1/4tspfine sea salt, can be adjusted to your taste
A fewsprinklesground black pepper
Instructions
Preheat a wok (or large deep pot) on low heat until heated. Add the oil, Korean chili flakes, minced garlic, minced ginger and the green onion and stir constantly for a minute or two. Take care not to burn the chili paste as this can give a bitter taste.
Turn the heat up to medium and add the zucchini, mushrooms, cabbage, and onion. Cook them until lightly wilted (for 1 to 2 mins). Add the mussels, littleneck clams, prawns and squid (or baby octopus) and stir a bit.
Add the rice wine, soy sauce and Korean soup stock (or water). Turn the heat up to medium high. Boil the soup covered until all ingredients are cooked through (about 8 mins) while avoiding overcooking. Remove the cover and add the salt and a few sprinkles of ground black pepper. Add the baby spinach just before serving. (If using baby bok choy, you may need to cook a little longer.)
While the soup is boiling (in step 3), cook the noodles in boiling water following the manufacturer’s instructions. Drain and rinse the noodles briefly in cold water. (Step 3 and 4 should be completed around the same time.)
Divide the noodles, seafood, and the soup between three soup bowls. Serve immediately. (If you prefer, you can also serve the soup with steamed rice instead of the noodles.)
Notes
If you want to add another layer of spicy flavor, use some Korean chili oil (my homemade version). It adds nice bright red color to the dish and it brings out the rich depth of flavor.Alternatively, you can also use store bought Korean chili oil instead. I also have tried S&B La-Yu chili oil in the past and it worked well. This oil is actually a bit spicier than my homemade chili oil and gives less depth of flavor and color.