Hobeop-guk (Korean Zucchini Shrimp Soup)

Quick answer

Total time: 25 min
Level: Easy
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients: 6

About this dish

Hobak-guk is a mild, clear Korean soup built around thinly sliced half-moon zucchini.

Small shrimp go in with the zucchini, infusing the broth with a gentle seafood sweetness that supports rather than overpowers the vegetable's own delicate flavor. The seasoning is deliberately restrained - soup soy sauce and minced garlic only - so the zucchini's natural softness and subtle sweetness define the bowl. As the slices simmer, they turn translucent and tender while still holding their shape on a spoon. The entire soup comes together in about fifteen minutes, making it one of the fastest and most low-effort side soups in the Korean home kitchen. A handful of sliced green onion stirred in at the end brings a bright herbal finish to an otherwise quiet, comforting bowl.

Ingredients

servings

IngredientAmountUnit

korean zucchini300 gg

shrimp120 gg

water1100 mlml

soup soy sauce1 tbsptbsp

minced garlic1 tsptsp

green onion1 eaea

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Instructions

Read the steps as a cooking flow: prep, heat, seasoning, doneness control, and finish.

6 steps

1

Prep

Slice 300 g Korean zucchini into 0.7 cm half-moons, keeping the pieces as even as possible.

If they are cut too thin, they soften quickly in the soup and lose their shape before serving.
2

Step

Make a shallow slit along the back of 120 g shrimp and remove the dark vein.

Rinse them briefly under water, then drain well so the broth stays clean and the shrimp flavor remains fresh.
3

Control

Put 1,100 ml water and 1 teaspoon minced garlic in a pot, then bring it to a strong boil over high heat.

When it bubbles vigorously, skim off any foam so the soup stays clear.
4

Step

Add the shrimp and lower the heat to medium for about 2 minutes.

When the shells or flesh turn pink and the broth smells lightly of seafood, move on before the shrimp turns tough.
5

Control

Add the zucchini and 1 tablespoon soup soy sauce, then simmer for 4 to 5 minutes.

Once the cut sides look slightly translucent, stir gently and only as needed to avoid breaking the slices.
6

Control

Add the diagonally sliced green onion and simmer for 1 more minute.

Taste the broth, adjust lightly with salt if needed, and turn off the heat while the zucchini still keeps a little firmness.

Practical Cooking Checks

The cues that matter most while cooking.

Key technique: Hobeop-guk prepares a mild, clear seafood broth using thinly sliced zucchini and small shrimp.
Finish cue: Once the cut sides look slightly translucent, stir gently and only as needed to avoid breaking the slices.
Avoid this: Do not overcook zucchini to keep texture.