Dakgalbi Risotto with Chamdream Rice
A Nourishing ‘Dakgalbi Risotto’ Made Delicious from the Rice Grains
High-quality ingredients make cooking a joy! Especially rice, which truly shines when cooked into porridge or risotto. This recipe features a delicious risotto made with ‘Chamdream Rice’ from Gyeonggi Province, known for its chewy grains that create a creamy texture and a nutty aroma. It’s a unique and nourishing dish perfect for hot weather, offering both delightful flavor and essential nutrients: ‘Dakgalbi Risotto’. While inspired by Western risotto, the spicy and sweet dakgalbi sauce prevents it from being heavy, making it appealing even to older palates. The addition of savory cheese makes it a hit with kids, while the fresh tomatoes and moist rice, paired with tender chicken breast, create a harmonious blend of flavors and textures. It’s a dish that will undoubtedly enrich your dining experience.
Risotto Ingredients- 2 cups Chamdream Rice (from Gyeonggi Province)
- 200g smoked chicken breast
- 1 handful mushrooms (variety of your choice)
- 1/4 onion
- 2 ladles tomato sauce (approx. 200ml)
- 2-3 ladles broth (chicken, vegetable, or water)
- 2-3 perilla leaves
- About 4 slices mozzarella cheese
- 5-6 cherry tomatoes
- A little vegetable oil (olive oil or canola oil)
- A pinch of salt
- A little herb powder like parsley (for garnish)
Dakgalbi Sauce Ingredients- 1 Tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1/2 Tbsp sugar
- 1/2 Tbsp cooking wine (mirin)
- 1/2 Tbsp perilla oil
- A pinch of black pepper
- 1 Tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1/2 Tbsp sugar
- 1/2 Tbsp cooking wine (mirin)
- 1/2 Tbsp perilla oil
- A pinch of black pepper
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
This risotto recipe follows the authentic Italian method of soaking and sautéing the rice before cooking. Our local Gyeonggi Chamdream Rice is perfect for porridges and risottos due to its soft texture and nutty aroma. Instead of using leftover rice, we’re making a proper risotto by toasting the grains. High-quality ingredients inspire us to put in that extra effort for a truly rewarding dish. Chamdream Rice retains its chewy texture even after cooking, while still creating a moist and tender risotto that fills your mouth with a wonderful fragrance.
Step 2
First, rinse the Chamdream Rice thoroughly. Drain the water and let the rice soak for about 30 minutes. This soaking process ensures the rice grains absorb enough moisture, leading to a softer and more delicious risotto.
Step 3
Let’s prepare the other ingredients. Dice the smoked chicken breast into bite-sized pieces. Prepare your mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, and onion as well. Using a variety of mushrooms can add a richer flavor.
Step 4
Now, let’s make the dakgalbi sauce. Slice half of the smoked chicken breast into half-moon shapes for plating, and dice the remaining half into small cubes for the risotto. This way, you can achieve both beautiful presentation and great taste in the dish.
Step 5
Heat a pan with a little vegetable oil. Add the diced smoked chicken breast and pour in all the prepared dakgalbi sauce. Stir well to coat the chicken evenly and sauté until it’s nicely browned. The sauce will slightly caramelize, enhancing the flavor.
Step 6
Let’s get the risotto pan ready. Finely mince the onion and chop the mushrooms into bite-sized pieces. Halve the cherry tomatoes after removing their stems.
Step 7
In another pan, heat a bit of vegetable oil. Add the minced onion and sliced mushrooms, and sauté over medium-low heat until fragrant. Adding a pinch of salt at this stage helps bring out the natural sweetness of the vegetables.
Step 8
Once the vegetables release their moisture and begin to soften, add the soaked Chamdream Rice and sauté together with the vegetables for another 2-3 minutes. Coating the rice grains with oil will result in a richer and stickier risotto.
Step 9
When the rice grains become slightly translucent, add the tomato sauce and stir to combine with the rice. Using store-bought tomato sauce is a convenient way to add flavor. Be careful as the sauce can burn easily, so reduce the heat to low.
Step 10
At this point, add all the cooked dakgalbi, except for the pieces reserved for plating, and mix well with the rice.
Step 11
Now, we’ll gradually add the broth and cook the risotto. Stir continuously to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pot, simmering over low heat. Using chicken broth will provide a deeper flavor, but vegetable broth, kelp broth, anchovy broth, or even plain water will work well. It’s best to add the broth little by little, allowing the rice to absorb it, rather than pouring it all in at once.
Step 12
Once the broth begins to simmer, stir everything together thoroughly. Then, reduce the heat to very low, cover the pot with a lid, and let it steam for 2-3 minutes to finish cooking. Chamdream Rice cooks quickly due to its soft and moist nature, saving you cooking time.
Step 13
While it’s steaming, taste the risotto and adjust the seasoning with a pinch of salt if needed. It’s already delicious with its chewy, moist, and tender texture.
Step 14
Now for the most enjoyable part: plating! It’s always more delightful to eat food that looks beautiful. Scoop the finished risotto into a bowl and shape it using the back of a spoon.
Step 15
Carefully invert the bowl onto a serving plate, and voila! Your beautifully shaped risotto will be revealed, looking just like it came from a fine restaurant.
Step 16
Gently press down on the top surface of the inverted risotto with a spoon to flatten it. Arrange the halved cherry tomatoes attractively on top as a garnish.
Step 17
Next, place about 2 slices of mozzarella cheese over the risotto and microwave for about 1 minute, or until the cheese is melted and gooey. The sight of melting cheese is truly appetizing.
Step 18
Sprinkle thinly sliced perilla leaves over the melted cheese. The fresh aroma of the perilla leaves will further enhance the risotto’s overall flavor.
Step 19
Finally, arrange the reserved dakgalbi pieces for plating on top of the perilla leaves and finish with a sprinkle of herb powder, such as parsley. Your exquisite ‘Dakgalbi Risotto with Chamdream Rice’ is now complete!
Step 20
The Gyeonggi Chamdream Rice I used was milled right before shipping, so it arrived incredibly fresh. The packaging also included detailed storage instructions, which was very helpful for learning how to keep it properly. If you’re curious for more details, I’ve linked a more in-depth review on my blog!
