Hearty Chicken Noodle Soup (Dak Kalguksu): A Rich and Flavorful Recipe
The Perfect Homemade Dak Kalguksu Recipe for a Special Meal
While rice is a staple in Korean cuisine, noodle dishes often become the star of the show when we crave something special. The chewy texture of noodles offers a delightful contrast to the softness of rice, and many of us have fond childhood memories of enjoying noodle dishes at restaurants on weekends or holidays. Today, we’re diving into a recipe for Dak Kalguksu, a comforting noodle soup made with a deeply flavorful chicken broth, tender shredded chicken, and fresh vegetables. Get ready to create a soul-warming meal that rivals any special occasion dish!
Main Ingredients- 1/2 chicken (approx. 500-600g)
- 100g chicken breast
- 200g fresh kalguksu noodles
- 1 pack herbal chicken soup ingredients (store-bought)
- 150g chives
- 1 red chili pepper
- 1/2 bunch scallions
- 2L water
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
This recipe content is best viewed with photos provided by Maple Daniel on Man-Gye Recipe.
Step 2
Let’s start by preparing to boil the chicken for the broth, as this takes the most time. In a large pot, add about 2L of water, enough to fully submerge half a chicken. Add one pack of herbal chicken soup ingredients. We’ll also add the chicken breast now; it can be sliced and used as a topping later. Skim off any scum that rises to the surface during boiling to ensure a clear and clean broth.
Step 3
Now, let’s prepare the vegetables. Wash the chives thoroughly, pat them dry, and cut them into approximately 5cm lengths. Finely chop the scallions for garnish. Slice the red chili pepper diagonally into thin pieces.
Step 4
Once the water comes to a rolling boil, reduce the heat to medium-high and let the chicken simmer for about 30 minutes, or until fully cooked. Keep an eye on the water level and add a little more water if it reduces too much during cooking.
Step 5
If the water significantly reduces, add a little more water as needed while continuing to boil.
Step 6
After simmering for 30 minutes, remove the cooked chicken from the pot and let it cool slightly. Once it’s cool enough to handle, shred the chicken meat. Slice the chicken breast, which was boiled with the chicken, into thin slices about 0.5cm thick for garnish.
Step 7
Season the chicken broth by adding 1/2 Tbsp of soy sauce (or salt), 1/3 tsp of black pepper, and 1 tsp of minced garlic. Adjust the seasoning further with salt if needed to reach your preferred taste.
Step 8
When the broth returns to a boil, add the fresh kalguksu noodles. If the noodles have a lot of extra flour coating them, which can make the broth cloudy, a helpful tip is to boil the noodles separately in water first, then drain them and add them to the broth for a clearer soup.
Step 9
Gently stir the noodles with chopsticks to prevent them from sticking together as they cook. Once the noodles are nearly done, add the prepared chives and cook for another minute. Finally, arrange the shredded chicken, sliced red chili, chopped scallions, and a sprinkle of sesame seeds on top. Your delicious Dak Kalguksu is ready to be enjoyed!
