Instant Pot Korean Seaweed Soup (Miyeokguk, 미역국)
- Jan 29, 2018
- 2 min read
If you grew up in a Korean household, chances are you ate miyeokguk on your birthday. Korean moms typically will make this "Birthday Soup" for their children to celebrate. This is because Korean moms will eat tons of this soup after giving birth! They say that miyeokguk is good for breast milk production, and healing from delivery. I can tell you from experience that miyeokguk was a soothing meal after delivering a baby! I wish I had an Instant Pot after delivering my kids, as it would have made making this soup so much easier!
Quick Notes:
⏲ ~30 min cooking time
🇰🇷 Some ingredients may need to be bought at a Korean grocery
👉Click the links to buy Korean ingredients shipped to your door!
👨👩👧👦 Serves 6+ people
👍 Very easy and great for beginners!
What you need:
50g of dried seaweed
1 lb of beef cut into small pieces (I used beef flap for this recipe, but short rib would work great too)
1 tbsp of sesame oil
4 cloves of minced garlic
12 cups of water
2-3 tbsp of soup soy sauce
Salt to taste
Prep your ingredients:
Soak about 50g of dried seaweed in water overnight, or at least 3 hrs (most Korean dried seaweed packages come in 100g bags). Chop the seaweed into bite sized chunks (doesn't have to be perfect!) and rinse under running water. Mince your garlic.
Instant Pot Time!
Press SAUTE button. When the display says HOT, add sesame oil. Add the beef and saute for several minutes until browned. Add the rehydrated seaweed and garlic. Saute/mix the ingredients together. Add the water. Then add the soup soy sauce. Close the lid. Press MEAT/STEW, and set the time to 15 minutes. Set the seal to SEALING. When the timer is done, QUICK RELEASE. Add Salt to your taste. Ahjumma tip: if you prefer a softer seaweed texture, then increase your time to 20 minutes.
Serve this with a pickled side dish and rice!
And when you're done, be sure to post some pictures and tag them with #ahjummarecipes. I'd love to see your results!




















I've been contemplating the versatility of kitchen gadgets like the Instant Pot for weeks now, and your post really hit home with that sentiment. It’s amazing how a single appliance can completely transform how we approach certain dishes. Seeing your Miyeokguk come together so efficiently gave me a whole new appreciation for what my own Instant Pot is capable of https://www.cqu.edu.au/ Honestly, the effort you clearly put into developing and sharing this recipe is obvious, and I’m so grateful for that. It’s not just about the convenience; it's about making authentic flavors accessible. Taking a step back, I can see how a more structured comparison framework for different Instant Pot functionalities could be incredibly useful for home cooks looking to…
This is such a fantastic breakdown of Miyeokguk, and I really appreciate the detailed insights you've shared. It's worth noting that the Instant Pot really does keep evolving, and seeing it applied to traditional dishes like this is fascinating. My own experience with my Instant Pot is pretty close to what you've described; it's become my go-to for so many recipes that used to take ages. I particularly resonate with your point about the depth of flavor you can achieve so quickly https://www.afr.com/ I remember trying to make this soup on the stovetop before and it was a much longer process, often with less consistent results. Much obliged for the fresh perspective on how to elevate this classic dish with…
This is so true; the Instant Pot really does need more attention for its versatility! Taking a step back, I'd suggest adding a resources section for further reading on Instant Pot cooking techniques. It would be a fantastic addition for those looking to dive deeper into its capabilities beyond just specific recipes https://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/ Honestly, I'm genuinely impressed by this read on the Miyeokguk recipe; it's beautifully explained. I'd also add that many thanks for giving the Instant Pot the attention it deserves in your blog, highlighting how it can simplify complex dishes. In the same vein, the time I invested in mastering my Instant Pot has paid off in unexpected ways, especially on busy weeknights when a quick, healthy meal…
Wow, this is the Instant Pot explained perfectly! I wholeheartedly agree with everything you've shared here. Honestly, I came looking for a quick guide on using the Instant Pot for Miyeokguk, and I ended up engrossed in the whole post, reading it through twice. It's so helpful to see these concepts laid out so clearly https://aana.com.au/self-regulation/codes-guidelines/wagering-code/ I can definitely relate to making every beginner mistake imaginable when I first started; it's quite the learning curve. So, I really appreciate this guide as a resource. The point about the network effects surrounding the Instant Pot is also a really interesting angle that I hadn't considered before, but it makes so much sense now. I'm genuinely so grateful you took the time…
This recipe for Korean Seaweed Soup is absolutely fantastic, and I really appreciate the detailed breakdown of the iteration process. It’s so true how much trial and error goes into perfecting a dish, especially with a tool like the Instant Pot. Honestly, I'm finally reaching a point with my own Instant Pot where I feel confident enough to start sharing tips and tricks, much like you have here https://payid.com.au/ It's rare for me to save cooking guides, but this one is definitely a keeper for my digital recipe box. The nuance you’ve captured regarding the subtle flavor profiles is particularly impressive; it’s not just about following steps but understanding the why behind them. Seeing this done so well makes me…