Name: Kimchi, Plant-Based Meat, and Tofu Soup
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 2 teaspoons vegetable oil; 12 ounces plant-based ground meat; ¼ teaspoon table salt; ½ teaspoon pepper; 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger; 3 cups water; 3 cups kimchi , drained with ¼ cup brine reserved, chopped coarse; 2 cups vegetable broth; 8 ounces firm tofu , cut into ½-inch pieces; ½ cup mirin; 2 tablespoons soy sauce; 4 scallions , sliced thin; 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil

Why This Recipe Works

Kimchi stew can be found on dinner tables across Korea in an almost limitless number of variations. All of these variations share a warming, tangy depth that inspired us to develop this plant-based soup. We first cook the plant-based meat with a little oil until a thin fond forms on the bottom of the pot, later scraping up and stirring those browned bits back into the broth to intensify the soup's savor. Kimchi lends the soup its spicy tang, and aromatic ginger, mirin, and soy sauce round out the broth's flavors. Using firm tofu ensures that the cubes hold together when stirred into the soup along with the broth. A garnish of scallions and toasted sesame oil finishes each serving with freshness and complex nuttiness.

Before You Begin

Make sure to save the kimchi brine when draining the kimchi. If there's not enough brine in the jar to yield ¼ cup, add water to compensate. Note that the flavor and spiciness of kimchi can vary from brand to brand. Make sure to use firm or extra-firm (not soft) tofu here.

Instructions

Heat vegetable oil in Dutch oven over medium heat until shimmering. Add ground meat, salt, and pepper and cook, breaking up meat with wooden spoon, until firm crumbles form, about 3 minutes.

Add ginger and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in water, kimchi and reserved brine, broth, tofu, mirin, and soy sauce. Scrape up browned bits on bottom of pot using metal spatula or wooden spoon. Bring to boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes.

Off heat, stir in scallions and toasted sesame oil. Serve.