Seafood Kalguksu

Rainy Day = Seafood Noodle Kind of Day

There’s something about rainy days that just make you crave a warm, comforting bowl of seafood noodles. Whether it’s the dreary, chilly weather or just the thought of something hearty, nothing hits the spot quite like a steaming bowl of homemade seafood noodle soup. The best part? You don’t need a lot of ingredients to make it, and the result is nothing short of amazing. The rich, flavorful broth, combined with the tender noodles, fresh vegetables, and seafood, is a combination that brings comfort with every bite.

---

Last weekend, we decided to treat ourselves to this very dish. After a lazy morning of sleeping in (because, who doesn’t love a good lie-in? 😆), we realized we had all the ingredients we needed to make this dish, so we got to work. All it took was some simple ingredients I already had at home: a bit of coin broth (or dashi stock), fish sauce, and soy sauce to create a deeply flavorful broth. Once that was done, we tossed in some of our favorite vegetables and seafood. The result? A delicious, soul-warming seafood noodle soup!

Ingredients

To make a rich and flavorful seafood noodle soup, you’ll need the following ingredients:

• Broth Tablets (or dashi stock) – 3 coins: These little broth tablets are a game-changer for creating a flavorful base without the hassle of making stock from scratch. If you don’t have coin broth, you can always use any pre-made dashi stock. Either way, it creates a rich umami flavor that forms the backbone of the soup.

• Anchovy Fish Sauce – 3 tbsp: Fish sauce is a staple in many Southeast Asian dishes and is perfect for adding that deep, savory umami flavor to the broth. It’s essential for giving the soup that signature flavor boost.

• Soy Sauce – 3 tbsp: Soy sauce adds saltiness and a touch of richness to the broth. Together with the fish sauce, it creates a beautifully balanced salty foundation.

• Zucchini: Adds a mild, fresh crunch and slight sweetness to the dish. It pairs perfectly with the other vegetables and complements the seafood.

• Carrot: The natural sweetness of the carrot balances out the rich, salty broth and adds a lovely color to the soup. It also contributes a slight crunch, which is a nice textural contrast to the noodles and seafood.

• Mushrooms: I used mushrooms to add an earthy depth to the broth. Mushrooms absorb the flavors of the broth and add a satisfying bite.

• Onion: Onions bring a savory and aromatic flavor to the soup, enhancing the overall taste of the broth.

• Shrimp: Shrimp is the star of the seafood in this dish. Its natural sweetness and delicate texture make it a perfect addition to the soup, adding richness and a touch of luxury.

• Octopus: While optional, octopus adds extra flavor and a slightly chewy texture that pairs wonderfully with the shrimp. If you can get fresh or frozen octopus, it’s totally worth the addition!

Any vegetable and seafoods are fine!

Once you have all these ingredients ready, you’re set to go! The best part about this dish is how customizable it is. You can add more seafood if you like, or swap in different vegetables based on what you have on hand. The broth is simple, yet full of flavor, so you can experiment to make it your own.

How to Make It

Now, let’s talk about how to make this delicious seafood noodle soup step by step.

1. Start by making the broth. In a pot of boiling water, add the coin broth, anchovy fish sauce, and soy sauce. Stir everything together and let it simmer. The broth should develop a deep, savory, and slightly salty flavor from the fish sauce and soy sauce, while the coin broth will provide that rich, umami-packed base. This combination is what makes the broth so flavorful and comforting.

   

   

2. Add the vegetables. Next, chop up the zucchini, carrot, onion, and mushrooms into bite-sized pieces. Once the broth has been simmering for a few minutes, add the vegetables to the pot. Let them cook in the broth, so they can absorb all the delicious flavors from the broth. The zucchini and carrot will soften and become tender, while the mushrooms will soak up the savory goodness from the fish sauce and soy sauce.

   

3. Add the noodles. Once the vegetables are starting to soften, it’s time to add the noodles. We used kalguksu noodles, which are thick, chewy Korean wheat noodles that are perfect for soup. Add them to the pot and let them cook until they’re nice and soft. The noodles will absorb some of the broth, making them extra flavorful.

   

4. Finally, add the seafood. Now it’s time to add the star ingredients—the shrimp and octopus! Cut the octopus into bite-sized pieces and add them to the soup along with the shrimp. Let the seafood cook through in the simmering broth. The shrimp should turn pink and tender, and the octopus will soak up all the rich, umami flavors from the broth.

   

   Once the seafood is fully cooked and the noodles are nice and soft, your seafood noodle soup is ready to serve!

   

   This dish is so comforting and flavorful—it’s like a hug in a bowl. The combination of the savory broth, tender noodles, and fresh seafood makes it perfect for rainy days or whenever you’re in the mood for something warm and filling.

5. Serve and enjoy. You can serve the soup as-is, but I like to add some kimchi on the side for a little extra flavor and crunch. The spicy, tangy kimchi pairs beautifully with the soup, balancing out the rich broth. If you like a little extra heat, you can add some sliced green chili peppers on top to give it that extra kick.

That’s it!

This seafood noodle soup is so easy to make and incredibly satisfying. The broth comes together in just minutes, and the whole dish can be made in about 20 minutes from start to finish. It’s perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a cozy meal on a rainy day.

---

Customize Your Seafood Noodle Soup

One of the best things about this dish is that you can easily customize it based on your preferences or what ingredients you have on hand. If you’re not a fan of octopus, you can skip it and use just shrimp or add other types of seafood like squid, mussels, or clams. You can also adjust the veggies based on what’s in season or what you have in your fridge. Bok choy, spinach, and bell peppers would all make great additions.

---

This seafood noodle soup recipe is perfect because it’s simple, flavorful, and quick to prepare. The key is in the broth - the combination of coin broth, fish sauce, and soy sauce creates a deep, savory flavor that complements the fresh seafood and vegetables perfectly. The noodles add a nice texture, while the seafood provides a sweet, tender bite that elevates the whole dish. It’s one of those recipes that’s hard to mess up and always delivers comforting results.

Whether you’re looking for a quick dinner, a rainy day meal, or just something hearty to fill you up, this seafood noodle soup has got you covered. The ingredients are easy to find, the process is straightforward, and the results are always delicious.

Enjoy your homemade Seafood Noodle Soup— a perfect dinner or lunch for cozy days or whenever you want something warm and comforting!