IU's Birthday Seaweed Soup (미역국)
Why this food?
IU's birthday tradition and Korea's ultimate comfort soup. Every Korean eats this on their birthday. Rich, savory, and surprisingly easy with wakame from Walmart.
🇰🇷 K-Culture Tip
The reason Koreans eat miyeokguk on their birthday: mothers eat seaweed soup for weeks after giving birth, as it's rich in iodine and iron for postpartum recovery. So eating it on your birthday is a quiet way of honoring your mother for surviving childbirth. IU celebrates this tradition publicly every year — making it one of the most personal and universal K-pop fan connection moments.
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Substitute Ingredients
All available at Walmart
| Original | Substitute |
|---|---|
Dried miyeok (brown seaweed) 미역 | Dried wakame seaweed Expands 5-6x when soaked — a little goes a long way Shop at Walmart |
Beef 소고기 | Beef sirloin (thinly sliced) Freeze 30 min then slice paper-thin yourself Shop at Walmart |
Sesame oil 참기름 | Toasted sesame oil Kadoya Do not substitute — essential flavor Shop at Walmart |
🛒 Can't find it at Walmart? Try a Korean grocery store
Your Shopping List
Walmart edition
- 0.5 oz (small pkg) Dried wakame seaweed
- 4 oz Beef sirloin (thinly sliced)
- 1 teaspoon Toasted sesame oil
Instructions
- 1
Soak 1/2 oz dried wakame seaweed in cold water 10 minutes, drain and gently squeeze dry
- 2
Sauté seaweed in sesame oil 2 minutes with 2 minced garlic cloves until fragrant
- 3
Add 4 oz thinly sliced beef sirloin, stir-fry 2 minutes until browned
- 4
Pour in 4 cups water or beef broth, bring to boil then reduce to simmer
- 5
Cook 10 minutes, season with soy sauce and salt — serve alongside steamed rice
