Leek Pagaejang Recipe ( Vegan Korean Spicy Leek Soup )

Leek has a milder and sweeter aroma compared to green onions, making it a great alternative for Korean-style soups.
Today, I’ll share a simple yet flavorful Vegan Leek Pagaejang recipe — a perfect cozy soup for two.

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Ingredients (for 2 servings)

• 1 leek (about 2 servings)
• 900g water
• 6 oyster mushrooms

Seasoning:

• 3 tbsp cooking oil
• 3 tsp Korean chili powder (gochugaru)
• 1 tbsp vegetable stock
• 1 tbsp vegan oyster sauce
• 2 tbsp vegan fish sauce
• 1 tbsp minced garlic
• Salt & black pepper to taste

- How to Prepare Leeks
Cut the leek at the boundary between the white and green parts. Gently rinse the white section and slice it into large pieces — its tender texture works beautifully as a substitute for green onions or onions. The green part tends to trap soil between the layers, so slice it roughly and rinse thoroughly. Since the green section is a bit tougher, slice it thinly into small pieces to prepare.

 

I only used the light green part of the leek — the darker green part tends to be too tough for this soup.

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Instructions

1. Sauté the leeks
Heat 3 tablespoons of cooking oil in a pot over medium heat.
Add the leeks and sauté until they become soft and slightly translucent.
Then, add 3 teaspoons of gochugaru (Korean chili powder) and stir-fry gently to bring out the flavor.

 

2. Make the broth
Pour in 900g of water, then add the vegetable stock, vegan oyster sauce, vegan fish sauce, and minced garlic.

 

3. Simmer
Let it simmer until the leeks become tender and release their flavor.
Season with salt and black pepper to taste.

 

4. Finish
Add the oyster mushrooms and simmer for a few more minutes — and it’s ready to serve!

 

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Tips

• You can replace leeks with green onions if needed.
• Adjust the amount of chili powder depending on how spicy you like it.
• Substitute oyster mushrooms with shiitake, enoki, or button mushrooms for variety.

 

The mild sweetness of leeks and the deep aroma of chili oil come together to create a rich, comforting broth.
Even without meat, this Leek pagaeljang offers a deeply satisfying and warming flavor — perfect for a cozy meal.

 

 

Guten appetit!