Freshwater snail soup that’s fit for a son-in-law

One of the most representative foods of the North Chungcheong region, olgaengiguk - or freshwater snail soup - is a simple dish that packs in the nutrition.

Residents of the region refer to freshwater snails as olgaengi, though people in other areas use the term daseulgi. Olgaengi is a tiny type of shellfish measuring approximately 8 millimeters in diameter. Tack on the word guk, which means “soup” in Korean, and you have a delicious meal made of soybean paste broth (doenjang), red chili pepper paste (gochujang), Korean leek (buchu) and, of course, those itsy bitsy freshwater snails.

A local legend on how the soup was created goes something like this: Mrs. Lee in North Chungcheong Province was never fond of one of her sons-in-law, who was a heavy drinker with a poor complexion that underscored his ill health. Instead, Lee favored her other two sons-in-law, and she readily whipped up some Korean chicken soup for them when they visited - following a tradition that calls for cooking a brood hen to show love and affection.

However, she did not do the same when the other son-in-law came to visit. Instead, she decided to collect small freshwater snails, which littered the edge of the stream next to her house. She then concocted an effortless recipe of soybean paste soup (doenjangguk) and tossed in the snails.

To her surprise, the third son-in-law fell in love with the soup and visited her even more often.

After a year or two, both his complexion and his overall health improved. Coincidently, he became successful in everything he pursued, and relations between Mrs. Lee and the son-in-law improved.

Whether you believe the legend or not, olgaengi does indeed have many health benefits. They are high in carotene and calcium, contain no fat and can help alleviate liver-related ailments. And if you’re suffering from a weak digestive system or constipation, olgaengi might be your best bet.

Oh, and the snail soup is supposed to be perfect for a hangover, as it cleanses the body of toxins. Whether it will improve relations with your mother-in-law, however, is up for debate.

In the past, locals used to wait until sunset to collect olgaengi near lakes or rivers, as the snails usually hide under river beds during the day and start to venture out when the sun goes down. Locals then steamed the snails or cooked them in soups.

If you have an appetite for something traditional, refreshing and healthy, olgaengiguk is definitely worth a try.

*For more information, visit www.visitkorea.or.kr. Information provided by Korea Tourism Organization

By Kim Min-hyung Contributing writer [[email protected]]