese… And—you'd better believe it—some of the crispy bacon. You can also add sliced green onions, a dollop of sour cream—anything you want! This soup will warm your ever-loving heart and soul.

Why does my potato soup taste bland? ›

Not Adding Acid

If a soup is tasting bland in the bowl, consider adding acid rather than salt. A squeeze of lemon or lime, or a dash of yogurt or sour cream can add brightness to the bowl.

Why is my potato soup mushy? ›

There is a reason for this starchy struggle: Improper potato preparation — we couldn't say that five times fast, even without a mouthful of slimy soup. Like many of us chefs and home cooks, potatoes break down when overworked in the kitchen.

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