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Sizzling Korean cuisine, dakgalbi, has been popular all over the world due to its strong flavours. This spicy stir-fried chicken coming from the city of Chuncheon in Gangwon Province has become one of the most ordered dishes in Korea. Tender chicken, crisp veggies, and a sauce made with gochujang that strikes the ideal balance between sweetness and heat are all combined in dakgalbi. It can be mouth-watering and interesting and most of all, enjoyable for supper. You can eat this delicious dish at home if you prepare it with the right ingredients and some advanced preparation.
Origin Of The Dish
The dish first emerged in the 1960s in Chuncheon, a city famous for its chicken farms. At the time, chicken was relatively expensive, prompting the creation of dakgalbi as a more affordable way to enjoy the meat. While "dakgalbi" translates to "chicken ribs," the dish is typically made with boneless chicken thighs. Its affordability and generous portions quickly made it popular among labourers and university students, leading to its spread beyond Chuncheon. As dakgalbi's popularity grew, so did the number of dedicated dakgalbi restaurants across South Korea.
Ingredients For Dakgalbi
The following ingredients are necessary to make dakgalbi: soy sauce, garlic, ginger, sesame oil, gochujang (Korean chilli paste), gochugaru (Korean chilli flakes), and chicken thighs for their juiciness. Cut the chicken into evenly sized pieces for consistent cooking, and marinate it with the above-mentioned ingredients to enhance the flavours. In addition to the chicken, colourful vegetables such as carrots, onions, cabbage, and sweet potatoes are essential. For a complete meal, serve dakgalbi with cooked noodles or rice, which will absorb the delicious sauce. Adding lettuce leaves allows for a fresh, crunchy wrap, enhancing the overall dining experience.
Preparation Of The Dish
First, get the marinade ready. To prepare the marinade, mix gochujang, soy sauce, gochugaru, grated ginger, chopped garlic, and sesame oil in a big bowl. Make sure the chicken pieces are thoroughly coated before adding them to the bowl. Let the chicken marinate for at least 30 minutes, but marinating overnight in the refrigerator yields the finest flavour.
As the chicken is marinating, chop your veggies. To ensure that the sweet potatoes cook through, cut them into thin slices. Julienne the cabbage and carrots. Slice the scallions very fine. The secret is to have everything prepared and at your fingertips when you begin cooking, as dakgalbi is often made quickly to preserve the flavours.
Cooking Process
You'll need a big, flat pan or a traditional Korean hot plate to cook dakgalbi. For seasoning and to avoid foods from sticking on the surface of the pan, use sesame oil and heat on medium-high. The marinated chicken should be added first and seared for a few minutes before stirring once the oil is heated. In this way, the juice and flavour are prevented.
Add the sliced sweet potatoes and other veggies when the chicken is almost done. Periodically stir to make sure food cooks evenly. As the other veggies soften and absorb the marinade's flavours, the sweet potatoes should become tender. It should take about 15 minutes to cook through, giving the ingredients time to combine and create a flavourful, balanced dish. To suit your taste, add extra soy sauce or gochujang to the spice.
Image Credit: Flickr
Serving And Garnishing
The dakgalbi can be served once the chicken and veggies are cooked through. Stir everything well in the pan so that the sauce is properly distributed. Due to their bright colours, this dish becomes the centrepiece you will definitely want to have at your dinner table.
Serve the dakgalbi hot, ideally straight out of the pan or skillet that was used to make it. For a true Korean experience, serve the filling on lettuce leaves with a bowl of steaming rice and maybe some kimchi on the side. To improve the taste even more, please use Ssamjang; this is a spicy hot paste like dipping sauce. In order to ensure that no sauce is wasted, some varieties additionally include the use of rice or noodles. Savour your dakgalbi with loved ones, appreciating the communal nature of the meal as you all dip in together.
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons
This recipe is delicious and warm, with marinated chicken and fresh vegetables added to spicy gochujang sauce. Once you have the method down, you can always try new ingredients and variations, for instance, substituting the veggies for the season’s produce or the type of protein. Enjoy this amazing Korean meal with your loved ones around the table; it's the ideal dish to share and celebrate!
