Name: Korean Spicy Seafood Noodle Soup. Jjamppong
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 3 tbsp oil; 1 leek (or 3 green onion, chopped); 3 garlic cloves (chopped); 1/3 lb pork loin (thinly sliced, optional); 3 tbsp Korean chili flakes (gochugaru); 1 tsp cayenne pepper (optional); 1/4 green cabbage (sliced); 1 onion (sliced); 1 zucchini (sliced); 4 cup low sodium chicken broth; 1 cup water; 2 tbsp oyster sauce; 1-2 tbsp Korean soup soy sauce (gukganjang); freshly ground pepper (to taste); 1 1/2 - 2 lb variety of seafood; shrimp,squid (calamrai), mussel ( cleaned, shelled, or sliced); Wheat noodles (or spaghetti noodles)

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Jjamppong is Korean spicy seafood noodle soup and it is a popular menu in Korean-Chinese restaurants. This noodle soup is easy to make at home. Use a variety of seafood for a better tasting and satisfying soup.

There are two majorly popular Chinese inspired Korean foods. One is the Jjajangmyun and the other is this Korean spicy seafood noodle soup called Jjamppong (짬뽕). If you go to any Korean-Chinese restaurants, you will always find these two items on the menu for sure.

When the weather outside is chilly and dreary, Korean people often order this Korean spicy seafood noodle soup, Jjamppong, from their local restaurant as a delivery. Yes, Korea is a heaven an earth when it comes to the food delivery. Anything can be delivered anywhere, anytime. I miss the convenient life style in Korea, which is hard to find in the country I am currently living in.

This Korean spicy seafood noodle soup, Jjampong, is also easy to replicate at home. Everybody has a different way of making it. So I am adding my version to the list.

Use Variety of Seafood

I have to tell you that it is not easy to find fresh seafood in the suburbs of Buenos Aires. I wanted to make this Jjamppong for a long time but couldn’t do it because of the unavailability of ingredients.

So when my local seafood seller stocked squid (calamari), shrimp, and mussels the other day, I knew I had to grab some before they sold out. Once they sold out, I might have to wait another few months to see them again.

Serve the spicy Korean seafood soup over wheat noodles.

You can use any of your favorite seafood for this recipe. I picked squid (calamari), shrimp, and mussels. Use at least 2-3 different types to get a good flavor in the soup.

If you don’t like squid, then use scallops instead. If you don’t like seafood at all, then this is obviously not the right dish for you. But I am telling you, this is one heck of good noodle soup that you shouldn’t miss if you love spicy soup and seafood.

If you want to see how to clean fresh squid, check my stir-fried spicy squid recipe to get an idea. It can be yucky, but fun to try at least once in your lifetime.

Making Jjamppong is not that difficult. It is rather quick to make, too. So let’s get to work.

How to Make Jjamppong

You will need some vegetables. Green cabbage, zucchini, and onions are recommended for this recipe. You will also need chopped leeks or green onions.

First, saute the leeks (green onion) and garlic in oil until soft.

Some people like to add a little amount of pork in the soup. If you want to do so, stir-fry the pork at this stage. Pork will add another layer of flavor in the soup.

Add the Korean chili flakes. Yes, 3 tablespoons!

It seems like an awfully large amount of chili but this is meant to be intensively red and spicy. Actually you will be surprised that the outcome is not overly spicy like you think. This soup is NOT going to numb your senses. I promise.

Tip: If you want suicidal heat to knock yourself out, add some cayenne pepper. That will bring a plenty of extra heat to the soup. This might help relieve cold symptoms like nasal congestion. It always helped me.

Add the cabbage and onion and continue to saute until they are softened, about 2-3 minutes.

Add the zucchini slices and cook 1 more minute, then add the chicken stock (I recommend to use low sodium). Add the oyster sauce to the soup, mix and bring the whole thing to a boil.

Simmer for a few minutes. When the vegetables are soft and tender, add the seafood. Season with Korean soy sauce for soup. Adjust the seasoning according to your taste. Now, your Korean spicy seafood noodle soup (Jjamppong) is ready to serve.

Prepare wheat noodles according to your package’s directions and place individual servings in bowls. If you can’t find Asian style wheat noodles, use spaghetti noodles instead.

Ladle the hot soup over the noodles.

Mussel, shrimp, squid are used to make this Korean spicy seafood noodle soup.

Take a moment to stare at the beauty for 2 seconds first, just to pay respect to the chef. Then start the slurping noodles. Don’t forget the spicy broth. Unless you added the cayenne pepper, it is not overly spicy as you would think.

You’re gonna love this, folks! I devoured the entire bowl of soup in less than 5 minutes, I think.

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